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Creeds of Christendom, 3 Vols
Philip Schaff, author of the standard 8 volume History Of The Christian Church, assembles all of the major Christian creedal statements from the early church to today. There is nothing in print as complete as Creeds Of Christendom.
2547 pages, Hardcover
First published March 1, 1977
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About the author
Philip Schaff
1,626 books66 followersPhilip Schaff was educated at the gymnasium of Stuttgart, and at the universities of Tübingen, Halle and Berlin, where he was successively influenced by Baur and Schmid, by Tholuck and Julius Müller, by David Strauss and, above all, Neander. At Berlin, in 1841, he took the degree of B.D., and passed examinations for a professorship. He then traveled through Italy and Sicily as tutor to Baron Krischer. In 1842 he was Privatdozent in the University of Berlin, where he lectured on exegesis and church history. In 1843 he was called to become professor of church history and Biblical literature in the German Reformed Theological Seminary of Mercersburg, Pennsylvania, then the only seminary of that church in America.
On his journey he stayed in England and met Edward Pusey and other Tractarians. His inaugural address on The Principle of Protestantism, delivered in German at Reading, Pennsylvania, in 1844, and published in German with an English version by John Williamson Nevin was a pioneer work in English in the field of symbolics (that is, the authoritative ecclesiastical formulations of religious doctrines in creeds or confessions). This address and the "Mercersburg Theology" which he taught seemed too pro-Catholic to some, and he was charged with heresy. But, at the synod at York in 1845, he was unanimously acquitted.
Schaff's broad views strongly influenced the German Reformed Church, through his teaching at Mercersburg, through his championship of English in German Reformed churches and schools in America, through his hymnal (1859), through his labours as chairman of the committee which prepared a new liturgy, and by his edition (1863) of the Heidelberg Catechism. His History of the Apostolic Church (in German, 1851; in English, 1853) and his History of the Christian Church (7 vols., 1858-1890), opened a new period in American study of ecclesiastical history.
In 1854, he visited Europe, representing the American German churches at the ecclesiastical diet at Frankfort and at the Swiss pastoral conference at Basel. He lectured in Germany on America, and received the degree of D.D. from Berlin.
In consequence of the ravages of the American Civil War the theological seminary at Mercersburg was closed for a while and so in 1863 Dr. Schaff became secretary of the Sabbath Committee (which fought the “continental Sunday”) in New York City, and held the position till 1870. In 1865 he founded the first German Sunday School in Stuttgart. In 1862-1867 he lectured on church history at Andover.
Schaff was a member of the Leipzig Historical Society, the Netherland Historical Society, and other historical and literary societies in Europe and America. He was one of the founders, and honorary secretary, of the American branch of the Evangelical Alliance, and was sent to Europe in 1869, 1872, and 1873 to arrange for the general conference of the Alliance, which, after two postponements on account of the Franco-Prussian War, was held in New York in October 1873. Schaff was also, in 1871, one of the Alliance delegates to the emperor of Russia to plead for the religious liberty of his subjects in the Baltic provinces.
He became a professor at Union Theological Seminary, New York City in 1870 holding first the chair of theological encyclopedia and Christian symbolism till 1873, of Hebrew and the cognate languages till 1874, of sacred literature till 1887, and finally of church history, till his death. He also served as president of the committee that translated the American Standard Version of the Bible, though he died before it was published in 1901.
His History of the Christian Church resembled Neander's work, though less biographical, and was pictorial rather than philosophical. He also wrote biographies, catechisms and hymnals for children, manuals of religious verse, lectures and essays on Dante, etc. He translated Johann Jakob Herzog's Real-Encyklopädie für protestantische Theologie und Kirche into English.
On his journey he stayed in England and met Edward Pusey and other Tractarians. His inaugural address on The Principle of Protestantism, delivered in German at Reading, Pennsylvania, in 1844, and published in German with an English version by John Williamson Nevin was a pioneer work in English in the field of symbolics (that is, the authoritative ecclesiastical formulations of religious doctrines in creeds or confessions). This address and the "Mercersburg Theology" which he taught seemed too pro-Catholic to some, and he was charged with heresy. But, at the synod at York in 1845, he was unanimously acquitted.
Schaff's broad views strongly influenced the German Reformed Church, through his teaching at Mercersburg, through his championship of English in German Reformed churches and schools in America, through his hymnal (1859), through his labours as chairman of the committee which prepared a new liturgy, and by his edition (1863) of the Heidelberg Catechism. His History of the Apostolic Church (in German, 1851; in English, 1853) and his History of the Christian Church (7 vols., 1858-1890), opened a new period in American study of ecclesiastical history.
In 1854, he visited Europe, representing the American German churches at the ecclesiastical diet at Frankfort and at the Swiss pastoral conference at Basel. He lectured in Germany on America, and received the degree of D.D. from Berlin.
In consequence of the ravages of the American Civil War the theological seminary at Mercersburg was closed for a while and so in 1863 Dr. Schaff became secretary of the Sabbath Committee (which fought the “continental Sunday”) in New York City, and held the position till 1870. In 1865 he founded the first German Sunday School in Stuttgart. In 1862-1867 he lectured on church history at Andover.
Schaff was a member of the Leipzig Historical Society, the Netherland Historical Society, and other historical and literary societies in Europe and America. He was one of the founders, and honorary secretary, of the American branch of the Evangelical Alliance, and was sent to Europe in 1869, 1872, and 1873 to arrange for the general conference of the Alliance, which, after two postponements on account of the Franco-Prussian War, was held in New York in October 1873. Schaff was also, in 1871, one of the Alliance delegates to the emperor of Russia to plead for the religious liberty of his subjects in the Baltic provinces.
He became a professor at Union Theological Seminary, New York City in 1870 holding first the chair of theological encyclopedia and Christian symbolism till 1873, of Hebrew and the cognate languages till 1874, of sacred literature till 1887, and finally of church history, till his death. He also served as president of the committee that translated the American Standard Version of the Bible, though he died before it was published in 1901.
His History of the Christian Church resembled Neander's work, though less biographical, and was pictorial rather than philosophical. He also wrote biographies, catechisms and hymnals for children, manuals of religious verse, lectures and essays on Dante, etc. He translated Johann Jakob Herzog's Real-Encyklopädie für protestantische Theologie und Kirche into English.
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
January 18, 2008
Schaff was Reformed and yet a truly ecumenical figure. Theologically, he stands in between teh Anabaptists who now dominate Evangelicalism and Roman Catholics. He is also a discerning but eclectic spirit, willing to lift up and affirm solid catholic teaching from any source.
He was part of the Mercersburg movement within the German Reformed Church in the US. This meant he had a special affinity for high liturgy, church tradition, and Romantic sensibilities. He also served at then-Presbyterian Union Seminary in Manhattan.
He died in 1893. His fifth and final edition of this work (actually unchanged from the 4th edition) came out in 1884. His son David, a professor at Presbyterian seminaries, made some changes and updates for a 6th edition in 1931. And yet this three volume work bears continued use. In fact, I'd rank it among the top 100 books any thinking Xian or pastor ought to own.
Volume one offers a beefy 934pp. history of creeds. Volume two is 650 pages of Greek and Latin creeds with the origonal languages and English translation in parallel columns. Volume three is 960pp. of "evangelical" Protestant creed texts. Son David's mark is seen in the inclusion of updates, such as the 1903 Northern Presbyterian alterations of Westminster, a 1913 Congregationalist creed, etc.
Each volume is indexed and extremely well outlined.
Baker has not given these books the kind of binding they deserve. Simply photoduplicated from the 1931 public-domain Harper and Row printing, the typeface is somewhat thin and faded and slightly reduced. The paper of my copies printed in 1993 has held up well, with no signs of yellowing. The volumes are sewn, -- much better than glued, and the covers are sturdy (if a tacky blue and gold 'leatheret').
Despite limitations, this is a MUST HAVE.
BTW -- a surprisingly good apologetic for creeds can be found in the opening chapter of Luke Timothy Johnson (mildly conservative, neo-orthodox Roman Catholic at Emory U.)'s book on the Apostle's Creed (2003?). Dorothy Sayer's classic "Creeds or Chaos" is also very good on the need for creeds.
He was part of the Mercersburg movement within the German Reformed Church in the US. This meant he had a special affinity for high liturgy, church tradition, and Romantic sensibilities. He also served at then-Presbyterian Union Seminary in Manhattan.
He died in 1893. His fifth and final edition of this work (actually unchanged from the 4th edition) came out in 1884. His son David, a professor at Presbyterian seminaries, made some changes and updates for a 6th edition in 1931. And yet this three volume work bears continued use. In fact, I'd rank it among the top 100 books any thinking Xian or pastor ought to own.
Volume one offers a beefy 934pp. history of creeds. Volume two is 650 pages of Greek and Latin creeds with the origonal languages and English translation in parallel columns. Volume three is 960pp. of "evangelical" Protestant creed texts. Son David's mark is seen in the inclusion of updates, such as the 1903 Northern Presbyterian alterations of Westminster, a 1913 Congregationalist creed, etc.
Each volume is indexed and extremely well outlined.
Baker has not given these books the kind of binding they deserve. Simply photoduplicated from the 1931 public-domain Harper and Row printing, the typeface is somewhat thin and faded and slightly reduced. The paper of my copies printed in 1993 has held up well, with no signs of yellowing. The volumes are sewn, -- much better than glued, and the covers are sturdy (if a tacky blue and gold 'leatheret').
Despite limitations, this is a MUST HAVE.
BTW -- a surprisingly good apologetic for creeds can be found in the opening chapter of Luke Timothy Johnson (mildly conservative, neo-orthodox Roman Catholic at Emory U.)'s book on the Apostle's Creed (2003?). Dorothy Sayer's classic "Creeds or Chaos" is also very good on the need for creeds.
April 24, 2022
I would deeply encourage everyone of every tradition to read this (the confessions of every other tradition both historic and contemporary)
September 19, 2018
The ultimate standard on the Creeds and their history.
July 23, 2024
THE THIRD AND FINAL VOLUME OF SCHAFF'S SET
Philip Schaff (1819-1893) was a Swiss-born, German-educated Protestant theologian and Church historian, who was a professor at Union Theological Seminary. His 8-volume History ' was first published in 1877.
Schaff includes the Lutheran Creeds (Augsburg Confession; Luther's "Small" Catechism [the one written latest, and divided into questions and answers]; the Formula of Concord; the Saxon Visitation Articles); the Reformed creeds (Zwingli's 67 Articles; the first and second Helvetic Confessions; the Heidelberg Catechism [the most commonly-used in Reformed churches]; the Gallican Confession; the Belgic Confession; the 39 Articles of the Church of England; the Canons of Dort; the Westminster Confession of Faith and Shorter Catechism [two of the three 'Westminster Standards," along with the Longer Catechism; used by Presbyterians and Reformed], etc.; various modern Protestant creeds (e.g., Baptist; Presbyterian; Methodist, etc.); and finally "Recent Confessional Declarations and Terms of Corporate Church Union."
The second and third volumes of this series basically include just the creeds/confessions/catechisms (with occasional footnotes); for Schaff's history and analysis of these various documents, see the first volume.
Schaff's set is an excellent resource, and is a welcome addition to any complete theological library.
Philip Schaff (1819-1893) was a Swiss-born, German-educated Protestant theologian and Church historian, who was a professor at Union Theological Seminary. His 8-volume History ' was first published in 1877.
Schaff includes the Lutheran Creeds (Augsburg Confession; Luther's "Small" Catechism [the one written latest, and divided into questions and answers]; the Formula of Concord; the Saxon Visitation Articles); the Reformed creeds (Zwingli's 67 Articles; the first and second Helvetic Confessions; the Heidelberg Catechism [the most commonly-used in Reformed churches]; the Gallican Confession; the Belgic Confession; the 39 Articles of the Church of England; the Canons of Dort; the Westminster Confession of Faith and Shorter Catechism [two of the three 'Westminster Standards," along with the Longer Catechism; used by Presbyterians and Reformed], etc.; various modern Protestant creeds (e.g., Baptist; Presbyterian; Methodist, etc.); and finally "Recent Confessional Declarations and Terms of Corporate Church Union."
The second and third volumes of this series basically include just the creeds/confessions/catechisms (with occasional footnotes); for Schaff's history and analysis of these various documents, see the first volume.
Schaff's set is an excellent resource, and is a welcome addition to any complete theological library.
October 28, 2019
Most books are rated related to their usefulness and contributions to my research.
Overall, a good book for the researcher and enthusiast.
Read for personal research
- found this book's contents helpful and inspiring - number rating relates to the book's contribution to my needs.
Overall, a good book for the researcher and enthusiast.
Read for personal research
- found this book's contents helpful and inspiring - number rating relates to the book's contribution to my needs.
September 11, 2011
I love church liturgy and while these volumes are not as exhaustive as they possibly could be, they are the most exhaustive and complete set that there is. It is excellent.
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September 23, 2010Creeds of Christendom (3 vols.) by Philip Schaff (1984)
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews