Robert Doyle has pastored churches in Australia and Scotland, and for four decades researched and taught systematic and historical theology at Moore Theological College, Sydney, Australia, and George Whitefield College, Cape Town, South Africa.

Robert Doyle invites us into a deeply learned conversation both evangelical and ecumenical between biblical studies, church history, and systematic theology on central themes and contested issues of a doctrine of the Church and its mission. Readers will appreciate the multitude of well-chosen phrases and clear-eyed arguments in which the author interacts with ancient and contemporary commentators regarding Church order, sacraments, and recent cultural debates. Crucial to Doyle’s study is his conviction that the true understanding of the Church is found in its dynamic relation to the doctrines of Christ, Trinity, and revelation.

• Part I: Locating the Doctrine1. Five Cautions, and Hope2. Inside two millennia of reflection3. And more recent context, postmodernismPart II: Three Foundational New Testament Indicators4. Ekklesia: “assembly”5. Challenge of Communication: Protestant debates over original use, local contexts, hermeneutics6. Earthly assemblies and the heavenly assembly7. Soma Christou: “the body of Christ,” the Christ of the New Creation.8. How to understand the “ontological relationship” between Christ and his church?9. The question of continuity between intermittent gatherings10. Koinonia hagion: “the communion of the saints”11. The communion of the saints is in the Spirit: the work of men and women, and the attributes of the churchPart III. Implications for Present Practice12. Christ’s continued purposes for his church: double edification13. Growth in Fellowship through Participation in Ministry14. Wider theological foundations of ministry15. Denominations, church law, and pastor pas

Robert Doyle has pastored churches in Australia and Scotland, and for four decades researched and taught systematic and historical theology at Moore Theological College, Sydney, Australia, and George Whitefield College, Cape Town, South Africa.

Robert Doyle invites us into a deeply learned conversation both evangelical and ecumenical between biblical studies, church history, and systematic theology on central themes and contested issues of a doctrine of the Church and its mission. Readers will appreciate the multitude of well-chosen phrases and clear-eyed arguments in which the author interacts with ancient and contemporary commentators regarding Church order, sacraments, and recent cultural debates. Crucial to Doyle’s study is his conviction that the true understanding of the Church is found in its dynamic relation to the doctrines of Christ, Trinity, and revelation.

• Part I: Locating the Doctrine1. Five Cautions, and Hope2. Inside two millennia of reflection3. And more recent context, postmodernismPart II: Three Foundational New Testament Indicators4. Ekklesia: “assembly”5. Challenge of Communication: Protestant debates over original use, local contexts, hermeneutics6. Earthly assemblies and the heavenly assembly7. Soma Christou: “the body of Christ,” the Christ of the New Creation.8. How to understand the “ontological relationship” between Christ and his church?9. The question of continuity between intermittent gatherings10. Koinonia hagion: “the communion of the saints”11. The communion of the saints is in the Spirit: the work of men and women, and the attributes of the churchPart III. Implications for Present Practice12. Christ’s continued purposes for his church: double edification13. Growth in Fellowship through Participation in Ministry14. Wider theological foundations of ministry15. Denominations, church law, and pastor pas

Robert Doyle has pastored churches in Australia and Scotland, and for four decades researched and taught systematic and historical theology at Moore Theological College, Sydney, Australia, and George Whitefield College, Cape Town, South Africa.

Robert Doyle invites us into a deeply learned conversation both evangelical and ecumenical between biblical studies, church history, and systematic theology on central themes and contested issues of a doctrine of the Church and its mission. Readers will appreciate the multitude of well-chosen phrases and clear-eyed arguments in which the author interacts with ancient and contemporary commentators regarding Church order, sacraments, and recent cultural debates. Crucial to Doyle’s study is his conviction that the true understanding of the Church is found in its dynamic relation to the doctrines of Christ, Trinity, and revelation.

• Part I: Locating the Doctrine1. Five Cautions, and Hope2. Inside two millennia of reflection3. And more recent context, postmodernismPart II: Three Foundational New Testament Indicators4. Ekklesia: “assembly”5. Challenge of Communication: Protestant debates over original use, local contexts, hermeneutics6. Earthly assemblies and the heavenly assembly7. Soma Christou: “the body of Christ,” the Christ of the New Creation.8. How to understand the “ontological relationship” between Christ and his church?9. The question of continuity between intermittent gatherings10. Koinonia hagion: “the communion of the saints”11. The communion of the saints is in the Spirit: the work of men and women, and the attributes of the churchPart III. Implications for Present Practice12. Christ’s continued purposes for his church: double edification13. Growth in Fellowship through Participation in Ministry14. Wider theological foundations of ministry15. Denominations, church law, and pastor pas