Major Doctrinal Subjects

There are ten main topical doctrines of the Bible that will not be addressed in detail in this essay, but to the Bible student these subjects are critical in the advancement of understanding and should be studied in great detail.

1) Bibliology - the doctrine or study of the Bible
2) Theology proper - the doctrine or study of God
3) Angelogy - the doctrine or study of angels which includes Satanology and Demonology
4) Anthropology - the doctrine or study of man
5) Harmartiology - the doctrine or study of sin
6) Soteriology - the doctrine or study of the saving work of God, includes the entire plan of salvation
7) Ecclesiology - the doctrine or study of the church, the Church as the Body of Christ and the Christian walk
8) Eschatology - the doctrine or study of all predictive scripture, prophecy, when written, and the completion of the ages
9) Christology - the doctrine or study of the person and work of the Son of God, from eternity past to eternity future
10) Pneumatology - the doctrine or study of the per son and work of the Holy Spirit, Genesis to Revelation

Sub Doctrines under Majors

For each subject, the group of text presented is not intended as a completely exhaustive study but a majority of text that will convey the biblical teaching and keep doctrines in proper context. Further study will reveal more text respectively. Other good tools for the student would be an exhaustive concordance and a Greek dictionary, possibly “Vines Expository Dictionary” or a Greek to English Lexicon and a variety of translations.

1. Gospel - there are five gospels revealed in Scripture - four true and one that is “really no gospel at all ”
    a. Gospel of the Kingdom - preached by John, Jesus and His disciples to proclaim “repent for the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand ” (on earth) and preached at two distinctively different times (once while Jesus was on the earth Matt 3:2, 4:17, 23, 10:7 ; the other, future, during the 70th week of years or tribulation period Matt 24:14 )
    b. Gospel of Grace - proclaimed after the death of Christ; the death, burial and resurrection of Christ Acts 2:23 - 24, 3:15, 4:10, 5:30, 10:39 - 40, 13:29, 17:3, 26:23; 1Cor 15:2 - 4 ; brings the forgiveness of sin Acts 10:43, 13:38; Eph 1:7; Col 1:14
    c. What Paul calls “my Gospel”; this is the Gospel of Grace in its most complete form - “the whole will of God” Acts 20:27 and includes revelation of the “Church” and the mysteries of being “in Christ” Rom 2:16, 16: 25 - 27; 1Cor 9:17; 1Tim 1:11; 2 Tim 2:8
    d. Everlasting Gospel - Rev 14:6 preached by angels just before the return of Christ at the end of the 70th week of years
    e. Another gospel - a false gospel that Paul describes as “really no gospel at all” 2Cor 11:4; Gal 1:6 - 9

2. Grace
    a. For salvation - free gift as opposed to earning by works Rom 4 ; Eph 2:8 - 9     
    b. “ by Grace you have been saved through faith ...” Eph 2:8 (1 - 10)
    c. For the believer to be in God’s favor/Grace in the walk of life while in the flesh. The believer having been baptized into Christ and entered God’s Grace now “ stands” in God’s Grace Rom 5:2 ; the believer can now “ stand firm” in God’s Grace under suffering and trials 1Pet 5:12 ; then the believer can “ grow in the Grace and knowledge ” of our Lord Jesus the Christ 2Pet 3:18
3. Salvation - The doctrine of salvation is one of God alone and can only be understood in that context. Since the fall of man in the Garden, God placed man in a state of condemnation, becoming the “objects of God’s wrath” for the penalty of sin, with God’s judgment and wrath the only predicted result. Since God placed man in this state of condemnation it must be God who removes the condemned condition by man meeting His requirements. Since sin is the “barrier” between God and man and man has no way to remove it, he must “turn” to God under whatever command or condition of repentance that God has placed on him at that time in history. Another consideration of salvation is that God is righteous (Holy) and will not grant eternal life to one of less standing. Man in his state of condemnation or unrighteousness, again, has no way by his own volition to approach God with any “goodness” or “works” capable of obtaining “righteousness” and thus removing the penalty that must be paid for sin, for God must judge and sentence sin of all mankind. Man needs a Savior to rescue him from the penalty of sin. See the additional page coming soon for fuller explanation and examples with chapter and verse.
4. Eternal life - Jn 3:16, 36; Rom 2:7 - 11, 6:22 - 23; Col 3:3 - 4; Titus 1:1 - 3; read all 1Jn note 1:1 - 2, 2:25, 3:14 - 16, 5:11 - 20
5. Eternal security - 2Cor 1:21 - 22; Eph 1:13 - 14; 1Thess 4:17
6. Propitiation - Rom 3:25; 1 Jn 2:2, 4:10; Heb 2:17, 9:5 Jesus’ body and shed blood on the cross was and is the redemptive price paid as the propitiation. NIV translates as atonement or atoning sacrifice.
7. Judgment - There are many different judgments found in Scripture and although this list is not completely exhaustive it does include the majority. Other individual judgments will be revealed by further study.
Judgment of Mankind, Israel, the Nations and Angels
    a . Adam and Eve in the garden - Gen 3:1 - 24; Rom 5:16
    b . Mankind before the flood - Gen 6 and 7 all of both chapters, note 6:5 - 8 and 7:21 - 23
    c . Mankind at tower of Babel - Gen 11: 1 - 9, note v4 and 8 - 9
    d . Sodom and Gomorrah - Gen 18:16 through19:29
    e . Israel at Kadesh Barnea - Num 32:1 - 13
    f. Israel concerning the Assyrian captivity - 2Kings 17:1 - 23 ; and the Babylonian captivity - 2Kings 25:1 - 21; 2Chr 36:15 - 21; Jer 25:1 - 11, read Jer chapters 1 through 25:11 to get full explanation for reason of judgment
    g . Israel by rejection of the Messiah:
      1. Jesus spoke to them in parables - Matt 13:10 - 15
      2. pronounced judgment on the temple and city of Jerusalem - Matt 24:1 - 2; Lk 19:41 - 44
      3. partially hardened as a Nation - Rom 11:25
      4. blinded as a nation - Rom 11:7 - 10
      5. 70th week of years - Dan 9:24 - 27
    h . Antichrist and false prophet judged - Rev 19:19 - 20, 20:10
    i . of Israel entering the Kingdom - Ezek 20:33 - 44; Matt 24:45 through 25:30
    j . of the Nations entering the Kingdom (at the return of Christ) - Joel 3:1 - 8, 11 - 15, note 3:1 - 2; Matt 25:31 - 46 note : goats (those who are cursed) to lake of fire v41
    k . of Angels - 1Cor 15:24 - 26, 6:3; 2 Pet 2:4; Jude 6; Rev 20:10 note here : Satan is an angel and this is his sentence
    l . The Great White Throne - last and final judgment of the dead, Satan and sin and death - 1Cor 15:26; Rev 20:11 - 15
Judgment of the Body of Christ
    a. of sin - on the cross Jn 5:2 4; Rom 5:9, 8:1 - 2; 2Cor 5:2 1 ; Gal 3:13; Heb 1:3, 9:26 - 28; 1 Pet 2:24
    b . of the individual member judging self (believer) - Rom 12:3; 1Cor 11:27, 31 - 32; Gal 6:3 - 5; 1Jn 1:9
    c. examples of discipline of the believer by God - 1Cor 11:30 - 32 ; Heb 12:3 - 15
    d. examples of discipline of those within the Body by the Body – all of 1Cor 5 note vs5, 11 and 12; Gal 2:11 - 14 note v11; 1Tim 1:19 - 20, 5:19 - 20
    e. of believers ’ works - Rom 14:10 - 12; 1Cor 3:9 - 15, 4:5; 2Cor 5:10; Eph 6:7 - 8
    f . of those outside the body - 1Cor 5:12 - 13
    g. judging angels and the world - 1Cor 6: 2 - 3
    h. things a believer should not judge - Rom 14:1 - 23; 1Cor 5:13
8. Righteous(ness) - see salvation page (coming soon) where it is thoroughly addressed
9. Justification - Rom 3:19 - 26, 5:1,9,16; 1Cor 6:11; Gal 2:16, 3:24; Titus 3:4 - 7 3
10. Sanctification :
    a. positional (by what Christ did) - Acts 26:18; 1Cor 1:2, 30, 6:11; 2Thess 2:13 - 14; Titus 2:14; Heb 10:10, 14,29; 1Pet 1:2
    b. experience d through the indwelling Holy Spirit - Jn 17:17 ; Rom 15:14 - 16; 1Thess 4:1 - 8, 5:23
    c. completeness - Rom 8:29; 1Jn 3:2 - 3
11. Elders - In OT elders were an older or a senior person who led a tribe or family - Num 11:16; Deut 27:1 . Same are associated with Pharisees and scribes - Matt 16:21, 26:47 . In NT : qualifications - Titus 1:5 - 9; 1Tim 3:1 - 7; 1Pet 5:1 - 3 . There are to be more than one or plural - Acts 14:23, 20:17; Phil 1:1; 1Tim 5:17; Titus 1:5 . Duties of an elder - Acts 20: 28 - 31; Titus 1:9
12. Deacons - first chosen in Acts 6:1 - 7 . Qualifications - Acts 6:3 ; 1Tim 3:8 - 12 . Duties - overseeing the physical needs of the body - Acts 6:1 - 4 . A deacon’s wife - Tim 3:11 Note : deacons are not elders
13. Rapture/Harpazo - There are seven “raptures” or “harpazo” found in Scripture. Four use the Greek word “harpazo” while the other three use other words.
    a . Philip in Acts 8:39
    b . Paul in 2Cor 12:2 - 4
    c . Body of Christ in 1Thess 4:17
    d . the Male Child in Rev 12:5
    The other three are:
    a . Enoch in Gen 5:24 where God “took” him - Hebrew word “laqach” and Heb 11:5 where God “translated” or “taken” him - Greek word “metatithemi”
    b . Elijah in 2Kings 2:1,10, 11 was “taken” and “went up” - the Hebrew word again “laqach” and “alah” - to ascend up, at once
    c . John in Rev 4:1 where a voice told him “come up ” here - Greek word “anabaino” - to go up, arise or climb up
    Other passages where “harpazo” is used - Jn 6:15, 10:12 the wolf “catches”, 10:28 - 29 - “snatch” them; Acts 23:10 “take him away by force”; Jude 23 “snatch”; Matt 11:12 where forceful men “lay hold of it” - take away by force. Note : “catching out” of the Body - 1Thess 4:16 - 17; 1Cor 15:51 - 52
14. Redemption – 1. Israel redeemed out of slavery in Egypt as a Nation - Deut 7:8, 13:5, 15:15, 24:18; 2Sam 7:23; Mic 6:4 . 2. Heavenly Man redeeming the earthly man (mankind) from slavery to sin - Rom 3:21 - 26 note v24, 5:12 - 19; 1Cor 6:19 - 20; Col 1:14; Titus 2:14; Heb 9:12
15. Regeneration - “new birth” 1Pet 1:3 and become like “newborn babies” 1Pet 2:2 ; “rebirth and renewal” Titus 3:5; “being renewed” 2Cor 4:16 ; “made new” Eph 4:22 - 23 ; in knowledge Col 3:9 - 10 ; “new creation” 2Cor 5:17 ; Note : after being regenerated the believer is to be “ transformed by the renewing of your mind” Rom 12:2
16. Repent/Repentance - These are examples of repentance and not to be confused with confession of sin. For confession of sin see confession .
    a. of the Gentiles before Israel and the “Law” - Job 34:33, 36:5 - 12 note v10, Job repents 42:2 - 6
    b. of National Israel (only) - called to repentance by God through the prophets 1Kings 8:46 - 51 ; Jer 5:3, 8:6, 15:19; Ezek 14:6, 18:30 - 32; Hos 11:5
    c. when Messiah came, only Israel was officially called to repentance by the message of John the Baptist Matt 3:2 and by Jesus Matt 4:17; Mk 1:5, 6: 12; Lk 13:3 - 5 . Notice: Jesus sent the twelve “to the lost sheep of Israel” Matt 10:6 and Jesus stated “I was sent only to the lost sheep of Israel” Matt 15:24
    d. after Christ’s death, burial, resurrection and ascension to heaven, all mankind (Israel and the Gentile Nations) are commanded to repent - Acts 17:30; 1Thess 1:9 - 10 notice “turn”; then “prove their repentance by their deeds” Acts 26:20
    e. repentance of a member or members of the Body of Christ - 2Cor 7:8 - 11, 12:21; 2Tim 2:22 - 26; Rev 2:5
    f. of the Body of Christ (Church), Greek “assembly” - Rev 2:5, 2:16, 2:21 - 22, 3:3:19
    g. during 70th week all mankind still expected to repent - Rev 9:20 - 21, 16:9 - 11 4
17. Sabbath - given to Israel as a covenant and a sign between God and the Nation Israel - Ex 31:12 - 17 , also given as a commandment - Ex 20:8 - 11
18. First day of the week - the day of Christ’s resurrection - Matt 28:1; Mk 16:2; Lk 24:1; Jn 20:1 . Given to the Body of Christ - Acts 20:7; 1Cor 16:2 . In Acts 2:42 - 47 believers met every day v 46; Gal 4:1 - 11; Col 2:16 - 17 . Sabbath never given to Gentiles - Eph 2:12
19. Tithe/Tithing - before the Law - Gen 14:18; Gen 28:22 . As Law - Lev 27:30 - 34; Num 18: 20 - 24; Deut 12:6 - 7, 14:27 - 29, 26:12 - 15; Neh 10:36 - 38; Mal 3:8 - 10; Matt 23:23; Lk 11:42; Heb 7:1 - 10 Note : all passages on tithing in reference to Israel (as a Nation) was part of the legal Mosaic system. Abraham and Jacob were not commanded to do so.
20. Giving/Sharing - under Grace as the Body of Christ - no one claimed that any of his possessions was his own Acts 2:44 - 45, 4:32 - 35, 11:27 - 30 ; for specific needs of the Body in other areas 1Cor 16:2 ; 2Cor chapters 8 and 9; Eph 4:28 Note : in the letters to the churches not one time in any passage are they commanded to tithe.
21. Doctrine - Used six times in the OT, twelve times in the accounts, thirty times in the letters and three times in Rev and consist of two types:
Sound doctrine - comes from God - Matt 4:4; Jn 7:14 - 18, 16:13; Gal 1:11 - 12; 1Tim 1:10 - 11, 4:6, 16; 2Tim 1:13 - 14, 3:16, 4:2 - 3; Titus 1:9, 2:1
False doctrine – does not come from God - 1Tim 1:3 - 4, 8 - 10, 6:3 - 5; 2Tim 4:3 - 4; Titus 1:10 - 14 ; Eph 4:14; 2Pet all chapter 2; Jude - all of the letter
22. In Christ - see separate sheet

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