View source for Formal and material principles of theology

{{Short description|Two principles that help in defining and understanding theology of Christian tradition}}
'''Formal principle''' and '''material principle''' are two categories in [[Christianity| Christian]] [[theology]] to identify and distinguish the authoritative source of theology (formal principle) from the theology itself, especially the central doctrine of that theology (material principle), of a [[religion]], religious movement, tradition, body, [[religious denomination|denomination]], or organization. A '''formal principle''' tends to be texts or revered leaders of the religion, while a '''material principle''' is its central teaching. [[Paul Tillich]] believed the identification and application of this pair of categories in theological thinking to have originated in the 19th century.<ref>Paul Tillich, ''A History of Christian Thought from Its Judaic and Hellenistic Origins to Existentialism'', Carl E Braaten, ed., (New York: Simon & Schuster, 1967), 280</ref> As early as 1845 the Protestant theologian and historian [[Philip Schaff]] discussed them in his ''The Principle of Protestantism''.<ref>Philip Schaff, ''The Principle of Protestantism as Related to the Present State of the Church'', John W Nevin, trans., (Chambersburg, PA: Publication Office of the German Reformed Church, 1845), 54–94.</ref> They were utilized by the Lutheran scholar F. E. Mayer in his ''The Religious Bodies of America'' in order to facilitate a comparative study of the faith and practice of [[Christian denomination]]s in the [[United States]].<ref>FE Mayer, ''The Religious Bodies of America'', 4th ed, (Saint Louis: Concordia Publishing 1961), ''passim''.</ref> This is also treated in a theological pamphlet entitled ''Gospel and Scripture'' by the Commission on Theology and Church Relations of the Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Synod|first=The Lutheran Church-Missouri|title=LCMS Document Library|url=https://files.lcms.org/|access-date=2022-02-24|website=files.lcms.org|language=en}}</ref>
==F.E. Mayer's findings==
===Eastern Orthodoxy===
* '''Formal Principle''' – the [[Bible]] and the "sacred tradition."<ref>Mayer (1961), p.&nbsp;11.</ref>
* '''Material Principle''' – Jesus Christ's work of ''theopoiesis'' or ''[[Theosis (Eastern Orthodox theology)|theosis]]'' (θέωσις), the ultimate deification of man. They cite [[Athanasius of Alexandria]] from his ''Incarnation of the Word'': "Christ assumed humanity that we might become God."<ref>Mayer (1961), p.&nbsp;13. Cf. also, ''On the Incarnation'' 54:3, p. 25:192B.</ref>
===Roman Catholicism===
* '''Formal Principle''' – the [[Bible]], Tradition, Reason,<ref>Mayer (1961), p.&nbsp;40.</ref> the [[Pope]], and the [[Magisterium]].
* '''Material Principle''' – "Man's soul, since it comes directly from God, is good and strives for reunion with God, realized in the beatific vision of God. Man's body is subject to sin and is alienated from God.  Therefore man must be progressively justified, i.e., be made just. This result is effected when through the sacraments man enters into the 'state of grace' and observes the commandments which the church... by her 'divine commission,' imposes upon the 'faithful.'"<ref>Mayer (1961), p.&nbsp;47.</ref>
===Lutheranism===
* '''Formal Principle''' – the [[Bible]] alone (''sola Scriptura'')<ref>Mayer (1961), p.&nbsp;144.</ref>
* '''Material Principle''' – "a synopsis and summary of the Christian truth" that people are justified by God's grace through faith in Christ alone.<ref>Mayer (1961), p.&nbsp;144–47.</ref>
===Anglicanism===
* '''Formal Principle''' in general—The [[Bible]], the authority of the church, and reason.<ref name="Mayer-276">Mayer (1961), p.&nbsp;276.</ref> Specifically, for individuals of different [[churchmanship]]:
:* Low Church—the [[Bible]] as the only source and the all sufficient norm of religious truth.<ref name="Mayer-276" />
:* High Church – "doctrinal authority rested successively in Christ, in the teaching church, in the Scriptures, and in the councils." This is called the ''consensus fidelium'' ("agreement of the faithful").<ref name="Mayer-276" />
:* Broad Church—along with the [[Bible]] and the ''consensus fidelium'' is included "God's self-disclosure in the religious and moral development of the human race as a whole, in the religion of Israel, the person of Christ, and the life of His mystical body, the church."<ref name="Mayer-276" />
* '''Material Principle''':
:* Low Church – "the doctrine of God's grace which faith apprehends without the addition of human works."<ref name="Mayer-276" />
:* High Church—the worship of the church and [[apostolic succession]].<ref>Mayer (1961), pp.&nbsp;276–77.</ref>
:* Broad Church—a life which conforms to the ethical teachings of Jesus.<ref>Mayer (1961), p.&nbsp;277.</ref>
===Zwinglianism===
* '''Formal Principle''' – the [[Bible]] and direct revelation from the Holy Spirit.<ref>Mayer (1961), p.&nbsp;201–3.</ref>
* '''Material Principle''' – absolute divine causality.<ref>Mayer (1961), p.&nbsp;203.</ref>
===Calvinism===
* '''Formal Principle''' – the [[Bible]] as the sole standard of all truth (''sola scriptura'').<ref>Mayer (1961), p.&nbsp;207.</ref>
* '''Material Principle''' – sinful man is justified by faith alone (''sola fide'').
===Methodism===
* '''Formal Principle''' – the [[Bible]], reason, teachings of the ancient church.<ref name="Mayer-289">Mayer (1961), p.&nbsp;289.</ref>
* '''Material Principle''' – the perfected man, i.e. entire sanctification.<ref name="Mayer-289" />
==Footnotes==
{{reflist}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Formal And Material Principles Of Theology}}
[[Category:Systematic theology]]
[[Category:Christian terminology]]
[[Category:Christian theology of the Bible]]