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The Church as Organism: Nicaea, Ecclesiology, and Confession in the Theology of Gisle Johnson

The relationship between confession, ecclesiology, and authority in protestant literature has been variously appraised. Dorner considers confession as a product of the certain character of Christian faith; Bavinck considers confession as arising genetically from Scripture; and Webster posits that confession is act of the eccentricity holiness of the church. Norwegian Lutheran dogmatician Gisle Johnson (1822-1894), however, considers creed and confession as arising organically from the church’s own organic nature, a historical manifestation and “necessary consequence of the church’s being as an organism.” This paper will argue that Johnson’s organic view of the church as a living organism of faith with confession as its natural product is a unique and helpful tool in allowing for a holistic and well-ordered approach to confessionalism in the life of the church. A relatively unknown figure, this paper will 1. attempt to highlight Johnson’s significance as a theological figure by providing an introduction to his thought as a Lutheran pietist, revivalist, inerrantist, and confessionalist, along with his unique contributions to 19th century dogmatics, followed by 2. a survey of his theology from his defining work, Grundrids af den Systematiske Theologi, and 3. providing an example by way of his analysis of the historical development of the Nicene Creed in his Dogmahistorien.

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