[blue-duncan]

"The author would like us to think the late date of other views is a bad thing (and I don't believe they were non-existent) but actually some of our greatest theology of the church was finally pulled together and articulated around 300-400AD."

Right, and don't forget that "johnny-come-lately" Reformed Theology that was pulled together and articulated in the mid 16th century and who could ever forget that God given Dispensationalism that was articulated in the beginning of the 17th century although there were whispers of it in some of the persecuted sects in the 12th and 13th centuries. So, late does not mean fake (I looked for something that rhymed with late and that was the closest I got)!

[HarleyD]

Right, and don't forget that "johnny-come-lately" Reformed Theology that was pulled together and articulated in the mid 16th century ...So, late does not mean fake

LOL!!! In the words of Polycarp...

"...forasmuch as ye know that it is by grace ye are saved, not of works, but by the will of God through Jesus Christ."

Polycarp to the Philippians

[topcat54]

God given Dispensationalism that was articulated in the beginning of the 17th century although there were whispers of it in some of the persecuted sects in the 12th and 13th centuries.

You meant 19th century. JN Darby and his vision-inspired Irvingite friends in Scotland were not that old. This was also the age of the Millerites, Adventists, Jehovah's Witnesses, Mormons, and a number of other lesser cults. Many of them shared a carnal view of future events.

As to "whispers of it ... in the 12th and 13th centuries", I don't think it was a whisper so much as laryngitis. No one heard of these folks until they were invented by the modern dispensationalists intent on validating their pedigree.

BTW, have anyone specific from the "12th and 13th centuries" in mind?

[fortheDeclaration]

"The author would like us to think the late date of other views is a bad thing (and I don't believe they were non-existent) but actually some of our greatest theology of the church was finally pulled together and articulated around 300-400AD." Right, and don't forget that "johnny-come-lately" Reformed Theology that was pulled together and articulated in the mid 16th century and who could ever forget that God given Dispensationalism that was articulated in the beginning of the 17th century although there were whispers of it in some of the persecuted sects in the 12th and 13th centuries. So, late does not mean fake (I looked for something that rhymed with late and that was the closest I got)!

The key word is 'articulated'.

These doctrines were taught in the early church because they are Bible doctrines.

The Reformed church was a move back to the early century of salvation by faith and a rejection of traditon for scripture.

In many areas, however, they held to traditon and did not go fully to sola scriptura.