Questions on Doctrine
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Seventh-day Adventists Answer Questions on Doctrine (often abbreviated "Questions on Doctrine", or simply "QOD") is a book which was published by the Seventh-day Adventist Church in 1957, and republished with annotations by George R. Knight in 2003. It was written following discussions between Adventists and evangelicals, most notably Walter Martin. The authors of the book are anonymous; it is credited to "a representative group" of Adventist "leaders, Bible teachers and editors".
The publication of Questions on Doctrine was formative because it aligned the Adventist church with mainstream evangelical Christianity, whereas it had previously been widely regarded as a cult.
However, the book also generated vigorous controversy because its theology was perceived by many Adventists as a major departure from historic Adventist teaching. The most prominent opponent of Questions on Doctrine was retired Adventist theologian M. L. Andreasen. The controverted elements of the book were its definition of the death of Jesus on Calvary as a completed atonement, its assertion that Jesus possessed a sinless nature, and its denial of sinless perfectionism. The theological movement which opposed Questions on Doctrine continues to be represented by "historic Adventists".
As a result of the divisive controversy, Questions on Doctrine stopped circulating in 1963. In response to calls from evangelical Christians (including Martin himself, prior to his death in 1989) to bring QOD back into print, the Adventist church released an annotated version of the book in 2003[1]. This new version includes comments by church historian George R. Knight, who wrote
- "The publication of Questions on Doctrine did more than any other single event in Adventist history to create what appear to be permanently warring factions within the denomination."
- "Official Adventism may have gained recognition as being Christian from the evangelical world, but in the process a breach had been opened which has not healed in the last 50 years and may never heal."[2]
The original 1957 edition of Questions on Doctrine can be read online at SDAnet.
Contents |
[edit] Topics
Questions on Doctrine addressed the following topics:
- Christology
- The role of Ellen G. White's writings
- The role of the law
- The Sabbath
- The sunday-law and Mark of the Beast
- The meaning of the remnant
- The prophecies of Daniel chapters 8 and 9
- The Adventist doctrines of the sanctuary and investigative judgment
- The second coming of Jesus
- Death and hell
[edit] See also
[edit] References
- ^ World Church: "Questions on Doctrine" Book Annotated, Republished, Adventist News Network, 18 November 2003.
- ^ (2003) George R. Knight: Questions on Doctrine: Annotated Edition. Berrien Springs, Michigan: Andrews University Press, v, 522. ISBN 1-883925-41-X.
[edit] External links
The Day Adventists Became Christians, by Loren Dickinson in Spectrum