History of Dogma, Volume 1

"History of Dogma, Volume 1" by Adolf von Harnack, is a study about how Christian beliefs changed and grew during the early years of the Church. Harnack explores where these beliefs came from and how they were affected by the world around them. The book starts by explaining how important it is to look at the beginnings of Church teachings, especially those that weren't clearly defined at first. It highlights the difficult task of choosing the right information to show how early Christianity and Bible teachings developed. Harnack stresses that it's important for historians to be honest and careful when studying these changes, making sure to tell the difference between original ideas and ones that came later, all while following the complicated path of Christian beliefs from their origins to becoming organized theology.