History of Dogma, Volume 1 | Page 3

the excellent manual on the earliest history of dogma by
Münter, and thereby got his name associated with the history of the

founding of the new study. May the work of the grandson be found not
unworthy of the clear and disciplined mind which presided over the
beginnings of the young science.
Giessen, 1st August, 1885.

AUTHOR'S PREFACE TO THE SECOND EDITION.
In the two years that have passed since the appearance of the first
edition I have steadily kept in view the improvement of this work, and
have endeavoured to learn from the reviews of it that have appeared. I
owe most to the study of Weizsäcker's work, on the Apostolic Age, and
his notice of the first edition of this volume in the Göttinger gelehrte
Anzeigen, 1886, No. 21. The latter, in several decisive passages
concerning the general conception, drew my attention to the fact that I
had emphasised certain points too strongly, but had not given due
prominence to others of equal importance, while not entirely
overlooking them. I have convinced myself that these hints were,
almost throughout, well founded, and have taken pains to meet them in
the new edition. I have also learned from Heinrici's commentary on the
Second Epistle to the Corinthians, and from Bigg's "Lectures on the
Christian Platonists of Alexandria." Apart from these works there has
appeared very little that could be of significance for my historical
account; but I have once more independently considered the main
problems, and in some cases, after repeated reading of the sources,
checked my statements, removed mistakes and explained what had
been too briefly stated. Thus, in particular, Chapter II. §§ 1-3 of the
"Presuppositions", also the Third
Chapter of
the First Book (especially Section 6), also in the Second Book, Chapter
I. and Chapter II. (under B), the Third Chapter (Supplement 3 and
excursus on "Catholic and Romish"), the Fifth Chapter (under 1 and 3)
and the Sixth Chapter (under 2) have been subjected to changes and
greater additions. Finally, a new excursus has been added on the

various modes of conceiving pre-existence, and in other respects many
things have been improved in detail. The size of the book has thereby
been increased by about fifty pages. As I have been misrepresented by
some as one who knew not how to appreciate the uniqueness of the
Gospel history and the evangelic faith, while others have conversely
reproached me with making the history of dogma proceed from an
"apostasy" from the Gospel to Hellenism, I have taken pains to state my
opinions on both these points as clearly as possible. In doing so I have
only wrought out the hints which were given in the first edition, and
which, as I supposed, were sufficient for readers. But it is surely a
reasonable desire when I request the critics in reading the paragraphs
which treat of the "Presuppositions", not to forget how difficult the
questions there dealt with are, both in themselves and from the nature
of the sources, and how exposed to criticism the historian is who
attempts to unfold his position towards them in a few pages. As is
self-evident, the centre of gravity of the book lies in that which forms
its subject proper, in the account of the origin of dogma within the
Græco-Roman empire. But one should not on that account, as many
have done, pass over the beginning which lies before the beginning, or
arbitrarily adopt a starting-point of his own; for everything here
depends on where and how one begins. I have not therefore been able
to follow the well-meant counsel to simply strike out the
"Presuppositions."
I would gladly have responded to another advice to work up the notes
into the text; but I would then have been compelled to double the size
of some chapters. The form of this book, in many respects awkward,
may continue as it is so long as it represents the difficulties by which
the subject is still pressed. When they have been removed--and the
smallest number of them lie in the subject matter--I will gladly break
up this form of the book and try to give it another shape. For the
friendly reception given to it I have to offer my heartiest thanks. But
against those who, believing themselves in possession of a richer view
of the history here related, have called my conception meagre, I appeal
to the beautiful words of Tertullian; "Malumus in scripturis minus, si
forte, sapere quam contra."

Marburg, 24th December, 1887.

AUTHOR'S PREFACE TO THE THIRD EDITION.
In the six years that have passed since the appearance of the second
edition I have continued to work at the book, and have made use of the
new sources and investigations that have appeared during this period,
as well as corrected