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About Christopher Heren
Expertise
I can answer many questions regarding the theology of the early church, particularly those areas pertaining to Christology and the Trinity. I can also answer many questions pertaining to the early Reformation period, particularly those questions which relate to Lutheran theology and practice. While I can answer questions from just about any time period, my weakest area is modern church history, where my knowledge is much more limited to the theology of major academic and popular movements (though not their history). Any questions which also address the development of certain liturgical practices of the church (East and West) I can usually field, or point to where the answer might be found.

Experience
I have grown up in the Lutheran Church Missouri Synod and currently attend a Lutheran seminary. My knowledge of the Reformation stems from this background. I have also intensely studied the early church for about five years now, and have learned from Lutheran, Reformed, Roman Catholic, and Eastern Orthodox sources. My interaction with many traditional denominations has also led to my integration of this history with the study of the doctrine and proclamation of the church. My interest in church history has led me to alter my M.Div education and pursue an M.A. in religion. From there I hope to further my education in historical theology. I have also corrected one Lutheran expert here regarding the identity of the Virgin Mary in Lutheran theology by referring to both the Book of Concord (1580 AD) and the Council of Ephesus (431 AD) My knowledge of ancient languages includes some Latin, Koine Greek, and biblical Hebrew.

Education/Credentials
B.S. Geology/B.S. Liberal Arts and Sciences (Integrative Biology) - University of Illinois 2005. M.S. Biology (degree unfinished) - Bradley University 2006-2007 A.A. Philosophy - Illinois Central College 2008 M.A. Religion - Concordia Theological Seminary (completion projected 2010)

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Christianity--Church History - Overview of OT vs. NT beliefs

Expert: Christopher Heren - 10/30/2009

Question
Dear Christopher:

(I sent this question to another expert yesterday and he did not know an answer, so I'm sending the question now to you. I will not think any the less of you if you can't answer either.)

Do you know of any book (or encyclopedia) that has a good overview of the differences between the beliefs of Old Testament vs. New Testament people?

What I am looking for is something like this:

In the Old Testament, people believed the nature of God to be A

In the New Testament, people now believed the nature of God to be B. (In this example, New Testament now says God is Agape.)

In the Old Testament, people thought the nature and actions of the Holy Spirit were A.

In the New, they thought B, etc.

Other differences include the nature of the law, beliefs about prayer and prayer practice, beliefs about forgiveness.

In my view, Christ pushed away from OT beliefs in about 12 different dimensions at the same time.

Do you know of any book that would give a good overview of the changes in belief that Christ brought?

As someone who loves Christ, I would like to be able to study the great work he did in establishing the Christian belief system in a methodical way.

Thanks.

Jeff Williams
Lakewood, Ohio

Answer
Mr. Williams,

This is a difficult question. I can provide you with one source which might be of use to you, but at the same time, I would like to stress that we do not exactly know what 1st century or prior Judaism believed. The debate among higher critics includes such crucial facts as when the priestly strand was written (first or last) in the scheme of the writing of the Pentateuch and the Deuteronomistic history. While I do not accept this theory, the source I will point you to most likely will. I would suggest the Anchor Bible Dictionary or the Oxford Dictionary of Christianity. They have articles written on a variety of topics. You also might try some encyclopedias for Judaism.

Does this help get you started?

Chris

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