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Paleo-orthodoxy (fromAncient Greekπαλαιός "ancient" andKoine Greekὀρθοδοξία "correct belief") is aProtestantChristian theological movement in the United States which emerged in the late 20th and early 21st centuries and which focuses on the consensual understanding of the faith among theecumenical councils andChurch Fathers.[1][2] While it understands thisconsensus of the Church Fathers asorthodoxy proper, it calls itselfpaleo-orthodoxy to distinguish itself fromneo-orthodoxy, a movement that was influential among Protestant churches in the mid-20th century.[3]
Paleo-orthodoxy attempts to see the essentials of Christian theology in the consensus of theGreat Church before the schism between theEastern Orthodox Church and theCatholic Church (theEast–West Schism of 1054) and before the separation ofProtestantism from the Roman Catholic Church (theProtestant Reformation of 1517), described in the canon ofVincent of Lérins as "Quod ubique, quod semper, quod ab omnibus" ("What [is believed] everywhere, always and by everyone"). Adherents of paleo-orthodoxy often form part of theConvergence Movement,[4] However, paleo-orthodoxy is not exclusive to the movement. Paleo-orthodox Protestants have different interpretations of the early Church's teachings.[5]
The dominant figure of the movement,United Methodist theologianThomas C. Oden ofDrew University,[6][2] published a series of books not only calling for a return to "classical Christianity" but also providing the tools to do so. The 2002 collection of essays in honor of Oden,Ancient and Postmodern Christianity: Paleo-Orthodoxy in the 21st Century (Kenneth Tanner, Christopher Alan Hall, eds.,ISBN 978-0830826544) offers a glimpse into the work of some of the theologians active in this area:Robert Jenson,Christopher Hall, Amy Oden, Bradley Nassif,David Mills,Robert Webber,Geoffrey Wainwright,Carl Braaten,Stanley Grenz, John Franke, Alan Padget,Wolfhart Pannenberg,Richard John Neuhaus, et al. Similar approaches emerge in the theology ofMarva Dawn (aLutheran);Alister McGrath (aChurch of EnglandReformed evangelical);Andrew Purves (aPresbyterian);Timothy George (Baptist); andChristopher Hall (anEpiscopalian). Other notable theologians in the movement have included J. Davila-Ashcraft (Evangelical Episcopal Communion) andEmilio Alvarez (founding archbishop of theUnion of Charismatic Orthodox Churches).[7][8]
Among Oden's works, either as writer or editor, in support of paleo-orthodoxy are:
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link) Detailed information about the set can be found atthe publisher.Works by other authors: