Historical development of the Seventh-Day Adventist statement of beliefs and its theological implications

Abstract

The Seventh-day Adventist Church is a worldwide Church. It came into existence after the Great Disappointment of 1844, in the United States of America. Since its very beginning, the question of doctrines or Fundamental Beliefs has been always in the center of Adventist Theology. However, historical development of Adventist Statement of Beliefs and its theological implications, cannot be enough appreciated because of lack of comprehensive study on the subject. This study, therefore, investigates on the development of the Adventist Statement of Beliefs and its theological implications, from 1872 to 2015. The study was premised on the observation that, in 1872, the Adventist Church had twenty-five Fundamental Principles. In 1889, three more beliefs were added to make it a total of twenty-eight. In 1931, the Adventist Church reviewed its beliefs to twenty-two principles. In 1980, it was made up of twenty-seven principles.And from 2005 to 2015, the official Seventh-day Adventist Fundamental Beliefs was composed of twenty-eight principles. Consequently, the study meticulously and chronologically examines the Seventh-day Adventist Statement of Beliefs of 1872, 1889, 1931, 1980, 2005, 2010 and 2015; and analyses their theological implications. This study employs the historical/documentary method of research and uses published and unpublished primary and secondary resources. The study concludes that throughout their history, Seventh-day Adventist have looked forward to discovering or receiving additional truth that will match with prior truth. Their doctrines have developed from their original distinctive principles of beliefs to some explicit doctrines. Moreover, the study recommends that in-depth studies could be done on the historical development of the Seventh-day Adventist Theology Proper, Christology, Pneumatology, Anthropology, Soteriology, Eschatology, Bibliology, Ecclesiology, Lifestyle, as well as on the Seventh-day Adventist unique doctrines. Also, some studies could be considered on the various debates that influenced Adventist theology, such as the 1888 debates of Minneapolis. An in-depth study on Alonzo. T Jones, Ellet J. Waggoner, and Uriah Smith, who played significant roles in shaping Adventist theology, could be helpful. Finally, the contributions of Ellen G. White on the development of Adventist doctrines and theology could be considered.