Thoughts on a methodology for church history

Abstract

In this article on a methodology for church history I would like to express some thoughts on the following questions: (a) What do we mean when we speak of methodology, in this case a methodology for church history? (b) Why is a methodology for church history necessary? and (c) What are some of the basic theological concepts we should include in a methodology for church history? This means that the article does not intend to offer a complete methodology for church history, and will not consider all the questions and viewpoints regarding periodisation, historiography, different sources for church history, etc. Instead the article presents thoughts on some aspects of a methodology for church history.