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History of Doctrinal Development

in the Worldwide Church of God 

(What were the historical roots of many of the doctrines of the Church?)

NB: Church of God history articles here 

Articles and papers

Item

Where information can be found
The Doctrinal Heritage of the Church of God in the Nineteenth Century Background to the restoration or origin of many doctrines
Chart showing origin of various doctrines Several pages of information summarised in chart form
Born Again A process culminating in the resurrection. The Born Again Teaching, pages 7-21
Captivity Doctrine (Ezekiel's Message) Just What do you Mean "Ezekiel's Message"? pages 5-8
Church Eras Pages 2-4 of the linked article
Divorce and Remarriage How the doctrine changed over the years
Fair Chance and Last Great Day Pages 20-22 of the linked article. Further information with links to other authors here
Feast of Tabernacles observance in the Radio/Worldwide Church of God Pages 5-6 of the linked article
Hebrew Calendar Herbert Armstrong's original 1940 statement and subsequent research by others
Human Potential and God Family Herbert W Armstrong – Man of God, pages 46-48
Passover - development of observance since the 18th century Notes and references to prove it was observed
The doctrine about the identity of the 'lost' tribes of Israel The 'lost' tribes of Israel doctrine gradually entered the Church and was promoted in a major way by the Worldwide Church of God
The German-Assyrian connection How did the Church of God come to accept the Assyrian origin of the Germans and their place in history?
The Turk-Edomite connection The Church came to believe that the Turks, in the main, descend from Edom. How did this doctrine enter the Church?
Pentecost - Historical changes How the Church changed from Sivan 6 to Monday to Sunday observance
Place of Safety Pages 1-2 of the linked article
Rank of Apostle - how it came about in the 1950s Was Peter the Leading Apostle? pages 14-17
Third Resurrection Page 4 of the linked article
Wednesday Crucifixion & Saturday Resurrection This doctrine was believed by a number of researchers and theologians in the 19th and 20th century
Various other doctrines These are discussed in Herbert W Armstrong – Man of God and Doctrinal Heritage of the Church of God in the Nineteenth Century

New book on Church of God Sabbatarian History coming! Click for detals.

NB: From the Church of God (seventh day) and associated groups, Herbert W Armstrong learned fundamental doctrines such as the 7th day Sabbath and basic Christian living principles (repentance, faith, fruits of the spirit, beatitudes etc). In addition, he learned from them the following truths:  

·        Annihilation of the wicked

·        Basic Christian living

·        Church eras

·        Clean & unclean meats

·        Divorce & Remarriage

·        Gospel of the Kingdom of God

·        Healing

·        Holy spirit is a force, not a personage

·        Law of God and Ten Commandments

·        Laying on of hands

·        Man does not have an immortal soul

·        Millennium on earth

·        New birth/born again culminates in the resurrection (during the 1920s into the 1940s the Church of God generally taught this)

·        Passover on 14 Abib

·        Seven resurrections of the Roman Empire

·        The Christian reward is not heaven

·        Tithing

·        Water baptism

·        Wed Crucifixion-Sat Resurrection 

Not all of the above were officially listed doctrines or captured in their Fundamentals of Belief, but were taught and written about since the 19th century. HWA and the old WCG fleshed out these doctrines and expanded upon them. In addition, many other truths were incorporated into the old WCG's body of beliefs.