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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
Overview
Church of God (Seventh Day) doctrinal development* The WCG's history is rooted in the Church of God (Seventh Day) and thus its doctrinal positions are found in that organisation from decades ago*
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
Herbert W Armstrong's Early Beliefs and Doctrines How some early doctrines were later changed or continued on with greater detail and depth
Herbert W Armstrong and the Reform of Church Governance How the understanding of Church administration/governance changed over time. Observances are made concerning the strictness concerning the Law (including how the Sabbath was observed) and various identifications of unclean meats, mixed fabrics, 3rd tithe administration etc
Holy Days and Calendar
History of Holy Day Observances since the First Century Note the section dealing with the revival of holy day observances in the nineteenth century
Feast of Tabernacles observance in the Radio/Worldwide Church of God Pages 5-6 of the linked article
Passover - development of observance since the 18th century Notes and references to prove it was observed
Pentecost - Historical changes How the Church changed from Sivan 6 to Monday to Sunday observance
Hebrew Calendar Herbert Armstrong's original 1940 statement and subsequent research by others
Prophecy
Captivity Doctrine/Warning Message (Ezekiel's Message) Just What do you Mean "Ezekiel's Message"? pp. 5-11
Church Eras Pages 2-4 of the linked article
Place of Safety Pages 1-2 of the linked article
Beast Prophecy Charts How the chart developed and changed since the 1800s and adopted and improved by HWA
National Origins
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?
God's Plan
Human Potential and God Family Herbert W Armstrong – Man of God, pp. 46-48. Also The Autobiography of Roderick C Meredith, p. 48.
Fair Chance and Last Great Day Pages 20-22 of the linked article. Further information with links to other authors here
Born Again A process culminating in the resurrection. The Born Again Teaching, pp. 7-21
Third Resurrection Page 4 of the linked article
Does the Bible teach the 'fall of man' Doctrine? Includes Church of God (Seventh Day) and Worldwide Church of God teachings. And how the latter changed its views on human nature
God's Law and Way of Life
Divorce and Remarriage How the doctrine changed over the years
Clean & Unclean Meats How the doctrine was restored and developed since the mid-1800s
History of Second & Third Tithe Doctrines in the Worldwide Church of God Teaching and discussion of this doctrine extends back into the late 1800s.
Other Doctrines
Rank of Apostle - how it came about in the 1950s Was Peter the Leading Apostle? pp. 14-17
Christ died on a stake, not a cross The shift of view on Christ's crucifixion from a cross to a stake
Wednesday Crucifixion & Saturday Resurrection Booklet by George Dellinger. This doctrine was believed by a number of researchers and theologians in the 19th and 20th century as well as the Church of God (Seventh Day)
Was Christ 36 or 72 Hours in the Tomb? Includes lists of articles advocating for a Wednesday Crucifixion dating back to the late 1800s in the Church of God (Seventh Day) and later in the Worldwide Church of God and offshoots.
History of the Spiritual Gifts Doctrine in the Churches of God Teaching and discussion of this doctrine extends back into the late 1800s.
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. You will find that by the late 1960s/early 1970s the WCG no longer taught that salvation and conversion occurred at baptism and then finally at the resurrection. It taught that born again, salvation, conversion were processes in 3 stages.
   

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

·        Footwashing at Passover

·        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.