Why Study Church History?

Why do we need to study church history? Psalm 78:1-8 makes it clear.

Give ear, O my people, to my teaching;

incline your ears to the words of my mouth!

I will open my mouth in a parable;

I will utter dark sayings from of old,

things that we have heard and known,

that our fathers have told us.

We will not hide them from their children,

but tell to the coming generation

the glorious deeds of the Lord, and his might,

and the wonders that he has done.

He established a testimony in Jacob

and appointed a law in Israel,

which he commanded our fathers

to teach to their children,

that the next generation might know them,

the children yet unborn,

and arise and tell them to their children,

so that they should set their hope in God

and not forget the works of God,

but keep his commandments;

and that they should not be like their fathers,

a stubborn and rebellious generation,

a generation whose heart was not steadfast,

whose spirit was not faithful to God.

 

 We're bound to pass on what we have learned from those who have gone before us. And, to have that knowledge, we must study church history and all its ramifications. We can learn and apply much from those hearty, godly men who have weathered the theological storms before us. Let's take advantage of the vast amount of writings they have left for us.