Sarah also shared with Emma the story of Jesus Christ, who came to earth to save humanity from sin. Emma was moved by the sacrifice and love of Jesus, and she began to understand the significance of salvation.
The book’s opening statement establishes its necessity: “Without a solid foundation in theology, it is difficult to be a sound interpreter and exegete the scriptures.” Conner intended this work to serve as a bridge—an intermediate approach—between overly simplistic primers and dense, academic doctrinal studies.
| Doctrinal Section | Key Topics Covered | | :--- | :--- | | | Existence, nature, and attributes of God; the Trinity; the Creator-creature distinction. | | Christology (Jesus Christ) | Deity, incarnation, virgin birth, sinless life, atoning death, resurrection, and ascension. | | Pneumatology (Holy Spirit) | Personhood and deity; work in the Old and New Testaments; the baptism, gifts, and fruit of the Spirit. | | Bibliology (The Bible) | Inspiration, inerrancy, canonicity, and authority. | | Anthropology & Hamartiology (Man & Sin) | Creation of humanity; the Fall, original sin, and its consequences. | | Soteriology (Salvation) | Grace, faith, repentance, justification, regeneration, adoption, and assurance. | | Ecclesiology (The Church) | Nature, purpose, ordinances (baptism, Lord's Supper), and government of the Church. | | Eschatology (Last Things) | Death, resurrection, judgment, the return of Christ, and the eternal state. |
This is a reference tool. It uses an "analytical" style. You will see a lot of indentation (I, A, 1, a). This is meant to show how main ideas branch into sub-ideas. Foundations Of Christian Doctrine Kevin Conner.pdf
Conner examines the creation of humanity in the image of God, the tripartite nature of man (spirit, soul, and body), and the subsequent fall into sin. In Hamartiology, he defines the nature, origin, and consequences of sin, illustrating how human rebellion fractured creation and necessitated divine redemption. 6. Soteriology (The Doctrine of Salvation)
One of the first doctrines Conner explores is the sovereignty of God. He explains that God is the creator of the universe, and that He is in control of all things. This doctrine was both comforting and challenging for me. On the one hand, it was reassuring to know that God was in control, even when my life seemed chaotic. On the other hand, it was difficult to accept that God was sovereign over all things, including my own desires and plans.
Conner also explores the doctrine of the Trinity, which describes God as one God in three persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. This doctrine was fascinating to me, and I appreciated Conner's clear explanations of the different views on the Trinity. He writes, "The Trinity is not a doctrine that can be fully understood, but it is a doctrine that can be accepted and believed." (Conner, 45) I found this to be a helpful way to approach the Trinity, and it deepened my understanding of God's nature. Sarah also shared with Emma the story of
Why does this book remain a standard work for bible colleges around the world?
Whether you eventually find the PDF, buy the paperback, or listen to the lectures, the goal is the same: Let this book be a tool to build that unshakable faith.
| Option | Details | | :--- | :--- | | | kevinconner.org – Purchase the book and/or enroll in the video course (includes PDF) | | Amazon | Buy paperback or Kindle ebook | | BookScouter | Find best deals on used copies – Compare prices from 20+ online bookstores | | AbeBooks | Find affordable used copies – Prices start as low as $4 | | Goodreads | Read community reviews and ratings – Over 90% of ratings are 4 or 5 stars | | Library Access | Check WorldCat – Many theological libraries carry this title | | Doctrinal Section | Key Topics Covered |
Conner famously argued that revival without reformation (doctrinal structure) leads to spiritual shipwreck. This volume is the anchor.
Originally published in 1980 (with subsequent revised editions in 1995, 2007, and even a reformatted 2024 edition), Foundations of Christian Doctrine was written with a clear and urgent purpose.
Foundations of Christian Doctrine was written to provide an intermediate approach to theology, bridging the gap between basic introductory texts and more advanced, in-depth doctrinal studies. Conner deliberately designed the book to be a practical guide that provides both an outline ("seed") and substantive content ("bread") for the student. The ultimate goal is to equip believers with a solid theological foundation, which Conner argues is essential for becoming a sound interpreter of the Scriptures.
The persistent search for the proves one thing: The church still hungers for systematic, biblical truth. In an age of felt-needs sermons and emotional hype, Christians are turning back to doctrinal foundations. Kevin Conner provides that foundation—brick by brick, verse by verse, outline by outline.