What is a doctrine?

July 5th, 2025
by Cara Erickson

As someone who is curious about Christian concepts or even as a new believer in Christ, sometimes it’s hard to get a straight and simple answer to a question. There are reasons for this (God and His ways are very complex), but it can be hard to know where to start and it can be overwhelming to have to read and research all kinds of things just to get a simple answer. The goal of this series of posts is to provide simple, concise answers and definitions to common questions about Christianity. These posts won’t be long or complicated, they won’t delve into all of the layers and angles that could be addressed in regards to each question; that’s not the intention. The intention is to give a clear and concise answer so that someone who is curious or new to the faith can have a starting point to work from. Think of it as Christianity 101, the very basics you need to know about foundational concepts in Christianity. We hope this will allow you to read the Bible or listen to Christian preaching and have a better understanding of what is being said. You are always welcome to email us with any specific questions you have: info@theywaysgf.com.

What is a doctrine?

A doctrine is a school of thought on a particular aspect of Christianity. There are many different doctrines surrounding the topics of baptism, communion, end times, etc. To hold a particular doctrine means that you agree with a particular way of interpreting what the Bible teaches.

Another way to think about it is like a thesis statement. If someone asked you, “What do you believe about men’s and women’s roles in marriage?”, your answer would be your doctrine. There are different stances one can take in regards to Biblical topics; each of these stances is considered a doctrine or a doctrinal viewpoint.

Posted in Concise Christianity
Posted in Concise Christianity, doctrine