new places, and attacked the true Christian fiiith at most unexpected points. Even some of them, as Cle- ment and Hilaiy, were temporarily ensnared by some of its subtleties. Docetism (the speculative view of Christ's person) reai^>ears in modem times in the mytUcal and spirituidistic theories which ** attempt to reduce Christianity to an esthetic religion, in wliith no realities are necessary but such as the human mind can supply as idecu** (Martensen, Dogmatics, § 128). See Schaff, Hist, of the Christian Church, i, § 71 ; Ne- ander, Church History (Torrey's edit), i, 886; ii, 717; Hase, Church History, § 87 ; Hagenbach, History of Doctrines; Domer, Doctrine of the Person of Chrut (Edinb. tzansL), div. i, vol. L
Dooh. See Docuus.
Doohan. See Millet.
Doctor (j^idaoKoKoi), a teacher, as the terms both signify (Luke ii, 46 ; v, 17 ; Acts v, 84). Anciently learned men among the Jews were denominated tssn, chaJxan^, sage, as among the Greeks they were called (To^Ct vtM. In the time of our Saviour the common appellative for men of that description was vofAoSidd- OKoXoc, "teacher of the law,'* or vo/Aucog, "lawyer," less exactly ypafifiartv^ ; in the Hebrew '^B'tb, so- pher^, meaning " scribe.'* They were addressed by the honorary title of 1*1, Rab, ^2^, Rcibbi, great, or master. The Jews, in imitation of the Greeks, had their seven wise men, who were called Rabhoni (q. v.), of which number Gamaliel was one. They called themselves the children of wisdom, an expression which corresponds very nearly to the Greek 0tXo<ro- 0OC, " philosopher'* (Matt, xi, 19 ; Luke vii, 85). The heads of sects were called fathers (Matt xii, 27 ; xxiii, l-9),,and the disciples, D'^^'^sbn, tahnidm', were de- nominated sons or children. The Jewish teachers, at least some of them, had private lectuie-rooms, but they also taught and disputed in synagogues, in tem- ples, and, in fact, wherever they could find an au- dience. The method of these teachers was the same with that wliich prevafled among the Greeks. Any disciple who chose might propose questions, upon which it was the duty of the teachers to remark and give their opinions (Luke ii, 46). See Disciple.
There is a difibrence of opinion as to what part of the Temple it was in which our Saviour was found sit- ting with the doctors. There was no school in the Temple; but there was a 83magogue, and several courts of council and judicature, including at this time the great Sanhedrim itself. It is very probable our Lord was ofl^red a seat among them, from their being struck with admiration at the searching power of his questions, and the depth of knowledge which they dis- played. But it is also possible that he might have sat on the floor with other young persons, while the doc- tors sat on raised benches, according to their custom. This was called sitting at their feet ; and as the bench- es were often raised in a semicircle, those who sat or stood in the area might well be said to be " among" the doctors. See Jbsus; Templb.
Teachers were not invested by any formal act of the Church or of the civil authority ; they were self-con- stituted. They received no other sidary than some voluntary present from the disciples, which was called nitrj, rendered " honor" (1 Tim. v, 17), and they ac- quired a subsistence chiefly by the exercise of some art or handicraft See Teacher. According to the Talmudists, they were bound to hold no conversation with women, and to refuse to sit at table with the low- er dass of people (Matt ix, 11 ; John iv, 27). The subjects on which they taught were numerous and of no great interest, of which there are abundant proofo .in the Talmud. See School.
Doctors of the law, frequently mentioned in the New Testament, were chiefly of the sect of the Pharisees ;
DOCTOR
846 DOCTRINE, CHRISTIAN
but they are sometimes distiDgiiiBlied firom that sect (Lake r, 17). See Lawyer.
In the schools that were established after the de- stmction of Jerusalem at Babylon and Tiberias, a sort of academical degree was conferred, the circnmstances attending the conferring of which are thus stated by Xaimonides. (1.) The candidate for the degree was examined both in reference to his moral character and his literary acqnurements. (2.) Having undergone this examination with approbation, the disciple then ascended an elevated seat (see Matt xxiii, 2). (8.) A writing tablet was presented to him, to signify that he should write down his acquisitions, since they might escape fh)m his memory, and, without being written down, be lost. (4.) A key was presented to him, to signify that he might now open to others the treasures of knowledge (see Luke xi, 62). (5.) Hands were laid upon him ; a custom derived from Numbers xxvii, 18. (6.) A certain power or authority was conferred upon him, probably to be exercised over his own disciples. (7.) Finally, he was saluted in the school of Hberias with the title of Rabbi, and in the school of Babylon with that of Bfaster. See Rabbi.
DOCTOR, primarily a teacher, 1. The title Doctor of Theology (^Doctor Theologia) is the highest academ- ical degree in theology. In England and America it is generally given under the title Doctor of Divinity {Doctor DimmtabU, abridged D.D.), or Doctor of Sa- cred Theology (S. T. D.).