Nevin acknowledged the debt which he owed to the great German theologian Schleiermacher, who had so clearly impressed upon modern theology the significance of the Christological principle. Nevertheless, Nevin thought that Schleiermacher had gone astray in the deductions which he had made from the Christological principle, and hence was not to be followed on every point. Although the guiding principle of the Mercersburg Theology was taken over from Schleiermacher, the Christology of the group was developed in line with the ancient creeds of the Catholic Church. In this respect their new theology was more Anglican than German, more concerned with the significance of the Holy Catholic Church than with philosophical issues. A true Christology, Nevin felt, could be formulated only if close contact were kept with the spirit and letter of the ancient creeds of the Holy Catholic Church.
Luther J. Binkley, The Mercersburg Theology pg. 39
