Is the idea of doctrinal development compatible with belief in the abiding truth of Christianity

Is the idea of doctrinal development compatible with belief in the abiding truth of Christianity? The problem that the development of doctrine presents to the church is simple. On the one hand, Christianity is presented as containing the lasting and eternal truth of salvation and eternal life, and on the other hand, when the history of the church is studied, the details within which this truth is presented, have quite clearly changed. This problem is …

…took the pope as his constancy, and relied on the popes to prevent Christianity going off the rails. Others have seen the bible as their guide, and others as being the Holy Spirit. Perhaps what all doctrine change needs to refer back to is the Christ-event; to decide whether or not the language used is compatible. [Arius, for instance, did not use the language of ‘ultimate concern’ for Christ, who was indeed, the ‘ultimate concern’.]