Historical Theology (3rd Edition)

An Introduction to the History of Christian Thought

By: Alister E. Mcgrath

Narrated by: Jennifer M. Dixon

Historical Theology: An Introduction to the History of Christian Thought traces the development of Christian theology from its earliest days to the present. This authoritative, accessible textbook introduces the major theological movements, key ideas, and individual theologians of the Patristic Period, the Middle Ages and Renaissance, the Reformation and Post-Reformation, and the Modern Era up to the present day.

Now in its third edition, Historical Theology includes substantial new sections on theodicy, modern African Christologies, and postcolonial theology. This fully updated new edition: provides a general overview of each period covered, including historical background and main theological developments; features individual case studies and excerpts from primary texts; defines the fundamental theological vocabulary necessary for engaging with other works; highlights the importance of the discipline of historical theology and its place in wider Christian theology; contains references to further readings in each chapter and full glossaries of important words, names, phrases, and theological developments.

Written by one of the most renowned theologians in the field, Historical Theology: An Introduction to the History of Christian Thought, Third Edition remains the perfect textbook for advanced undergraduate and graduate courses.

©2023 John Wiley & Sons Ltd (P)2023 Tantor

strong academic book with flaws

he never presents a view as true or takes a dogmatic stance. it was just okay.

Well done

This is one of the best big-picture approaches to Christian theology that I've encountered. It is a difficult undertaking to offer a satisfactory overview of Christian thought. Strict history makes it difficult to grasp categories of thought (which are often developed over time) while a strictly systematic approach offers the categories but often at the expense of important historical context. The author does a good job of trying to balance the historical context, the theological content, and the significance of given debates for later periods. Overall well done. Careful, charitable, thoughtful, and informative.

Superb Overview for Christian Doctrine of the West

As the title of this review suggests, I believe that this work provides excellent content pertaining to the development of Christian Doctrine in the West. The author - who demonstrates a wide command of the pertinent materials - presents his overview in what might be called a dispassionate delivery. In other words, his outline of the development of theology contains a minimum of personal evaluations. Readers whose hearts long for a focus on the Christian East (Syrian churches, Greek Orthodoxy, Assyrian Churches, the Armenian Church, etc.) will probably feel unsatisfied by the current work. Where are the fathers of the Coptic and Armenian churches? What of the thought of Ephrem the Syrian, David the Invincible, or Grigor the Illuminator?? Nevertheless, the reader who approaches this volume with the expectation that it is primarily a historical theology of Christian Doctrine in the West will most likely find it to be both adequate and pleasant.

Appreciated.

Very detail and comprehensive account or the theological schools. It provides a guideline of historical progression of the theological discourse. Thanks.