The Story of Christian Theology: Twenty Centuries of Tradition and Reform available in Hardcover
The Story of Christian Theology: Twenty Centuries of Tradition and Reform
- ISBN-10:
- 0830815058
- ISBN-13:
- 9780830815050
- Pub. Date:
- 04/01/1999
- Publisher:
- InterVarsity Press
- ISBN-10:
- 0830815058
- ISBN-13:
- 9780830815050
- Pub. Date:
- 04/01/1999
- Publisher:
- InterVarsity Press
The Story of Christian Theology: Twenty Centuries of Tradition and Reform
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Overview
History is made up of storiesnarratives that recount the events, movements, ideas and lives that have shaped religions and nations. Theologian Roger Olson believes that the history of Christian theology should be told as such a story, one replete with thick plots, exciting twists, interesting people and fascinating ideas.
In this panoramic work of historical theology Olson vividly recounts the deeds and words of the cultists and apostolic fathers of the second century, the clash between the theological schools of Alexandria and Antioch, the epochal division between East and West, the revolutionary advent of the Reformation and much more, right on up to the dazzling, sometimes dismaying fallout that has continued to shake Christians through the twentieth century. Through it all Olson detects and traces a common thread: a concern for salvationGod's redemptive activity in forgiving and transforming sinful human beings.
Evenhanded, refreshingly readable, impressive in its breadth and depth, The Story of Christian Theology is poised to become a standard historical theology text.
Product Details
ISBN-13: | 9780830815050 |
---|---|
Publisher: | InterVarsity Press |
Publication date: | 04/01/1999 |
Pages: | 652 |
Sales rank: | 1,025,441 |
Product dimensions: | 6.00(w) x 9.00(h) x 2.20(d) |
About the Author
Table of Contents
Abbreviations General Information for Readers Preface Introduction: Christian Theology as StoryPart I: The Opening Act: Conflicting Christian Visions in the Second Century 1. Critics Cultists Cause Confusion 2. The Apostolic Fathers Explain the Way 3. The Apologists Defend the Faith 4. Irenaeus Exposes HeresiesPart II: The Plot Thickens: Third-Century Tensions Transformations 5. North African Thinkers Examine Philosophy 6. Origen of Alexandria Leaves a Troubling Legacy 7. Cyprian of Carthage Promotes Unity 8. Christianity Gets Its Act TogetherPart III: A Great Crisis Rocks the Church: The Controversy About the Trinity 9. Alexandrians Argue About the Son of God 10. The Church Responds at the Council of Nicea 11. Athanasius Stubbornly Keeps the Faith 12. The Cappadocian Fathers Settle the IssuePart IV: Another Crisis Shakes the Church: The Conflict Over the Person of Christ 13. The Schools of Antioch Alexandria Clash over Christ 14. Nestorius Cyril Bring the Controversy to a Head 15. Chalcedon Protects the Mystery 16. Fallout from the Conflict ContinuesPart V: A Tale of Two Churches: The Great Tradition Divides Between East West 17. Augustine Confesses God's Glory Human Depravity 18. The Western Church Becomes Roman Catholic 19. The Eastern Church Becomes Eastern Orthodox 20. The Great Schism Creates Two Traditions Out of OnePart VI: The Saga of the Queen of Sciences: Scholastics Revive Enthrone Theology 21. Anselm Abelard Speculate About God's Ways 22. Thomas Aquinas Summarizes Christian Truth 23. Nominalists, Reformers Humanists Challenge the Scholastic SynthesisPart VII: A New Twist in the Narratives: The Western Church Reforms Divides 24. Luther Rediscovers the Gospel Divides the Church 25. Zwingli Calvin Organize Protestant Thought 26. Anabaptists Go Back to the Roots of Christianity 27. Rome Canterbury Go Separate But Parallel WaysPart VIII: The Center of the Story Falls Apart: Protestants Follow Diverse Paths 28. Arminians Attempt to Reform Reformed Theology 29. Pietists Seek to Renew Lutheran Theology 30. Puritans Methodists Struggle to Revive English Theology 31. Deists Try to Transform Protestant TheologyPart IX: The Overall Plots Divides: Liberals Conservatives Respond to Modernity 32. Liberal Theology Accommodates to Modern Culture 33. Conservative Theology Hardens Traditional Categories 34. Neo-Orthodoxy Transcends the Divide 35. Contemporary Theology Struggles with Diversity Conclusion: The Unfinished Story Its Future Notes IndexesWhat People are Saying About This
"An ideal history of Christian theology lies beyond the realm of human possibility, but all church members, along with pastors and students, will surely profit from Professor Olson's new presentation. In reasonably concise form, it uses judiciously selected incidents and movements to tell the story as a vast array of theologians, monks, ecclesiastics and teachers wrestled with the divine truths revealed in the life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. This historical survey offers a good foundation, not only for Christian scholarship but also for authentic Christian witness and ministry."
"A monumental achievement! The Story of Christian Theology is eminently readable, a welcome and helpful guide to the history of Christian theology."
"Roger Olson's The Story of Christian Theology is a real page-turner. Here is no bloodless and passionless history of ideas. Olson's Story pulsates with real people living in real time who pray, study, argue, struggle and even occasionally beat each other up over what and how to believe. Olson is convinced that beliefs matter and that the story of Christian theology is not yet finished. Without much effort readers can find themselves in this story too."
"In this clear and eminently readable text, Roger Olson not only tells the story of Christian theology in all its richness and diversity but also shows why the questions faced were important then and remain so for us today. Theology is shown to be about salvation and hence an ultimately practical endeavor. This is a book that deserves a wide readership in both the classroom and the church."
"Historical theology has never been known for winning popularity contests in Christian classrooms. It is too dated and too abstract. But Roger Olson is out to change that common perception. He has taken this aging beauty, dressed her up in a stylish storytelling outfit and trained her to speak to a contemporary audience. For my students Olson's The Story of Christian Theology has just moved to the top of my you've-got-to-meet-her list."
"Congratulations to Roger Olson for giving us a masterful survey of the main contours of Christian theology from the second century to the present day. This work is written with admirable clarity, capturing the major figures and movements with accurate descriptions as well as with an eye toward the effects of their views for later periods and contemporary times. Beginning as well as more advanced students can turn here with confidence to gain a sure sense of how the story of Christian theology has developed, what its primary issues have been and how the whole Christian church has been affected by what its theologians have believed, argued about and—unfortunately—at times have literally fought over. This is a fine achievement, a superb resource grounded in solid scholarship. Here is a volume that will be eminently useful for many years to come."
"A lucid and fair-minded account of highlights in the history of Christian thought. . . . An adventure in theological ideas."