Introducing Major Theologians: From The Apostolic Fathers To The Twentieth Century

Is newer really better? We often assume so but if we do treat the past as inferior we will ignore the legacy of history and thus will find ourselves stranded on the tiny desert island of our own moment in time. In particular this applies to Christian theology which should be thought and lived corporately by the church down through the ages. The remedy to chronological snobbery is as C. S. Lewis put it to keep the clean sea breeze of the centuries blowing through our minds. Such is the motivation behind Michael Reeves introduction to a selection of influential or significant Christian theologians. This accessible and informative volume covers the Apostolic Fathers Justin Martyr and Irenaeus Athanasius Augustine Anselm Aquinas Luther Calvin Owen Edwards Schleiermacher Barth and Packer. Each chapter begins with a brief biography and some background and then surveys each theologians major work or works gives a timeline for historical context and ends with guidance for further reading. This book was previously available as two separate volumes (The Breeze of the Centuries and On Giants Shoulders) but now repackaged together with a new chapter on J I Packer.