The First Christian Theologiansoffers a comprehensive introduction to the theology of the early Church through an accessible and lively examination of the major individual theologians of the time.

This is a book about the earliest individual Christian theologians and those who entered into dialogue with them. It is also about the complexity of the process by which a ‘Christian theology’ came into existence. It begins with the earliest Christian writings, moves through the development of the early Church, examines the rival traditions to Christianity, and explores the work of the key Christian theologians in both the West and the East, ending at the important Council of Chalcedon.

Drawing on contributions from an international team of leading academics, and edited by G. R. Evans, this volume is indispensable reading for undergraduate students who need a readable and accessible introduction to the theology and history of the early Christian church.

Historians and theologians explore the earliest Christian theologians and the people who entered into dialogue with them, highlighting the complexity of the process by which a Christian theology came into being. They consider the Bible, the church, the rival traditions of Judaism and secular philosophy, and the maturing of early Christian theology in east and west.
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"Beyond doubt this is one of the best introductions available to the English reader who is interested in the Theology of the early Church." Mihail Neamtu, King's College, London

The First Christian Theologiansoffers a comprehensive introduction to the theology of the early Church through an accessible and lively examination of the major individual theologians of the time.

• Provides a comprehensive, single-volume introduction to the theology of the early Church.

• Features an accessible and lively examination of the major individual theologians from the first five centuries.

• Explores how Christian theology came into being – including detailed coverage of the Scriptural canon, preaching, heresies, and the role of ecumenical councils.

• Includes an international list of leading contributors.

• Edited by a leading academic in the field, with a reputation for producing first-rate, accessible books.

G. R. Evansis Professor of Medieval Theology and Intellectual History at the University of Cambridge. She is the author of numerous, critically-acclaimed books in the fields of patristic, medieval and Reformation history and theology, including Augustine on Evil (1982), Problems of Authority in the Reformation Debates (1992), The Church and the Churches (1994), Philosophy and Theology in the Middle Ages (1993), Law andTheology in the Middle Ages (2002), and Anselm (1989). G. R. Evans is also the author of A Brief History of Heresy (2003), and the editor of The Medieval Theologians (2000), also in the Great Theologians series, both published by Blackwell.

Preface.

Abbreviations.

Consolodated list of sources in translation.

Introduction G. R. Evans (University of Cambridge).

Part I: The Bible.

Part II: The Church.

Part III: Rival Traditions: Christian Theology and Judaism.

Part IV: Rival Traditions: Christian Theology and Secular Philosophy.

Part V: The Maturing of Early Christian Theology in East and West.

Conclusion: the End of an Era? G. R. Evans (University of Cambridge)