Synopses & Reviews
An ideal resource for students, this Companion brings together an international team of nearly 50 contemporary scholars to introduce the theologians responsible for shaping the Christian story through the ages. It comprises over 75 entries on the most important and influential figures in the history of Christianity, including amongst others, Augustine, Thomas Aquinas, C. S. Lewis, James Cone, and Rosemary Radford Reuther.
The volume combines authoritative profiles of key Catholic, Protestant, Evangelical, and progressive theologians with a blend of substantial essays and overviews which discuss their historical significance within the field. The comprehensive A-Z entries establish each theologian within their immediate context and summarize their primary work. The companion is neatly structured around five key time periods spanning the early centuries through the Middle Ages, Reformation, Enlightenment, and the twentieth-century to the present. Incorporating a variety of student aids including a timeline, a glossary of key terms, and essential reading lists, The Student's Companion to the Theologians provides an accessible reference to the key people who have shaped the Christian tradition.
Review
"The work's audience is "the student who is taking introductory classes in theology," though a resource as distinctive and informative as this quickly will prove its usefulness to others as well." (
CHOICE, December 2009)"Worth the money, intellectually sound, and well targeted." (
Reference Reviews, January 2010)
"It stands out as an excellent resource for anyone interested in the development of theology." (Theological Librarianship, December 2009)
"Care has been taken to ensure that theologians from all periods of Christian history have been included and that Catholic, Protestant, Evangelical, liberal, and feminist perspectives are represented." (Booklist, November 2009)
"The Blackwell Companion to the Theologians nicely complements existing reference works and is an appropriate addition to theological and research libraries as well as libraries with strong collections in Christianity." (Religion and Spirituality, November 2009)
Review
“A resource as distinctive and informative as this quickly will prove its usefulness.” CHOICE “It stands out as an excellent resource for anyone interested in the development of theology.” Theological Librarianship
“ Worth the money, intellectually sound, and well targeted.” Reference Reviews
Review
“Notwithstanding these gaps and some odd choices, the fact that many of the entries were of an exceptionally high quality makes the Companion a reference work that is well worth the purchase price.” (
Reviews in Religion & Theology, 3 July 2013)
Review
"Well conceived and organized, this work draws upon a wide range of authors. Both broadly comprehensive and introductory, this is the perfect companion for anyone delving into the world – historical and contemporary – of Christian theology. Professor and students alike, will find this book and invaluable and frequently used resource."
–Heidi Hadsell, Hartford Seminary
"As browsable as it is useful, this encyclopedic volume reads like a leisurely conversation among old friends. It will refresh professors, inspire students, and delight all who love the church. This is a book that will be fun to read in the short term but will last a long time on your library shelf."
–Stephen H Webb, Wabash University
Synopsis
THE STUDENT'S COMPANION TO THE THEOLOGIANS
Synopsis
"As browsable as it is useful, this encyclopedic volume reads like a leisurely conversation among old friends. It will refresh professors, inspire students, and delight all who love the church. This is a book that will be fun to read in the short term but will last a long time on your library shelf."
--Stephen H Webb, Wabash University
This two-volume companion brings together a team of contemporary theologians and writers to provide substantial introductions to the key people who shaped the Christian story and tradition.
- Comprises over 75 entries on the most important and influential figures in the history of Christianity, written by an international team of nearly 50 contemporary theologians
- A to Z entries range from substantial essays to shorter overviews, each of which locates the theologian in their immediate context, summarizes the themes of their work, and explains their significance
- Covers a broad span of theologians, from Augustine to Thomas Aquinas, through to C. S. Lewis, James Cone, and Rosemary Radford Reuther
- Accessibly structured around five periods: early centuries, middle ages, reformation period, the Enlightenment, and the twentieth-century to the present
- Provides profiles of key Catholic, protestant, evangelical, and progressive theologians
- Explains the technical details of theology in accurate and accessible ways, and includes a variety of student aids, including a timeline to orientate the reader, reading lists, and a glossary of key terms
Synopsis
An ideal resource for students, this Companion brings together an international team of nearly 50 contemporary scholars to introduce the theologians responsible for shaping the Christian story through the ages. It comprises over 75 entries on the most important and influential figures in the history of Christianity, including amongst others, Augustine, Thomas Aquinas, C. S. Lewis, James Cone, and Rosemary Radford Reuther.
The volume combines authoritative profiles of key Catholic, Protestant, Evangelical, and progressive theologians with a blend of substantial essays and overviews which discuss their historical significance within the field. The comprehensive A-Z entries establish each theologian within their immediate context and summarize their primary work. The companion is neatly structured around five key time periods spanning the early centuries through the Middle Ages, Reformation, Enlightenment, and the twentieth-century to the present. Incorporating a variety of student aids including a timeline, a glossary of key terms, and essential reading lists, The Student's Companion to the Theologians provides an accessible reference to the key people who have shaped the Christian tradition.
Synopsis
This companion brings together a team of contemporary theologians and writers to provide substantial introductions to the key people who shaped the Christian story and tradition.
- A substantial reference work, bringing together over 75 entries on the most important and influential theologians in the history of Christianity
- Structured accessibly around five periods: early centuries, middle ages, reformation period, the Enlightenment, and the twentieth-century to the present
- A to Z entries range from substantial essays to shorter overviews, each of which locates the theologian in their immediate context, summarizes the themes of their work, and explains their significance
- Covers a broad span of theologians, from Augustine to Thomas Aquinas, through to C. S. Lewis, James Cone, and Rosemary Radford Reuther
- Provides profiles of key Catholic, protestant, evangelical, and progressive theologians
- Includes a useful timeline to orientate the reader, reading lists, and a glossary of key terms
About the Author
Ian S. Markham is the Dean and President of Virginia Theological Seminary. Awards include the Robertson Fellow 2006, Teape Lecturer in India 2004, Claggett Fellow attached to Washington National Cathedral in 2000, and Frank Woods Fellow at Trinity College, Melbourne in 1997. He is the author and editor of numerous books, including The Wiley-Blackwell Companion to the Anglican Communion (edited with J. Barney Hawkins IV, Justyn Terry & Leslie Nuñez Steffensen, 2013), Against Atheism: Why Dawkins, Hitchens, and Harris Are Fundamentally Wrong (2010), A World Religions Reader, 3rd edition (2009), Understanding Christian Doctrine (2007), and Do Morals Matter (2006), all published by Wiley-Blackwell.
Table of Contents
Notes on Contributors viii
Preface xiii
Acknowledgments xv
Timeline xvi
Early Centuries 1
The Apocalypse of John 3
Arius (c.256–336) 6
Athanasius (c.295–373) 16
Augustine of Hippo (c.354–430) 26
Boethius (c.475–c.524) 31
The Cappadocians (c.329–c.524) 43
Cyril of Alexandria (c.378–444) and Nestorius of Constantinople (c.381–c.451) 48
Ephrem the Syrian (c.306–73) 60
Ignatius of Antioch (c.35–c.110) 71
Irenaeus of Lyons (2nd century) 74
John the Evangelist 79
Marcion (c.85–c.160) 89
Maximos the Confessor (580–662) 93
Origen (c.185–254) 103
The Apostle Paul 113
The Synoptic Evangelists: Mark, Matthew, and Luke 119
Tertullian (Quintus Septimius Florens Tertullianus) (c.155–c.225) 128
Middle Ages 137
Peter Abelard (1079–1142) 139
St Anselm of Canterbury (1033–1109) 142
Thomas Aquinas, OP (c.1224–74) 153
Bernard of Clairvaux (1090–1153) 159
Bonaventure (c.1217–74) 162
Duns Scotus (c.1266–1308) 171Julian of Norwich (1342–c.1416) 181
William Ockham (c.1280–c.1349) 187
Reformation Period 197
John Calvin (1509–64) 199
Richard Hooker (1554–1600) 204
Martin Luther (1483–1546) 208
Philip Melanchthon (1497–1560) 216
The Reformation 219
Teresa of Ávila (1515–82) 227
Enlightenment and Modern Period 237
Donald Baillie (1887–1954) 239
John Baillie (1886–1960) 245
Karl Barth (1886–1968) 250
Emil Brunner (1889–1966) 256
John Nelson Darby (1800–1882) 262
Georges Vasilievich Florovsky (1893–1979) 265
Georg Wilhelm Friedrich Hegel (1770–1831) 276
Immanuel Kant (1724–1804) 287
Søren Kierkegaard (1813–55) 290
C. S. (Clive Staples) Lewis (1898–1963) 295
John Henry Newman (1801–90) 299
Reinhold Niebuhr (1892–1971) 310
Friedrich Daniel Ernst Schleiermacher (1768–1834) 320
Gottfried Thomasius (1802–75) 326
Paul Tillich (1886–1965) 338
B. B. Warfield (1851–1921) 350
Twentieth Century to Present 353
Hans Urs von Balthasar (1905–88) 355
Serge Laugier de Beaurecueil (1917–2005) 367
Black Theology 371
Dietrich Bonhoeffer (1906–45) 378
James Cone (1938– ) 390
Austin Farrer (1904–68) 393
Hans Frei (1922–88) 397
Colin Gunton (1941–2003) 400
Gustavo Gutiérrez (1928– ) 402
Stanley Hauerwas (1940– ) 406
John Hick (1922–2012) 416
Elizabeth A. Johnson, CSJ (1941– ) 427
Martin Luther King, Jr. (1929–68) 431
Liberal Theology 438
George Lindbeck (1923– ) 451
Donald MacKinnon (1913–94) 454
John Milbank (1952– ) 458
Jürgen Moltmann (1926– ) 461
Richard John Neuhaus (1936–2009) 472
James Packer (1926– ) 475
Wolfhart Pannenberg (1928– ) 478
Charles Philip Price (1920–99) 486
Process Theology 491
Karl Rahner (1904–84) 502
Rosemary Radford Ruether (1936– ) 512
Elisabeth Schüssler Fiorenza (1938– ) 515
Dorothee Sölle (1929–2003) 518
Richard Swinburne (1934– ) 522
Vatican II 527
Keith Ward (1938– ) 541
Glossary 546
Index 550