Historical Theology, An Introduction to the History of Christian Thought

321 Pages·2016·6.99 MB·English

by  Alister E. McGrath

ALISTER E. McGRATH
Praise for the previous edition M
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“Useful in undergraduate courses, as well as in introductory seminary ones. McGrath’s prose is clear and
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precise. He is very good at articulating distinctions between concepts ... Historical Theology would be a
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valuable reference book to have in one’s library.... As one already hooked on historical theology, this reader
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found her interest renewed and expanded numerous times by McGrath’s book.”
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The Journal of Religion

“This approach is very well-pitched for the intended readership, particularly those who are teaching

themselves. Historical Theology is an excellent resource, both for the teacher and student.” H
Morwenna Ludlow, St John’s College, Oxford
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“Perhaps for the fi rst time an expansive and ecumenical survey of Christian Theology has been produced that
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can be read with the same ease as a serious but gripping novel.... This book will serve as an invaluable tool: it
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locates theological innovation and controversy in its context-specifi c situation.”
G.W.P. McFarlane, London Bible College
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This popular introduction to the history of Christian thought has been thoroughly revised and expanded
for a second edition. It features substantial new material, including additional coverage of orthodox
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theology, the Holy Spirit, and medieval mysticism, alongside new sections on liberation, feminist, and Latino
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theologies, as well as on the global spread of Christianity.
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Covering the entire history of Christian thought, this textbook provides all the material needed for a broad
understanding of Christian theological development, from the earliest days of the Church Fathers right up
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to the present day. The book is ordered into four distinct periods, the Patristic period, the Middle Ages and
Renaissance, the Reformation and post-Reformation, and the modern period, addressing the key ideas,
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processes and people in each. Readers are encouraged to interact with the material through case studies
and study questions at the end of each section which explore central themes, and primary texts are included H
to facilitate deeper understanding of the issues discussed.
A set of comprehensive glossaries encompass theologians, theological developments, and important words,
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names, and phrases.
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Meeting the demand for a vibrant, chronological historical treatment of the subject, this authoritative and
accessible volume is a welcome new edition of a bestselling textbook. Additional resources to support the L
book are available at www.wiley.com/go/mcgrath. HISTORICAL
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ALISTER E. MCGRATH is the Head of the Centre for Theology, Religion & Culture at King’s College London, G
having previously been Professor of Historical Theology at the University of Oxford. He is one of the world’s
leading Protestant theologians and has long been involved in theological education. McGrath is also the Y THEOLOGY
author of some of the most widely used theology textbooks, including the bestselling Christian Theology:
An Introduction (2010, Wiley-Blackwell), now in its fi fth edition. He is in constant demand as a speaker at
conferences throughout the world.
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Cover image: Stained glass window from Manresa Jesuit Retreat Center, IC An Introduction to the History of Christian Thought
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Staten Island. Photo by P.N. Ralley, www.stainedglassphotography.com I
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Cover design by Nicki Averill
ND SECOND EDITION

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HISTORICAL
THEOLOGY
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Also by Alister E. McGrath from Wiley-Blackwell
Historical Theology: An Introduction to the History of Christian Thought ,
Second Edition (2012)
Reformation Thought: An Introduction , Fourth Edition (2012)
Theology: The Basic Readings , Second Edition (edited, 2012)
Theology: The Basics , Third Edition (2012)
Luther ’ s Theology of the Cross: Martin Luther ’ s Theological Breakthrough ,
Second Edition (2011)
Darwinism and the Divine: Evolutionary Thought and Natural Theology (2011)
The Christian Theology Reader , Fourth Edition (edited, 2011)
Christian Theology: An Introduction , Fifth Edition (2011)
Science and Religion: A New Introduction , Second Edition (2009)
The Open Secret: A New Vision for Natural Theology (2008)
The Order of Things: Explorations in Scientific Theology (2006)
Christianity: An Introduction , Second Edition (2006)
Dawkins ’ God: Genes, Memes, and the Meaning of Life (2004)
The Intellectual Origins of the European Reformation , Second Edition (2003)
Christian Literature: An Anthology (edited, 2003)
A Brief History of Heaven (2003)
The Blackwell Companion to Protestantism (edited with Darren C. Marks, 2003)
The Future of Christianity (2002)
Christian Spirituality: An Introduction (1999)
Historical Theology: An Introduction (1998)
The Foundations of Dialogue in Science and Religion (1998)
The Blackwell Encyclopedia of Modern Christian Thought (edited, 1995)
A Life of John Calvin (1990)
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HISTORICAL
THEOLOGY
An Introduction to the History of Christian Thought
SECOND EDITION
ALISTER E. MCGRATH
A John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., Publication
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This second edition first published 2013
© 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd
Edition History: Blackwell Publishers (1e, 1998)
Wiley-Blackwell is an imprint of John Wiley & Sons, formed by the merger of Wiley ’ s global
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how to apply for permission to reuse the copyright material in this book please see our website at
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The right of Alister E. McGrath to be identified as the author of this work has been asserted
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All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system,
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All brand names and product names used in this book are trade names, service marks, trademarks
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Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
McGrath, Alister E., 1953–
Historical theology : an introduction to the history of Christian thought /
Alister E. McGrath. – 2nd ed.
p. cm.
Includes bibliographical references and index.
ISBN 978-0-470-67285-3 (hardcover : alk. paper) – ISBN 978-0-470-67286-0 (pbk. : alk. paper)
1. Theology–History. I. Title.
BT21.2.M17 2012
230.09–dc23
2011046040
A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library.
Set in 10/13pt Minion by SPi Publisher Services, Pondicherry, India
1 2013
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Brief Contents
How to Use this Book xii
Introduction 1
Th e Concept of “Th eology”: A Brief Introduction 1
Th e Architecture of Th eology 4
Historical Th eology: Its Purpose and Place 8
1 The Patristic Period, c.100–451 16
A Clarifi cation of Terms 17
Diffi culties in Approaching Patristic Th eology 17
Th e Historical Background to Patristic Th eology 18
Centers of Th eological Refl ection 22
Key Th eologians 22
Key Th eological Developments 26
Key Names, Words, and Phrases 35
Questions 35
Case Studies 36
2 The Middle Ages and the Renaissance, c.500–1500 77
On Defi ning the “Middle Ages” 78
Medieval Th eological Landmarks in Western Europe 80
Th e Rise of Scholasticism 84
Th e Italian Renaissance 84
Th e Rise of Humanism 85
Medieval Th eological Landmarks in Eastern Europe 86
Key Th eologians 88
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BRIEF CONTENTS
Key Th eological Developments 93
Key Names, Words, and Phrases 98
Questions 98
Case Studies 98
3 The Reformation and Post-Reformation Periods, 1500–1750 124
Reformation – or Reformations? 125
A Clarifi cation of Terms 126
Post-Reformation Movements 133
Key Th eologians 136
Key Th eological Developments 139
Developments in Th eological Literature 141
Key Names, Words, and Phrases 146
Questions 146
Case Studies 146
4 The Modern Period, 1750 to the Present Day 182
A Cultural Watershed: Th e Enlightenment 184
Th e Enlightenment Critique of Christian Th eology 184
Romanticism and the Critique of the Enlightenment 187
Th e Crisis of Faith in Victorian England 189
Postmodernism and a New Th eological Agenda 190
Key Th eologians 192
Some Recent Western Th eological Movements and Trends 195
Key Names, Words, and Phrases 209
Questions 210
Case Studies 210
Where Next? 269
Details of Th eologians 271
A Glossary of Th eological Terms 276
For Further Reading 288
Sources of Citations 292
Index 297
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Full Contents
How to Use this Book xii
Introduction 1
Th e Concept of “Th eology”: A Brief Introduction 1
Th e Architecture of Th eology 4
Biblical studies 5
Systematic theology 6
Philosophical theology 7
Pastoral theology 7
Church history 8
Historical Th eology: Its Purpose and Place 8
Th e development of historical theology 9
Historical theology as a pedagogic tool 11
Historical theology as a critical tool 12
Historical theology as a resource for systematic theology 14
1 The Patristic Period, c.100–451 16
A Clarifi cation of Terms 17
Diffi culties in Approaching Patristic Th eology 17
Th e Historical Background to Patristic Th eology 18
Th e historical importance of the city of Rome 19
Th e problem of persecution 19
Th e conversion of Constantine 20
Th e development of public theological debate 21
Centers of Th eological Refl ection 22
Key Th eologians 22
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FULL CONTENTS
Justin Martyr 22
Irenaeus of Lyons 24
Origen 24
Tertullian 24
Athanasius 25
Augustine of Hippo 25
Key Th eological Developments 26
Th e relation of Christian faith and classical culture 26
Th e extent of the New Testament canon 27
Th e role of tradition 28
Th e fi xing of the ecumenical creeds 29
Th e two natures of Jesus Christ 30
Th e doctrine of the Trinity 32
Th e doctrine of the church 32
Th e doctrine of grace 33
Key Names, Words, and Phrases 35
Questions 35
Case Studies 36
1.1 Th e Bible and tradition 36
1.2 Th e Arian controversy: Th e divinity of Christ 41
1.3 Th e Alexandrian Christological school: Th e Apollinarian controversy 46
1.4 Th e Antiochene Christological school: Th e Nestorian controversy 49
1.5 Th e Trinity: Early developments and controversies 53
1.6 Th e church: Th e Donatist controversy 62
1.7 Grace: Th e Pelagian controversy 67
1.8 Faith and philosophy 73
2 The Middle Ages and the Renaissance, c.500–1500 77
On Defi ning the “Middle Ages” 78
Medieval Th eological Landmarks in Western Europe 80
Th e Carolingian renaissance 80
Th e rise of cathedral and monastic schools of theology 80
Th e religious orders and their “schools of theology” 82
Th e founding of the universities 82
Peter Lombard ’ s Four Books of the Sentences 83
Th e Rise of Scholasticism 84
Th e Italian Renaissance 84
Th e Rise of Humanism 85
Medieval Th eological Landmarks in Eastern Europe 86
Th e emergence of Byzantine theology 87
Th e iconoclastic controversy 87
Th e hesychastic controversy 87
Th e fall of Constantinople (1453) 88
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