Historical Theology – an introduction to the history of christian theology

Forlagets omtale:
In this significant new textbook, Alister McGrath utilises the successful historic chapters from CHRISTIAN THEOLOGY: AN INTRODUCTION, SECOND EDITION and builds on them to provide all the material that students will need to understand the development of Christian theology from its beginnings. His substantial introduction explains the place of historical theology within Christian theology as a whole, and outlines some of the best ways of studying it.

Table Of Contents:
How to use this book
introduction: the concept of 'theology' - a brief introduction
the architecture of theology
biblical studies
systematic theology
philosophical theology
historical theology - its purpose and place. Part 1 The patristic period,
c100-c451: an overview of the patristic period
a clarification of terms
key theologians
Justin Martyr
Irenaeus
Tertullian
Origen
Athansius
Augustine
key theological developments
the extent of the New Testament canon
the role of tradition
the fixing of the ecumenical creeds
the two natures of Jesus Christ
the doctrine of the Trinity
the doctrine of the Church
the doctrine of grace
key names, words and phrases
case studies - the Bible and tradition, the Arian controversy - the
divinity of Christ, the Alexandrian Christological School, the
Apollinarian controversy, the Antiochene Christological School - the
Nestorian Controversy, the Trinity, the Donatist Controversy, the Pelagian
Controversy, faith and philosophy. Part 2 The medieval and Renaissance
periods, c500-1500: the birth of the middle ages
the origins of monasticism
the rise of Celtic Christianity
a clarification of terms
Middle Ages
Renaissance
scholasticism
realism and nominalism
the modern way
the modern Augustinian School
humanism
Northern European humanism
Swiss humanism
French humanism
English humanism
key theologians of the period - Anselm of Canterbury, Thomas Aquinas, Duns
Scotus, William of Ockham, Erasmus of Rotterdam
key theological developments of the period - the consolidation of the
patristic heritage, the exploration of the role of reason in theology, the
development of theological systems, the development of sacramental
theology, the development of the theology of grace, the role of Mary in
the scheme of salvation, returning directly to the sources of Christian
theology, the critique of the Vulgate translation of Scripture, Byzantine
theology, key names, words and phrases
case studies - arguments for the existence of God
understandings of the atonement, discussion of the sacraments, the
interpretation of the Bible, Renaissance humanism and the Bible, some
themes in late-medieval theology. Part 3 The Reformation and
post-Reformation periods, 1500-1750. (Part contents)

In this text, Alister McGrath utilises the successful historic chapters from Christian Theology* An Introduction, Second Edition and builds on them to provide all the material that students will need to understand the development of Christian theology from its beginnings. A substantial introduction by McGrath explains the importance of historical theology, its place within the study of Christian theology as a whole and outlines some of the best ways of studying it. Numerous case studies of relevance to the subject have been added to each section to allow the reader to engage fully with a particular topic of historic debate, and each section is cross-referenced with McGrath's Christian Theology* An Introduction, Second Edition and with the primary texts included in his Christian Theology Reader. Historical Theology also provides its readers with full glossaries of key theologians, key theological developments and key names, words and phrases together with an extensive bibliography.

This textbook introduces students to the study of theology from an historic point of view. Building on the chapters in Christian Theology* An Introduction, it expands the content by including case studies which allow readers to engage more fully with a particular topic of historic debate.