The Dictionary of Historical Theology
Overview
The Dictionary of Historical Theology is a major reference work designed for anyone interested in the history and development of Christian theology. Featuring 314 articles on the key figures, theological movements, and significant texts that have shaped Christian thought, Dictionary of Historical Theology traces the doctrinal development of Christianity from the early church to the present. Varying in length from 500 to 15,000 words, these entries treat the intellectual antecedents and descendants of the figures or schools of thought covered as well as their influence on the wider development of the Christian tradition.
The 173 contributors to this dictionary are, without exception, proven experts on the subjects they address. Drawn from international and interdenominational circles, they tell the story of Christianity from a wide variety of perspectives, successfully capturing the great diversity of traditions that make up the Christian community today.
Comprehensive in scope yet concisely written, Dictionary of Historical Theology is one of the most accessible and reliable single-volume compendiums of Christian thought available.
Praise for the Print Edition
Recommended not only for academic and seminary libraries but for community libraries whose members have an interest in Christian theology.
—Library Journal
There are well crafted articles by excellent scholars, and topics which take me beyond familiar terrain. It would be a worthwhile addition to one's reference collection.
—Denver Journal
This helpful volume—both competent and broad in scope—will be welcomed by all who teach historical theology.
—Alister McGrath
Product Details
- Title: The Dictionary of Historical Theology
- Editor: Trevor Hart
- Publisher: Paternoster
- Publication Date: 2000
- Pages: 599
Sample Pages from the Print Edition
Reviews
4 ratings
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db
10/6/2015
Rick
8/14/2015
Ask Mr. Religion
11/5/2014
John Shelton
11/1/2014
This is a fairly large work (over 570 pages) but its title is misleading. When I purchased this years ago I was anticipating a work similar to Elwell's Dicionary of Theology, but from an historical perspective. Time and time again I look for historical events or people or movements and they are absent from this work. With only 314 articles total, this work really just highlights the grand movements and thinkers throughout Christian history. Most topics covered are given about 1.5 pages, with a brief list of further reading cited at the end (which is very helpful). For my purposes, Wikipedia has proven much more useful than this book. What is good about this book? It is well written. It does cover many of the major themes to understand the major flow of church history. It is more of a history book of abstracts than a dictionary, if only it had been arranged chronologically and had received an accurate title. I want to give this book 4 stars for what it does cover; but in my thinking, the title serves as a sort of thesis for a book. And in this case, I found it misleading.
