A Concise History of Christian Thought: Completely Revised and Expanded Edition

by Tony Lane

Publisher:

Baker Academic

, 2006

Overview

A Concise History of Christian Thought offers a succinct, readable survey of key Christian thinkers and significant theological developments from the church's inception to the present. Tony Lane surveys over one hundred important Christian thinkers ranging from Origen and Justin Martyr, to Anselm and Aquinas, to Luther and Menno Simons, to John Hicks and Joseph Ratzinger (Pope Benedict XVI). With the modern period especially, Lane has also introduced an element of evaluation as a guide to the reader, though the primary aim is to allow the thinkers to speak for themselves.

The book is divided into five parts:

1. The Church Fathers to AD 500
2. The Eastern Tradition
3. The Medieval West
4. Reformation and Reaction
5. Christian Thought in the Modern World

In each section, the reader will encounter surveys of key Christian thinkers, major creeds, councils, and documents. Representative extracts allow the reader to hear from each of the key thinkers covered in his or her own words. After having sold more than 50,000 copies in its earlier editions, the current edition has been refined and updated throughout and includes new material on key contemporary thinkers.

Contents

Top Highlights

“First, the adoption of Christianity as the state religion led to a massive influx of superficial converts from paganism.” (Page 5)

“Ignatius is the first writer clearly to present the threefold pattern of ministry: one bishop in a church with his presbyters and deacons.” (Page 8)

“Secondly, the persecuted church of the martyrs became before long the persecuting state church.” (Page 5)

“The Didache or Teaching of the Lord to the Gentiles through the Twelve Apostles is the oldest surviving manual of church discipline.” (Page 9)

“Thirdly, as Europe became Christian, Christianity was in danger of becoming the tribal religion of the Europeans.” (Page 5)

Product Details

• Title: A Concise History of Christian Thought: Completely Revised and Expanded Edition
• Author: Tony Lane
• Edition: Completely Revised and Expanded Edition
• Publisher: Baker Academic
• Print Publication Date: 2006
• Logos Release Date: 2009
• Pages: 352
• Language: English
• Resources: 1
• Format: Digital › Logos Research Edition
• Subjects: Theologians › Biography; Theology, doctrinal › History
• ISBNs: 9780801031595, 0801031591
• Resource ID: LLS:CNCSHSTCHRTHT
• Resource Type: Monograph
• Metadata Last Updated: 2022-09-29T22:51:19Z

About Tony Lane

Tony Lane is professor of historical theology and director of research at the London School of Theology. He is the author of a number of books, including John Calvin: Student of the Church Fathers, and Justification by Faith in Catholic-Protestant Dialogue.