An Introduction to the History of Christian Thought Alister E. McGrath Historical Theology: An Introduction to the History of Christian Thought
The concept of “theology” Theology = theos (God) + logos (word, discourse) Early period Apologetics Middle Ages Systematic analysis of the nature and purposes of God Shift into universities Enlightenment: justification for academic study of theology F. D. E. Schleiermacher Edward Farley
The architecture of theology Biblical studies Systematic theology Peter Lombard, Four Books of the Sentences Philosophical theology Pastoral theology Latin American liberation theology Puritan theologians Church history The church within culture
Historical theology Study of the historical development of Christian doctrines Relationship to: Church history Systematic theology The development of historical theology Adolf von Harnack, History of Dogma
Historical theology as a pedagogic tool “state of the question” report strengths and weaknesses of existing approaches landmarks in the development of Christian thinking Historical theology as a critical tool The suffering of God Patristic writers change = imperfection; suffering = change After World War I Protest Atheism ideas about love A resource for systematic theology