Brief History of Theology

Derek Johnston is a retired teacher. He was Vice-Principal of Midleton College, Co Cork, Ireland, where he taught for over 30 years.

"At first glance, it would seem impossible to write a history of Christian theology that runs only 300-odd pages. However, this book is not so much a history of theology as it is a sampling of key figures from that history. These theological "snapshots" are designed to provide an introduction to readers who have little or no familiarity with the subject. Johnston (former vice principal, Midleton Coll., Ireland) has over 30 years of experience teaching theology, and he is effective in explaining difficult concepts in a clear and simple manner. He also includes helpful definitions of theological terms throughout the book, assisting the reader in grasping the material. Johnston generally makes excellent selections in terms of theological figures to cover, featuring Paul, gospel writers, Augustine, Aquinas, Luther, Loyola, Calvin, Wesley, Schleiermacher, Newman, Barth, Bonhoeffer, Rahner, Reuther, Breuggeman, and Cupitt. Johnston also provides brief historical discussions that link the different periods covered by these theological writers. Recommended for all libraries.

• 1. Writers of the New Testament: The First Christian Theologians; 2. Augustine of Hippo: a Father of the Church; 3. St Thomas Aquinas and the Reasonableness of Faith; 4. Martin Luther and the Protestant Reformation; 5. St Ignatius Loyola and John Calvin: The two sides dig in; 6. John Wesley and Evangelical Revival; 7. The Contexts of Modern Theology; 8. Friedrich Schleiermacher and Religious Feeling; 9. John Henry Newman and Catholic Renewal. 10. Karl Barth and a Theology of the Word; 11. Dietrich Bonhoeffer and the Cost of Discipleship; 12. Karl Rahner and Human Transcendence; 13. Rosemary Radford Ruether and Women-Church; 14. Walter Brueggemann and the Biblical Imagination; 15. Don Cupitt and being Adrift.