Reclaiming the “Dark Ages”: How the Gospel Light Shone from 500 to 1500

by Iain Wright, Yannick Imbert

See how the thread of orthodoxy runs throughout the history of the church – even in the thousand years known as the “Dark Ages”.

If you study church history closely, you will see that there is a continuous thread of faithful, glorifying theology that gives God due honour, that takes Scripture as the principal authority over life and faith, and that nourishes our wonder and worship.

Despite its somewhat derogatory name, we can see that the light of the gospel was by no means extinguished in the millennium between 500 and 1500. Iain Wright and Yannick Imbert outline the story of this time through the lives of ten key figures of the Medieval

Leo the Great (400–461)Boethius (476–524)Alcuin (735–804)Gottschalk (814–868)Anselm of Canterbury (1033–1109)Bernard of Clairvaux (1090–1153)Peter Waldo (1140–1205)Bonaventure(1221–1274)John Wycliffe (1320–1384)Jan Hus(1372–1415)Chronicles 1,000 Years of Orthodox Theology: see God’s providence in the faithful teaching of truth throughout history

Meet Key Historical some well–known, some less so, all in their place and time

Written for a wide audience: non–academic writing style makes this a great read for anyone interested in history

Genres: Church History, History, Biography, Theology

152 pages, Paperback

Published September 10, 2024

Reviews

[Michael Philliber · Rating 5 out of 5]

From my interactions with Protestant parishioners over the years, it seems to me that there is this high brick wall between the present and the past. Most are fairly in-tune with recent history (sort of), barely in-tune with Reformation history up to the near present, and utterly out-of-tune with anything before 31 October 1517. That's where the high brick wall looms, with no perceptible way to climb it and gaze on the other side. But recently Christian Focus has happily published a handy, 152-page paperback, "Reclaiming the Dark Ages: How the Gospel Light Shone from 500 to 1500." The authors,
Iain Wright, pastor of Covenant OPC, and Yannick Imbert, who holds the William Edgar Chair of Apologetics at Faculté Jean Calvin, Aix–en–Provence, southern France, and serves on the theological committee of the National Council of French Evangelicals, have sought to give Protestant Christians a boost so they can gaze over the wall, and a nice boost it is.


Wright and Imbert don't give readers a full-course meal, but rather a sampler plate. Guiding us chronologically, the authors allow us to spend a little time with Leo the Great (400–461), Boethius (476–524), Alcuin (735–804), Gottschalk (814–868), Anselm of Canterbury (1033–1109), Bernard of Clairvaux (1090–1153), Peter Waldo (1140–1205), Bonaventure(1221–1274), John Wycliffe (1320–1384), and Jan Hus (1372–1415). And they help us to start at the right end. Instead of readers seeing, first and foremost, the problems, dangers and unfaithfulness in those times, they help us to train "our theological minds to see the best first, instead of the worst" (xiv). The authors don't shy away from pointing out the theological and even moral problems, but they don't start there. In fact they help us to fathom a bit of the historical and social context of each specimen to consider the person charitably, while critically. That was clear all the way through and I kept saying, "Thank you, guys! Score one for you!"

In a nutshell, Wright and Imbert want us to see how the Gospel, God's truth, orthodox fidelity, and Scriptural priority have run through history. And for anyone who has ever delved deeply into the annuls of yesteryear knows, people are messy and antiquity was definitely untidy. Just like the world and the church are in 2024!

The authors spend a decent amount of time with each character. When one walks away from reading through Leo or Gottschalk, for example, they have a better sense of the times in which those characters lived, the theological and moral struggles around them and into which they lived, where they came up short, where they stood tall, and lessons we can learn from them. "The main thrust of this book was that the light of the Gospel was not expunged when Constantine made it acceptable to openly be part of the Church of Jesus Christ" (129). The authors reached their goal, in my mind.

"Reclaiming the Dark Ages" is perfect for just about anyone from Tweens to 80 year-olds. Ideal for High School and Adult classes, it is also very useful for personal education. Buy copies to give out this Christmas, and make sure you get one for your pastor. I highly recommend the book.

[T.K. CHAPMAN · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a good church history read! The authors focus on a handful of faithful leaders during what is considered the "dark ages," for the purpose of showing that there remained a thread of Gospel light even during the most corrupt times of the church's history. Each chapter contains a mini biography, information on the sociopolitical setting of the times, and an explanation of the leader's theology/teaching/work. This is a short book, but it gives a great overview.

[Ike · Rating 5 out of 5]

“Far from [Martin] Luther being a sudden flash of light bursting surprisingly on the scene bringing an end to the so-called “Dark Ages”, he was, in fact the beneficiary of those who had gone before. In God’s providence he was able to build on the faithful labours of previous generations.”

This book looks at 10 of those Medieval theologians that set the foundation for the Reformation. Brief biographies and the cultural and social contexts of the day help us understand the contribution of each person highlighted.

This is not a comprehensive history of the church. It is a short book that hits the high points and, hopefully, whets the appetite for further study. If you are looking for a better understanding of the progress of theology during at time that is falsely called “dark,” this book is a good place to start.

[Lou Allen · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a Christian non-fiction book. For enjoyment and what I got out of it, I would give it about 7/10.

From the cover, I thought this book was going to be more of a devotional or biographical work. However, while it does include some biographies, it actually reads more like an academic book on church history and the development of church doctrine.

It is quite short in length, which means it moves quickly through several different characters and eras. I found that the writing contained some theological jargon. I have studied theology, so I was fine with this, but it’s not really a devotional-type book. It did, however, fill in some gaps for me regarding what was happening in that time period and made me curious to learn more.

[Daniel Taylor · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Reclaiming the "Dark Ages"" is a very concise, yet very helpful introduction to many key figures during the Middle Age. The main idea I saw throughout this book was that though these days were "dark," the light of the gospel did not vanish. God was active in using men for the advancement of his kingdom and for the defense of the truths of his Word.

Another great thing about this book is that it has sparked a desire in me to read the works of the ten figures covered. There were quite a few I had never even heard of! So in this sense, I loved the book and would recommend it to any interested in Church history.

[Richard Ward · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars. The strength of this book is that it’s simple, clear, and does exactly what it sets out to do. It gives a helpful look at how the gospel light shone from 500 to 1500. It shows that God has never left the church without light—even during the so-called “Dark Ages.” It also pushes back on both Protestant and Catholic claims about the early church, reminding us that it “would be a mistake to argue that either Protestantism or Roman Catholicism sprang fully clothed and ready for battle.”

[NG · Rating 3 out of 5]

A very good introduction to 10 figures (their context, movements, theology, significance, and practical application to us today) from 10 centuries of church history. Who is this book most useful for? 1. I think it is a good refresher for those who have already obtained some familiarity with church history. 2. It may be a useful introduction that will inspire you to do further reading.

[sam tannehill · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is concise and informative with the stated goal to get readers interested in church history. I also appreciate that the author points to other history books, which are more expansive and thorough.

[Scott · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good book that gives you a glimpse of theology during the Middle Ages. Even during this time the gospel was still being proclaimed. This books talks about key figures that brought up doctrines that will be flushed out more during the Reformation.

[William Farley · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good information on Medievcalism

This book was OK. Lots of facts, very little insight into the people or persons discussed. I wouldn’t give it a super high rating, but it wasn’t bad either.

[Chris Frost · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very interesting read with an emphasis on understanding the culture of the times. I must say that my personal favorite would probably be Peter Waldo, who seems to have exemplified the words of Count Nikolaus von Zinzendorf...."preach the gospel, die, and be forgotten."

[Luke · Rating 5 out of 5]

Succint and purposeful, this volume chronicles the impacts of a select few of the giants (sinful giants, but giants nonetheless) on whose shoulders Christians today stand. I will definitely keep an eye out for more from these authors.

[Andy Gore · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not at all what I’d expected and I don’t think I ever recovered from that. The conclusion is on the whole very balanced and the authors do move beyond their working theological and evangelical assumptions.

[Gregory · Rating 3 out of 5]

A decent introduction. A bit repetitive at times. No footnotes, but they do list a few sources at the end. Helpful for Protestants who have only been exposed to caricatures of the "dark ages."

[Leif Suggests · Rating 5 out of 5]

The authors identify ten influential Christians of the Middle Ages to explain the wisdom of this unfairly maligned era. Highly recommended!

[Alicia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Some of the historical parts of this were hard to understand but overall really interesting

[Aaron · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'd been wanting to find a book that was a good gateway to church history, specifically how reformed ideas developed in the church, and this book made a good effort.

I particularly enjoyed the theology section in the second half of each chapter as well as the authors' honest attempts at encouraging unity in the church and limiting the use of their personal voice. They also made sure to mention that we must evaluate the claims made by these figures in their social and political context, which was commendable.
I learned about Leo the Great and his 'tomes' and Gottschalk with his controversial views (for that time) on double predestination, as well as Peter Waldo for his bravery to stand up for sound doctrine in the church, and his immense reverence for scripture. There were helpful lessons gathered from the successes and downfalls of each person mentioned.

On the other hand, the book wasn't what I had been hoping for. Often, the author would use sentences that felt a bit too complex and long-winded or include terminology, but wouldn't clarify what it meant. I feel like the book would have had a greater impact on me if it had more accessible language.
I realized this book was not for a beginner like me, but rather someone who already knew a good deal about the era and even Roman Catholic theology. However, that was my own personal experience, and I wouldn't hold it against the authors.
Some points that were made felt out of place or irrelevant, which made it harder to stay on track with the story about the character the chapter was focusing on. I also would have liked to see more scripture references, but I understand that this is a personal preference and that this is a book on history, not necessarily theology.

I would share this book with a friend if they were interested in this era of church history, and I will likely come back to read it when I am more knowledgeable to tackle the more challenging parts.

[Zorina Shepard · Rating 5 out of 5]

The title of this book immediately grabbed my attention and it did not fail to interest, challenge, and grow my understanding of this point in history. Besides, John Whycliff and a few others, I didn't recognize most of these men that the authors shared. These men did such incredible work during their time and it was amazing to read about how they paved the way for the Reformation. We sometimes think that the "Dark Ages" was indeed dark, and that God wasn't still at work during this period of time. The authors of this book dispell that notion by sharing several men that God used to shine the light of the gospel.

The authors did an incredible job of sharing these men and showing us God's providential work during the middle ages. With each chapter being dedicated to an individual, there is so much to learn from. Each chapter contains a biography sketch of each individual along with the context of the time that they lived. There is so much theology discussed and I love that at the end of each chapter there is a case made for why this is relevant to us. This is not just a theological/historical work, but contains edifying truths for the Christian life. Though these men were used by God, they weren't perfect. I appreciated that this book addresses that and takes a critical, yet humbling look at each individual's theology. This is not only an interesting and fascinating book on the subject, it is an edifying book for the Christian. Highly reccomend!

"As Protestant believers we must wrestle with a humble reading of the past, taking the risk of being encouraged, edified, and even corrected, by these medieval theologians. "
-Iain Wright and Yannick Imbert

Thank you @christianfocuspublications for a copy of this book for my honest thoughts!

[sam tannehill · Rating 5 out of 5]

Concise history of exemplary Christian theologians throughout the ages leading to the Protestant Ref

This is a terrific little book that provides a concise and well organized history of exemplary Christian theologians and thinkers who expressed the message of the Gospel during times of intellectual abstraction, confusion, and persecution. This is a light read and can be supplemented with other books on the history of the Christian church, like those of Philip Schaff, Jaroslav Pelikan, and Nicholas Needham. But the authors preface their book in the view that many have become uninterested with the history of the development of Christian doctrine, and wish to encourage us to take steps back towards this interest so we can understand the fullness of its history. I really like this book, I have read about all the examples before in other books, but learned something new about each and learned from the synthesis of their contexts in which they lived and died.