A History Of Christian Thought, Volume 2

A History of Christian Thought #2

by Justo L. González

A treatment of the evolution of Christian thought from the birth of Christ, to the Apostles, to the early church, to the great flowering of Christianity across the world. Beginning with Augustine, Volume 2 covers the flowering of Christian thought that characterized both the Latin West and the Byzantine East during the Middle Ages.

Genres: History, Theology, Church History, Religion, Christianity, Philosophy, Christian

Hardcover

First published January 1, 1979

About the author

Justo L. González, author of the highly praised three-volume History of Christian Thought and other major works, attended United Seminary in Cuba, received his MA at Yale, and was the youngest person to be awarded a PhD in historical theology at Yale. He is one of the few first generation Latino theologians to come from a Protestant background. He helped to found the Association for Hispanic Theological Education and the Hispanic Theological Initiative. Dr González is now on the faculty of the Interdenominational Theological Center in Atlanta.

Reviews

[Sean McGowan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really enjoyed this. This whole series has been very helpful.

[Jacob Aitken · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gonzalez argues that in interpreting the Middle Ages there was no uniform theology to which a sweeping evaluation can be made over a 1,000 year period. During the middle ages (whatever that means?), philosophy, economics, politics, language, and even architecture changed--all having huge theological ramifications. Gonzalez goes on to note that any such judgment made will reflect the presuppositions of the one who makes the judgment. Accordingly, we must judge the Middle Ages according to its high points, and no to its dark centuries (336).

Highlights:
Gonzalez gives a basic overview of Augustinianism and Aristoteliansim. He displayed respectable command over the historical nuances and movements. He is somewhat sympathetic to Scotus (moreso than I am), but gives a clear and succinct evaluation of Scotus' thought.

The sections on the Eucharistic controversies during the period marked the best part of the book. It is interesting to see how Berengar's thought anticipates Calvin's (sometimes word for word). Because, and Gonzalez does a good job noting it, transubstantiation is a rather late development in medieval thought, and even when it was developed there was no clear agreement on what it meant.

The Predestinarian controversies were both sad and funny. They remind one of certain conservative Presbyterian denominations. Protestants will be glad to note how divided and schismatic certain medieval popes were (thus blunting a common Catholic charge). Catholics will note, as Gonzalez does, that with the exception of Gottsalc and Berengar, the medieval church didn't teach Protestantism (but they didn't teach Tridentineism either).

The student of St Augustine needs to read this. Benjamin Warfield's famous dictum that the Reformation was the triumph of Augustine's soteriology over Augustine's ecclesiology. As the middle ages show, this is fundamentally not true. Augustine's ecclesiology and soteriology were directly tied together, and in any case they were further nuanced over 1000 years.

This really was a good book. Only one criticism: He placed the so-called "Dark Ages" period later than most historians and he had the nerve to call them dark.

[Aaron White · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another masterful and comprehensive portrait of the currents of theology, philosophy, ecclesiology, and political thought in Christian history. This volume begins with the epoch-defining work of Augustine, and details the growing apart of theology and politics between the Christian West and East. It also highlights the low points of the dark ages after the Fall of Rome and then the fall of the Carolingian period, but also the fascinating theological developments of the 12th and 13th centuries, which eventually paved the way for the Reformation. I will confess though, that reading this volume made me sad. So much of the history of thought was contentious and angry, and the more and more intricate hair-splitting around nature, essence, person, being, realism, nominalism, transubstantiation, filoque, and so on led to a greater and greater distance from the person of Jesus of Nazareth. I found hope, however, especially in the mystics and the development of such groups as the Brethren of the Common Life, who focused on simplicity, inner life, common confession, and work.

[Bryan · Rating 5 out of 5]

I understand the second volume of this series, A History of Christian Thought, also. It makes complex matters understandable, and for the next week I’ll contemplate what I learned until it fades into the background. Now for the third and final volume, hope it contains explanations that are as good as the first two volumes.

[Dan Glover · Rating 4 out of 5]

See review of Vol. 1

[Jwt Jan50 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read at the request of the youngest (dyslexic) while at Oregon. Highly readable. Certainly easier than Augustine or Gibbons for me.

[Kurt Larson · Rating 3 out of 5]

Well written and chronicled, but not my cup of tea.

[Charles Johnson · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good overview of the Christian thought of the middle ages. Apart from the section on Aquinas, few primary sources are referenced, but the bibliography on secondary sources is fairly complete.

[Jonas Opmeer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Inviting and fast paced. I felt it was a *little bit* rushed towards the end, but really excellent communication of a vast topic.

[Joseph Sverker]

First of all I must say that I really appreciate Gonzalez both as a writer and as a historian of Christian thought and Church history. Without making a big fuzz about it he brings out something unique in his explanations and descriptions of Christian thought. He is not an innovator and I don't think he aspires to re-write the interpretation of Christian thinkers such as Aquinas or Duns Scotus (the latter of which many seems to want to get a piece of the hermeneutical innovation cake!). He simply brings a slightly more nuanced perspective on things in comparison to some other historians I have read. Any way, it is a bit of a shame that these volumes are getting a little old. They feel contemporary enough, but as things are things do get re-written for no other purpose than getting something new. This could certainly be used today and I would recommend the person who has a keen interest in Christian thought to go and read this. It might not quite be on par with Pelikan's five volumes on Christian Thought, but if one has already read those this is a good place to continue.

[Garrett Erskine · Rating 5 out of 5]

A classic in Christian theological development every pastor and theologian should have this on their shelves. Gonzalez has a fantastic perspective on theological development that offers keen insight into the church's history. I recommend this for Protestant and Catholic writers alike.

[Seth Pierce · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great overview, although drags a bit about 3/4 of the way through before finishing strong.