Theology of the Reformers: 25th Anniversary

by Timothy George

First released in 1988, this 25th Anniversary Edition of Timothy George’s Theology of the Reformers includes a new chapter and bibliography on William Tyndale, the reformer who courageously stood at the headwaters of the English Reformation. Also included are expanded opening and concluding chapters and updated bibliographies on each reformer. Theology of the Reformers articulates the theological self-understanding of five principal figures from the period of the Martin Luther, Huldrych Zwingli, John Calvin, Menno Simons, and William Tyndale. George establishes the context for their work by describing the spiritual climate of their time. Then he profiles each reformer, providing a picture of their theology that does justice to the scope of their involvement in the reforming effort. George details the valuable contributions these men made to issues historically considered pillars of the Christian Scripture, Jesus Christ, salvation, the church, and last things. The intent is not just to document the theology of these reformers, but also to help the church of today better understand and more faithfully live its calling as followers of the one true God. Through and through, George’s work provides a truly integrated and comprehensive picture of Christian theology at the time of the Reformation.

Genres: Theology, Church History, History, Christian, Biography, Faith, Religion

442 pages, Kindle Edition

First published June 1, 1988

About the author

Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.


Timothy George is Dean at Beeson Divinity School, Samford University in Birmingham, Alabama. He is also editor, together with his wife Denise, of the Library of Baptist Classics series. He previously was an associate professor of church history and historical theology at The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, Louisville, Kentucky.

Reviews

[Phil · Rating 5 out of 5]

George's Theology of the Reformers explores the history and theology of four key reformation leaders: Luther, Zwingli, and Menno Simons. The writer displays the personal challenges and struggles of each of these men and the resulting impact on their faith and theology, for it is their theology that bears great impact on the theology of Christians today. As George himself states, "for those who stand committedly within the Christian tradition, it is a matter of genuine concern to understand what was so decisively at stake in the great debates of the Reformation" (7).

George's introduction to the work itself as well as to the historical and theological setting of the Reformation is very insightful. These first 38 pages take the reader through the milieu of the Renaissance and Reformation era. George points out that the Late Middle Ages was an era of "decline, disintegration, and decay" (22) which drove many to anxiety and on a search for meaning. In this quest, many sought to gain insight into the true meaning of the church (30-40) and to probe deeper into theology (40-49). These currents converged at the right time to birth what we know now as the Great Reformation.

To Luther, George devotes 57 pages as he outlines his journey towards justification by faith alone. The writer debunks some misconceptions of Luther as he details the Reformer's quest for truth. One poignant statement regarding Luther was of great significance to this reviewer. George states that Luther's theology was "a life-long process of struggle, conflict, and temptation" (61). Luther did not just arrive at the conclusions of the 95 Theses or suddenly become struck with the doctrines of faith, grace, and Scripture alone. Luther was, admittedly, a work in progress. The Reformer's theology of Salvation, Predestination, Scripture, the Church, and the State are examined and George concludes: "Luther's true legacy is his spiritual insight into the gracious character of God in Jesus Christ, the God who loves us and sustains us unto death and again into life" (106).

The "third man" of the Reformation, Huldrych Zwingli receives a total of 56 pages devoted to his life and theology. Zwingli is portrayed as a free-thinker, who arrived at conclusions on his own and debated them vigorously. He debated with the Catholics and began the reformation of Zurich. He debated the Lutherans and separated over the sacraments. He debated with the Anabaptists and supported their extermination. The aggressive man is portrayed by George as "a pastor, and a patriot, a theologian, and a politician" (111). After reviewing the progress of Zwingli's theology of creation, providence, Scripture, traditions, piety, the state, and the sacraments, George states, "from beginning to end he was single-mindedly concerned to uphold the sovereignty of God and to rout out every practice which encouraged placing of one's trust in the creature [rather than in the Creator]" (160).

John Calvin, the theologian of the Reformation receives a greater amount of discussion (89 pages). After attacking some of the faulty perceptions of Calvin, George lays out the history and theology of The Theologian. The impact of Calvin's vocation and family is discussed and the writer stresses that Calvin was no ivory tower theologian, but ministered as part of a family with a wife and children (183-184). George also devotes some time to surveying the works of John Calvin and describing their impact. Some material in this section is a little dated, but is of great help nonetheless. After examining Calvin's theology of God, Christ, sin, salvation, faith, prayer, predestination, grace, and the church, George concludes by describing Calvin as a humble man who served as a light in darkness to point others to God (246-249).

The last Reformer, Menno Simons, was a member of the Radical Reformation and is described by George from time to time as the "odd fellow out" (303) of the four reformers chosen for the purposes of this work. Albeit, 56 pages are devoted to the little-known Anabaptist reformer whose tradition is preserved to this day in the Mennonites and whose theology, in part, in the Baptists. Simons is portrayed as a pastor who cared for a flock in tribulation. As a radical reformer, Simons did not share in the position and protection of the prior three reformers. Instead, Simons experienced a life of suffering as he developed his theology. His theology was always in tension with the more radical elements of his sect such as the Munsterites (256-257) and with the Protestant reformers (270-272). After reviewing the scant history of this reformer, George summarizes his theology of salvation, Scripture, Christ (including a fair treatment of one of Simons' more bizarre views in this area), the church, and the sacraments, George points out that "other Anabaptist leaders...may have surpassed Menno in theological depth and originality. Yet no other reformer embodied so fully... "the Anabaptist vision." Nor was any other Anabaptist as successful as Menno in transforming that vision into an enduring tradition" (303).

George's masterful conclusion ties together the, albeit disjointed, legacies of these reformers and applies their significance to the Sitz in Leben of the evangelical church today. Fittingly, George argues that "The abiding validity of Reformation theology is that, despite many varied emphases it contains within itself, it challenges the church to listen reverently and obediently to what God has once and for all said...and once and for all done in Jesus Christ" (310).

George's helpful perspective on such a challenging and significant period of history will prove immensely helpful to the student of the history and theology of the church. Although George's perspective is decidedly Baptistic and Calvinistic, those of other denominations and creeds will, no doubt, find the work to be insightful. The writer portrays the reformers with all their warts and foibles, but masterfully challenges the reader with each of their strengths.

[Jonathan]

Not only did I gain a better understanding of the reformers Luther, Zwingli, Calvin and Menno Simons and their theology, but I was also deeply moved by their testimonies in different ways. Luther inspired me by his anguished, tenacious ransacking of Scripture to find its true teaching about salvation. I was also amazed by his boldness to speak out against the vast machine of papalism. Reading about Calvin made me want to read more of John Calvin. Timothy George does a great job of summarizing the polar extreme reactions against this great reformer. We owe him more than many would like to admit.

The greatest personal benefit I got from reading this book was from the section on Menno Simons since I knew little about him. His passion to apply Scripture literally set him at odds with both the established Roman Catholic Church as well as the mainline reformers. He sought not to reform the church, but to revive the biblical concept of the church, which had been lost after the time of the apostles. For him, following Christ (discipleship) was the hallmark of the church. He and his followers proved this to be a reality in their lives by the horrible persecution they endured.

I read all but the last chapter (which I hope to do soon).

[Benjamin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Très bon livre pour creuser la théologie de la réforme, en particulier l’apport de Luther, Calvin, Tyndale, Menno Simons, et Zwingli. Un peu dense par moment, donc il faut s’accrocher, mais édifiant.

[Stephen Williams · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wonderfully written, and charitable in ways that convict me. George's chapter on Calvin, in particular, is worth the price of admission. It only lacks a chapter on Cranmer!

[David Schroeder · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an essential book for anyone learning about the Reformation. To study the Reformation is to know these brave men who risked all to share the faith we know today. Luther, Zwingli, Calvin, Menno, and Tyndale are featured in the book. Theology of the Reformers was the most helpful resource for me as I taught the Reformation in my church. There were several additional books that were also helpful to study these men like their respective biographies, John Piper's "21 Servants of Soverign Joy," Gonzalez's "The Story of Christianity," Larry Stone's "The Story of the Bible," and Mark Noll's "Turning Points." George's resource is written for the academic student although I found that about anyone can pick it up and understand the key themes.

[Thiago Martinello · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excelente livro.
Dr George discorre sobre o contexto que antecedeu a reforma e faz um magistral "resumo" da vida, obra e teologia dos quatro principais reformadores do séc XVI: Lutero, Zuínglio, Calvino e o reformador radical Menno Simons.
Por fim, o autor aponta para os frutos da Reforma e a sua validade permanente.
Se você quer saber mais sobre a vida desses quatro reformadores e suas contribuições, não deixe de ler esta obra.

[David Bruyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Clear, lucid summaries of Luther, Zwingli, Calvin, Simmons, and Tyndale.

[Craig Hurst · Rating 5 out of 5]

At the end of his life, Augustine wrote what has become a very misunderstood book, especially by those who have not read it or any of his previous works. The book was titled Retractationes which literally means “re-treatments.” Augustine retraced his works and addressed many of the things he had already written by way of clarifications and some changes. Augustine was not recanting of the things he wrote but rather coming to them once again as a more seasoned believer and theologian.

In 1988, while teaching at Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, Timothy George wrote Theology of the Reformers, which, unbeknownst to him, would become a standard work on the subject and would be translated into several languages. Twenty five years later George has come back to his first book, not to retract from his original work, but in some ways like Augustine, to revise and expand his work from the vantage point of a seasoned historian of theology.

Recognizing that some today would bock at a book of its nature, George defends his original work, and now revised edition when he states

Theology, when it is given any truck at all, is usually given a quaint form of belles lettres, which the Reformation is generally perceived as having lost much of its explanatory valence as a coherent term of historical understanding. This book assumes the contrary on two accounts: theology matters, and the Reformation of the sixteenth century is a critical, even essential, epoch for our understanding of the Christian story then and now. (1)

The original work focused on the theology of Martin Luther, Huldrych Zwingli, John Calvin and Menno Simons. The new edition includes a chapter on William Tyndale. The rationale for discussing these five reformers over others is that “each of these figures stands at the headwaters of a major confessional tradition in the Reformation.” (17) Luther with the Protestants of the Augusburg Confession, Zwingli and Calvin with the Reformed tradition, Tyndale with the English Reformation and translator of Scripture, and Simmons with the Anabaptists. The historical, cultural and political climate these Reformers provides the backdrop through which their theological beliefs emerge and which form the primary focus of the book. George shows the reader that the questions and issues facing the Reformers still face the church today.

Theology of the Reformers 25th Anniversary Edition is a welcome continuance of George’s original work. Lovers of the original book, the Reformation and its history and new students of Reformation theology will love this book. I highly recommend it!

NOTE: I received this book for free from B&H in exchange for my honest opinion and I was under no obligation to provide a favorable review. The thoughts and words expressed are my own.

[Ben Smitthimedhin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Timothy George's Theology of the Reformers is an accessible but scholarly sketch of the lives and theology of Luther, Zwingli, Calvin, and Menno. Although each chapter contains around 150 or so footnotes, George's storytelling contextualizes the four reformers in a way that's both entertaining and helpful.

Reading this also helped me locate my own faith. I originally decided to read the reformers because I wasn't sure if I could still call myself Protestant. Some of the surprises along the way include Luther's staunch position on double-predestination (more so than Calvin's position!), Calvin's depth, timidity, and gentleness, and the fragmented state of Medieval Catholicism before the Reformation. I mean, it was such a wreck that laypeople couldn't even partake in the Eucharist. Seen against this backdrop, the Reformation becomes a necessity.

So overall, the book deepened my appreciation for the Reformers. I was struck by George's insight that the Reformation extended the scholastic obsession with God's being into the realm of God's work. The Reformers didn't fundamentally misunderstand the purpose of church authority and tradition, as I previously believed. Rather, George argues, Soteriology is merely the application of God's ontology. Thanks to the Reformers, we can now agree that when the Holy Spirit invades the Christian's heart, his experience of life should never be the same.

[Caleb Collins · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you see this book as an introductory resource for someone who doesn’t know where to start with the Reformation, you cannot pick up a better book. George successfully shows that the reformation was not merely a historical event, but a richly theological one. Moreover, the Reformation is not a monolithic event, but various reformations with differing perspectives, all sharing the authority of Scripture, justification by faith, and the renewal of the church.

George gives a great survey of five very different reformers, three of which deserving more attention than the others. It is a good mixture of historical, biographical, and theological depth. Each chapter can be read on its own, which is helpful if you want to just dive into one reformer.

[Salvador Blanco · Rating 5 out of 5]

I can’t believe how amazingly written this book is. I only look forward to branching out my knowledge of the reformation from here with the amazing selected bibliographies, and revisiting for summary information.

[David · Rating 4 out of 5]

I finally finished this book 😄 good book overall with lots of historical details. The writer discussed Five main characters from the Reformation. All were familiar except Menno Simons who was an interesting figure!!!

[Neil Kruger · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 Stars

Excellent theological biographies of five key Reformers. The chapters on Calvin and Menno Simons were a particular delight.

[Levi Patterson · Rating 5 out of 5]

GREAT overview of the main thinkers of the Reformation! Def recommend!

[Tim · Rating 5 out of 5]

This text centers on the ideas of reformers (Martin Luther, John Calvin, Huldrych Zwingli, Menno Simons) who lived some 450-500 years ago. Their world was much different from our own, in many ways that we cannot comprehend. Yet, Timothy George helps us to bridge that gap in this highly illuminating and insightful work.

Having read multiple biographies on Luther, as well as various works on Calvin and the Anabaptists, I was surprised by how many new insights Theology of the Reformers contains. Not only does Timothy George review some better-known aspects of the Reformation (such as how Luther and Zwingli disagreed on the Lord’s Supper), but he helps us understand how and why they arrived at their theological positions. Further, as this work examines two generations of reformers, we learn how the younger reformers sought to respectfully build on the insights of those who preceded them.

George also helps to see that the early reformers were far from perfect. Like Christian leaders and thinkers of the modern era, they struggled with various issues in their own lives as well as with what they found in Holy Scripture. We see how the reformers dealt with opposition, sometimes in a way that didn’t demonstrate love for one’s neighbor. In addition, the perspectives of Luther, Calvin, and Zwingli on church and state and Menno Simon’s pacifism will likely not be well-received by modern readers.

Yet, in spite of their shortcomings, we can learn much from each reformer. They were all very much in love with their Creator, and sought to glorify Him in all their works. It is difficult to imagine evangelical life today without the Reformation emphases on the grace of God, the sovereignty of God, the Word of God, the priesthood of the believer, and rigorous discipleship (which included holy living). The Reformers, unlike what their opponents claimed, held a high view of local church life, yet wanted it to be experienced to a much fuller degree than the Roman system allowed.

There’s a lot more that I could write about Theology of the Reformers. For example, the author sprinkles his work with surprising humor and personality observations that lend much to the reading experience. Yet, it’s best to just read this book for yourself. Along with the author’s Reading Scripture with the Reformers, it’s one of the most spiritually and intellectually satisfying works on the 16th century found anywhere.

[Mark · Rating 4 out of 5]

The strength of this book is that it does not simply tell about the life and writings of the reformers, but it also speaks of the theology behind what the reformers said and wrote. George highlights four men: Luther, Zwingli, Calvin and Menno Simmons. He exemplifies a mastery of the material, moving easily from the theological writings to personal letters and sermons to events in the lives of the reformers, showing how their life experiences shaped their theology and how their theology shaped their writing and leading in this formative time in history. It's not an easy read, but it's an important read if you are interested in digging deep into the theology of these men.

[Keith Kresge · Rating 5 out of 5]

Timothy George synthesizes vast swaths of theological and historical works into one volume on the five major reformers: Luther, Zwingli, Calvin, Simmons, and Tyndale. He begins by examining the history of ideas and theologies flowing into the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries, especially the humanism of Petrarch and the anxious religiosity stemming from the medieval ethos of a vengeful God (George, 22–27). He proceeds to examine each reformer in his unique contributions to the reformation, focusing on the distinctions and disagreements between them, and taking care to charitably connect their differences in the context of their diverse historical, social, academic, and ideological milieus.

[Jeremy Mueller · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book, though dense at times, covers an incredible depth of history and theology from the great era of the Reformation. Specifically, Reformers brought three emphases to protestants: 1) establishment of the Word, 2) emphasis on sound doctrine, and 3) a concern for the communal aspect of faith. Churches today could benefit from these emphases, which I why I think this book is a helpful and necessary volume for pastors. See "Unquenchable Flame" by Michael Reeves for a more condensed and easier to read book of the same topic.

[Charles · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a great book for an introduction to the history and theology of the reformers, written by a reformed baptist. The author writes with good humor. I give it 4.5 stars instead of 4 because of the pleasure of the read.

[Todd Miles · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent book. Eloquently written. Easy to understand. Seeks to demonstrate that the Protestant Reformation was primarily (though not merely) theological. A must read for any seeking to understand the theology of the magisterial reformers.

[Tim Michiemo · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.6 Stars

[L. R. Bouligny Bouligny · Rating 4 out of 5]

Theology of the Reformers by Timothy George surveys the development of the Reformed Christian tradition that began in the 16th century throughout various parts of Europe. George charts the progression of theological thought during the Middle Ages, examining four men of great influence whose impact on theology redirected the course of the church for centuries afterward, and presumably, until the end of time. The author codifies the journeys and theologies of four men: Martin Luther, John Calvin, Huldrych Zwingli, and Menno Simons, drawing parallels in their doctrinal developments while also revealing where they were divided.

The book begins with a survey of the history of the church, lingering mostly in the age leading up to the Reformation. George does a fine job of painting a picture of a time period pregnant with discontent, ready to give birth to a new era. The Middle Ages were marked by superstition and mysticism. The Roman church was in control of all matters pertaining to salvation, maintaining a monopoly of the Holy Scriptures, with the exception of a few faint glimmers of light. Men such as John Hus and John Wycliffe prepared the way for bringing the truths of Scripture to the common man. As the Middle Ages waned, they gave rise to twin eras of reason and logic known today as Scholasticism and Humanism. This is the time frame which introduces us to the first of these great men, Martin Luther.

The life of Luther is described with a fair amount of detail, citing biographical information that frames this Reformer’s life, while focusing primarily on his grapplings with different theological ideas. The progression of Luther’s thought is made evident, from his early years of teaching at the University of Wittenberg where he reflected, “In the course of this teaching, the Papacy slipped away from me”, to his unfortunate battling over the understanding of the Lord’s Supper with Zwingli where he commented that if the Lord had saved Zwingli, “he had done so above and beyond the rule” (p. 160). The book recounts Luther’s position on a variety of theological topics—which unveiled a more systematic approach to Scripture—demonstrating to the reader that Luther’s contributions were more than sola scriptura.

The spiritual path of Huldrych Zwingli, the next Reformer highlighted in this book, mirrors that of Luther’s in many ways. Zwingli was a zealous patriot, as well as theologian, whose militant fervor and radical nationalism sent him to an early grave. Zwingli was in Switzerland serving as a parish priest when he became heavily influenced by writings of the Humanist, Desiderius Erasmus. These writings of Erasmus, which sharpened Zwingli’s intellectual development alongside a fresh perspective of the Scriptures, led to a separate Reformation in his part of Europe. Zwingli began preaching straight from the Scriptures, abandoning canned sermons and a traditional lectionary. After several years he worked his way through the entire New Testament—all the while preparing the people of Zurich for the acceptance of the Reformation that would explode on the scene a few years later. He encouraged his congregation to read the writings of Luther, but denied that he learned his doctrine from him. Ironically, he spent a good deal of his later years sparring with Luther over doctrine.

Many theologians speculate whether or not the Reformation would have had a greater impact if Luther and Zwingli had joined forces and fought the battle together. They were at odds on several main points—points over which were apparently enough to divide—although a reconciliation was attempted in 1529, albeit unsuccessful. The main area of contention was over whether or not there was a literal ‘presence’ of Christ during the partaking of the Lord’s supper. Luther argued in the affirmative, and emphasized the ‘is’ when Christ said “this is my body”. Zwingli countered with John 6:63 which states, “It is the spirit that gives life, the flesh is of no avail”. Neither man would back down, blasting one another in treatise after treatise. Zwingli’s unfortunate end (he died on a battlefield) was made all the more tragic by the animosity that remained from the German Reformer, even after his death.

As the author moves us into the second generation of Reformers, we arrive at the life of John Calvin. There is much to write about Calvin—who is best known today for his views on God’s Sovereign election—but who also became one of the greatest Bible exegetes in the history of the church. After much detailing of Calvin’s life and history prior to conversion, as well as adding some insight into the person and life of this man, the author spends significant time examining the doctrines that this second generation Reformer helped systematize. His collection of writings and sermons boast an impressive 45 volumes. The expertise of John Calvin goes beyond just being a theologian, however. Some might assume that he spent all of his time in seclusion, dissecting Scripture in an ivory tower, writing with such depth as to only benefit other theologians. On the contrary, George notes, “Perhaps above all else, Calvin was a pastor” (p. 189). He preached twice on Sunday and once a day during the week. In addition, he was a master of the original languages, and like the Reformers before him, held Scripture in the highest regard. He had little patience for those who toyed with idle speculations or who were married to tradition. He affirmed that the Scriptures were the womb from which the church was born, and not vice versa.

Much of what Calvin wrote and formulated was in response to misconceptions that were prevalent in his time. His views on Sovereignty were birthed out of the Scriptures, demonstrating a God that was not absent from His creation, as was being taught, but one that was intimately involved. He also revealed an omnipotent God who is in perfect control of all things—including man’s salvation. Calvin drew a distinction between first and second causes that proved to be helpful to many students of the Bible in understanding this paradoxical attribute of God.

George’s depiction of Calvin is fair, sharing less than desirable traits about him, as was done with the other Reformers in this book. He doesn’t turn a blind eye to some of the more unsightly endeavors, as some authors might, but presents a very balanced view, which is refreshing in light of the Protestant ‘canonicity’ we see with some of these Protestant saints.
The final of the four men highlighted in this work is a man named Menno Simons. Within the context of the modern church, not many know about Simons and his contributions to what we know as Protestantism today. In America, very few may know who Simons is—yet churches today (Baptists, primarily) owe a debt of gratitude to this man for being a pioneer for Scriptural truth in a very hostile time.

Simons was part of a group that came to be known as the “Radical Reformation”, which consisted of those who remained neither Catholic nor Protestant, yet fought valiantly for the truths revealed in Scripture. Simons was the most outstanding leader of what was known as the Anabaptist movement; Anabaptist meaning ‘rebaptizer’. They rejected the teachings of both Catholic and Protestant churches, and began a reformation within the Reformation. They believed that the Reformers did not go far enough away from the Roman church, and they sought to establish “their model of the Christian life outside of the confines of the official churches” (p. 255). One of their major contentions was with the tradition of infant baptism. These Anabaptists were unable to find any Scriptural precedence for this practice, and refused to follow any custom that they did not find based solely from the Bible. Because of this, they were heavily persecuted by both Catholic and Protestant alike, even to the point of death at the hands of some of the Reformers.
As with the other Reformers in this book, the author takes us through a detailed biography into Simons’ life, conversion and theology. He once again shows us that not all that glitters is gold. There were some serious problems with The Radical Reformation movement, not unlike what we saw with the aforementioned Reformers and their particular milieu. History is often abrasive, and throughout this book George views the lives of these men with balance, not going overboard with their achievements or exaggerating their failures.

George wraps everything up neatly by discussing the common thread that these men shared: a love for the Scripture and a desire for true worship. All four men held the Sovereignty of God in high esteem and, although there were differences as to how the church was to operate and what doctrines were paramount, they had a great influence in forming what we know as the church today. Theology of the Reformers is a well documented progression of theology from great heroes of the faith who, ironically—through persecuting others and attacking one another—often ignored the very commands of Christ they were fighting to protect.

[Emmie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Theology of the Reformers by Timothy George looks at five men who contributed to the important Reformation of the church in Europe during the sixteenth century. Martin Luther, Huldrych Zwingli, John Calvin, Menno Simons and William Tyndale are all explored in this important work. This book shows the beginning of protestantism and the theology that drove the divide between Protestants and Catholics and is very needed during this time in our Western culture.

More and more protestant denominations are getting farther and farther from the doctrine handed down to us from our fathers during the reformation as well as from the Bible itself. George does an excellent job of giving an overview of each reformer and the Scriptures that drove their doctrinal view as well as comparing and contrasting each of their stances. I thouroughly enjoyed reading about each of these men and where their theology landed. It greatly helped me in honing in on my theological thoughts and understanding where the different schools of thought have come from. It drove me to the Scriptures to understand and solidified my stands even more.

When I first started this book, I did feel like it was a little over the head. You really do need a dictionary to read it. Thankfully there is one for theological terms in the back of the book. As I read, however, I found it easier to understand as George brought the ideas together.

I thoroughly enjoyed the conclusion section where George summarized the main points on which the reformers focused. He made his own conclusions from them but also left it open for you to make your own.

I think anyone that considers themselves a Christian should read this book, especially if you are in a protestant denomination to hear where things started for us in dividing from the Catholic church. I particularly enjoyed reading the brief section on Tyndale and how he ran from the law to translate the Bible into English and provide the Scripture for the common people.

I give this work 4.5 stars only because of some of the confusion in his writing.

[Justin Leitch · Rating 4 out of 5]

Theology of the Reformers is an excellent place to start for any person interested in an introduction to the Reformation. Timothy George, a professor of church history who has published numerous books and scholarly articles, sets out to give the contemporary theological student an introduction to the ‘shakers and movers’ of the Reformation. George shows that the Reformers, even though their conversations seem far removed from our context, have much to offer the church today. In doing this, his hope is to inspire readers to engage with the original sources of these five influential Reformation leaders.

It is worth noting that the 2013 edition is a revision of the 1988 original, proving that this book has stood the test of time. In fact, Theology of the Reformers has been translated into many languages and is often used as a textbook for theological students learning about the Reformation.

Observes life and theology of:
Martin Luther
Huldrych Zwingli
John Calvin
Menno Simons
William Tyndale (didn't read this chapter)

[Victor Gomes · Rating 3 out of 5]

Leitura fluida e envolvente, e, de fato, esclarecedora. No entanto, o autor, as vezes, parece querer construir algumas relações e opiniões ousadas, a despeito da escassez de provas documentais. Muitas perspectivas sobre a reforma afirmadas nesse livro já foram refutadas por diversos eruditos da área. Por exemplo, a contraposição que o autor faz entre os reformados e a escolástica é no mínimo exagerada. A própria estrutura das Institutas de Calvino está baseada na Suma de Tomás de Aquino. J.V. Fesko e Richard Muller já provaram a profunda relação positiva entre a escolástica e o protestantismo histórico.

Por fim, a inclusão de Meno Simons entre os reformadores é estranha e autocontradizente com as conclusões que o autor faz no capítulo final do livro. Isto é, uma vez que Meno negava abertamente o Sola Fide, uma doutrina fundamental, como o próprio autor afirma, da reforma protestante, do protestantismo histórico.

[Rebecca Lewitt · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a look at 5 great men of the reformation--Luther, Zwingli, Calvin, Menno, and Tyndale--specifically with regard to what their writings and life tell us about their theology. Although there is some time spent providing historical and biographical background, this is mainly meant to show what theological questions they were asking and what answers they found to them. It was a fascinating and fairly easy read, and really gets you thinking about how much our every word reveals our theology and how much our life's experiences can shape it. I would read this again in a few years even, maybe in preparation for celebrating reformation dayl. Inspirational and informative.

[Simon Field · Rating 4 out of 5]

A helpful book exploring the thought of four major theologians of the reformation- Luther, Calvin, Zwingli and Simons. Some biographical detail, but this book is mostly about the theologies of the men. This is super helpful in one volume as contrasting points of view become apparent. The first chapter on the medieval context of the reformation is also very helpful and catapults you straight into the thinking of Luther who reacts so strongly to medieval nominalism.
I read this subsequent to taking a level 6 course in church history and found it to be a great follow-on text.

[Jonathan Lloyd · Rating 5 out of 5]

An essential resource for understanding the theological distinctives of Luther, Calvin, Zwingli, and Simons. George writes from an evangelical, Baptist point of view but does not present a hagiography of the Reformers, rightly critiquing them in certain areas. George focuses more on the particular theological ideas of each reformer than on historical context or biography, but he does a good job of blending some biography and history into his theological analysis. While this book is over 30 years old, it remains a great resource written from both an evangelical and academic perspective.

[Matt Crawford · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a great book and excellent survey of some of the more well known Reformers: Luther, Zwinglis, Calvin, Menno Simmons, and Tyndale. I would have liked others, perhaps Martin Bucer. The chapters are lengthy, but each deals with one particular Reformer. They are long because there is a plethora of info. George puts an emphasis on their orthopraxy rather than thier writings. It is a good survey of the men rather than on their writings. Highly recommended for any good Reformation Scholar.

[Amanda Renaud · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent intro and highlight of 5 key reformers and insightful application. Moderately difficult read, but aside from a few deep dives (Calvin’s Institutes, nuanced ecclesiology, etc) it generally kept a good pace. The accounts of Menno and Tyndale were particularly fascinating, and I learned a lot about Calvin, Luther and Zwingli as well. The author did a great job of comparing/contrasting the nuances of their theologies without getting too into the weeds.