Gamechangers: Key Figures of the Christian Church

by Robert Letham

Weaving together biography and theology, Robert Letham delves into the life and influence of twelve key figures who have helped shape the church. Gamechangers is a must read for any Christian with an interest in learning the way the church has understood the gospel down through the centuries. Features: Athanasius, Gregory of Nazianzus, Augustine, Charles the Great, Anselm, Thomas Aquinas, Martin Luther, Heinrich Bullinger, John Calvin, John Wesley, J.W. Nevin and Karl Barth.

195 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2015

About the author

Robert Letham (MAR, ThM, Westminster Theological Seminary; PhD, Aberdeen University) is professor of systematic and historical theology at Union School of Theology in Bridgend, Wales, and the author of a number of books, including The Lord's Supper and Union with Christ.

Reviews

[Ben Franks · Rating 4 out of 5]

I always enjoy reading Letham. He has a depth and breadth of knowledge about the history and theology of the church that is truly stunning. His knowledge is put to good use in this little book as Letham gives us a guided tour of some of the greatest minds in the history of the church. Many of the chapters were originally given as talks for interested laypeople, and while some chapters are better than others, all of them give a basic overview of the life, thought, and impact of a key figure from church history. Each chapter closes with a brief bibliography to guide those who want to push further.

Letham is an able communicator and does a fair job of jumping between the broad sweep of biography and the nitty-gritty of theology as he considers each figure. And while this is probably not the best starting place for church history (Bruce Shelley's, "Church History in Plain Language" remains a good introductory overview), those with a grasp of the basic timeline will enjoy the chance to dig deeper into the names which pop up in general surveys of the subject. Letham is also not afraid to push into theology and a familiarity with the various discussions and distinctions of the field are necessary to follow his writing. However, the intermediate student of church history and theology will find much material to stimulate his thinking.

Letham delights in sacrificing sacred cows and often gives interesting tidbits about these thinkers that are glossed over in other works. At its best, this tendency provides some helpful balance and guards against the ever present danger of hagiography. At its worst, however, Letham seems to be so concerned to undermine hero-worship that he runs the risk of undermining having heroes at all (see his treatment of Luther). This tendency to balance also leads to some strange choices and emphases (such as the inclusion of John Williamson Nevin as the lone representative of the 19th century or the puzzlingly positive portrayal of Karl Barth).

These quibbles aside, I found the book to be tremendously enjoyable and stretching. It is always edifying to see a great mind at work and Letham walks us through the contributions of many of the best minds the church has produced. This is a worthy addition to any historical or theological library.

[Gary · Rating 5 out of 5]

Although short, each biographical essay is stimulating and will leave you wanting to know a lot more about each of these Game Changers. After drawing a sketch of their life, the author proceeds to explain (exceptionally well, I might add) their main works/ideas. Finally, he assesses their impact and why they make his list of Game Changers. Only the essay on Barth left me less enlightened on the subject!

Loved it.

[Jeffrey · Rating 2 out of 5]

I didn't read the whole book. I had a tough time with the writing style, but I can't put my finger on what I don't like.
Good info, though, and I plan to keep the book and refer to it or read about one or two of the subjects here and there.

[Peter · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting selection of key figures in church history! A bit too philosophical for me in places.

[David M. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wonderful, simple, informative.

I greatly enjoyed this introduction to certain key figures in church history. The author blends well the lives, cultural context, teaching and practice of these men. What results is an easy to read (and easy to comprehend) account of the development of many veins of thought leading from earliest days to today.