Retrieval for the Sake of Renewal: Timothy George as a Historical Theologian

by Christopher R. Hanna, David S. Dockery (Contributor), Timothy George (Contributor)

To borrow imagery from C. S. Lewis’s The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe , Timothy George’s perspective as a historical theologian is the wardrobe that we can walk through to get to Narnia, an exciting new place where we discover the wonderful works of Augustine, Aquinas, Calvin, Luther, Wesley, and many others. George is one of the most respected church historians, theologians, and Christian educators of our time. But how did this Baptist preacher from Tennessee become a premier church historian and follow in the footsteps of great historians like the Harvard scholar George Huntston Williams (who was a Unitarian), the Duke scholar David Steinmetz (who was a Methodist), and the Yale scholar Jaroslav Pelikan (who was a Lutheran and later Eastern Orthodox)? This book will uncover how each of these influences contributed to George’s eye-opening, heart-warming, and kingdom-advancing approach to the study of church history.

176 pages, Paperback

Published November 18, 2022

Reviews

[Salvador Blanco · Rating 5 out of 5]

From the moment I knew about Chris Hanna’s dissertation I hoped for a book.

Here is a thoroughly researched book of one of if not the most prominent Baptist historical theologian alive. It stands as a great guide for beginner historical theologians like myself.

I wish it read more like a narrative rather than a dissertation, but it does not disappoint. There were enough obscure details to provoke one’s curiosity, and Hanna suggests that someone take a closer look George’s life for a book length biography.

From the outset know that this is more of a look into George’s theological influences and how it’s affected his teaching rather than a thorough treatment of his personal life.

Hanna succeeded in George’s proposal — that he study the teaching of George Hunston Willliams, David Steinmetz, and Jaroslav Pelikan and their influence on George. This in turn will inspire the next generation of the “Lord’s Rememberancers.”

Hanna pointed me in the right direction and my book list for 2023 has filled up with George, Williams, Steinmetz, and Pelikan. Further, it also inspired me to continue to retrieve the great tradition for the sake of renewal.

[Cole Shiflet · Rating 4 out of 5]

This helped me understand Beeson so much more.

[Matt Pitts · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rarely do I read a book as compulsively as I read this one. Granted, I have a deep interest in historical theology and identify in many ways with Timothy George’s ethos, but even I was a bit surprised by how taken I was by this book.

The heart of the book is an examination of how George was formed as a historical theologian by George Williams, David Steinmetz, and Jaroslav Pelikan. It is a goldmine of great quotes from and about some of the greatest historical theologians of the last century. Despite often wooden and repetitive writing, I was totally engrossed. This will easily be one of my favorite books of the year.

[Mason I. · Rating 5 out of 5]

An excellent book about an excellent theologian from an excellent professor. What more could you ask for?