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Roger E. Olson
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The Story of Christian Theology: Twenty Centuries of Tradition and Reform Hardcover – 1 April 1999

by Roger E Olson (Author)
4.7 out of 5 stars 179 ratings
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Christianity Today Book of the Year Award
ECPA Gold Medallion Award

History is made up of stories--narratives that recount the events, movements, ideas and lives that have shaped religions and nations. Theologian Roger Olson believes that the history of Christian theology should be told as such a story, one replete with thick plots, exciting twists, interesting people and fascinating ideas.

In this panoramic work of historical theology Olson vividly recounts the deeds and words of the cultists and apostolic fathers of the second century, the clash between the theological schools of Alexandria and Antioch, the epochal division between East and West, the revolutionary advent of the Reformation and much more, right on up to the dazzling, sometimes dismaying fallout that has continued to shake Christians through the twentieth century. Through it all Olson detects and traces a common thread: a concern for salvation--God's redemptive activity in forgiving and transforming sinful human beings.

Evenhanded, refreshingly readable, impressive in its breadth and depth, The Story of Christian Theology is poised to become a standard historical theology text.

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  1. Print length
    652 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Publisher
    IVP Academic
  4. Publication date
    1 April 1999
  5. Dimensions
    15.24 x 5.59 x 22.86 cm
  6. ISBN-10
    9780830815050
  7. ISBN-13
    978-0830815050
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Review

"A monumental achievement! The Story of Christian Theology is eminently readable, a welcome and helpful guide to the history of Christian theology."--Donald G. Bloesch, professor of theology emeritus, Dubuque Theological Seminary

"Historical theology has never been known for winning popularity contests in Christian classrooms. It is too dated and too abstract. But Roger Olson is out to change that common perception. He has taken this aging beauty, dressed her up in a stylish storytelling outfit and trained her to speak to a contemporary audience. For my students Olson's The Story of Christian Theology has just moved to the top of my you've-got-to-meet-her list."--Bruce L. Shelley, professor of church history, Denver Seminary

"Roger Olson's The Story of Christian Theology is a real page-turner. Here is no bloodless and passionless history of ideas. Olson's Story pulsates with real people living in real time who pray, study, argue, struggle and even occasionally beat each other up over what and how to believe. Olson is convinced that beliefs matter and that the story of Christian theology is not yet finished. Without much effort readers can find themselves in this story too."--Timothy Weber, dean and professor of church history, Northern Baptist Theological Seminary

About the Author

Roger E. Olson (Ph.D., Rice University) is professor of theology at George W. Truett Theological Seminary of Baylor University in Waco, Texas. He is the author of The Story of Christian Theology: Twenty Centuries of Tradition Reform, The Mosaic of Christian Belief: Twenty Centuries of Unity and Diversity and The Westminster Handbook to Evangelical Theology.Together they wrote 20th-Century Theology: God the World in a Transitional Age.

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ 0830815058
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ IVP Academic; First Edition (1 April 1999)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Hardcover ‏ : ‎ 652 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 9780830815050
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0830815050
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 15.24 x 5.59 x 22.86 cm
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.7 out of 5 stars 179 ratings

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Roger E. Olson

Roger E. Olson

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Roger E. Olson (Ph.D., Rice University) is professor of theology at George W. Truett Theological Seminary of Baylor University in Waco, Texas. He is the author of The Story of Christian Theology: Twenty Centuries of Tradition & Reform, The Mosaic of Christian Belief: Twenty Centuries of Unity & Diversity (both InterVarsity Press) and The Westminster Handbook to Evangelical Theology (Westminster John Knox). He is also coauthor of 20th-Century Theology: God & the World in a Transitional Age and Who Needs Theology? An Invitation to the Study of God (both with Stanley J. Grenz, InterVarsity Press), and of The Trinity (with Christopher A. Hall, Eerdmans).

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  • Charles C.
    5.0 out of 5 stars Great Church History Book - Very Readable!
    Reviewed in the United States on 19 December 2019
    Verified Purchase
    I'm really enjoying this history of theology. I'm only about 250 pages into it, but so far it has been very readable. I know it's not strictly a church history book, but it really has shed a lot of light on the people and the events that shaped the church in the first four or five centuries (that's as far as I have read so far).

    I now feel like I have a much better understanding what all the debates were about, and especially the major heresies that arose during those centuries, and about the meanings of some of the key terms (homoousios, homoiousios, etc.) And this is the first book that has made the byzantine debates around the Chalcedonian councils at least somewhat comprehensible to me.

    If the first 250 pages are any measure of how the rest of the book will be, I know it will be good! I can't wait to read about Augustine, medieval and scholastic theology, Aquinas, and especially the reformation.

    I'll come back after I finish the book and complete this report. So far, it's five star material for sure.

    Edit. After finishing this book I can only add that it is a wonderful book by a great author. The book kept my attention and was always interesting. I highly recommend it!
    Report
  • Amazon Customer
    5.0 out of 5 stars A textbook for an online course I'm currently doing. ...
    Reviewed in Canada on 19 July 2017
    Verified Purchase
    A textbook for an online course I'm currently doing. Readable and thought provoking. Provides the background for the development of thinking in Christian Theology which also follows by contrast and analogy the development of thought and culture in the west. Not a book to finish quickly!
    Report
  • Emily Tung
    5.0 out of 5 stars Good
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 11 January 2024
    Verified Purchase
    Good
    Report
  • Jeffrey Van Wagoner
    5.0 out of 5 stars Now I finally have a much better understand of theology
    Reviewed in the United States on 6 July 2009
    Verified Purchase
    I have always had a fascination with Christian theology and history. What could be better than a book on the history of Christian theology? It turns out that this book exceeded my expectations. What had been a confused and fuzzy understanding of theology has now crystallized into a much clearer view of the big picture. This helps to confirm my belief that the best way to understand any subject is by learning its history.

    Olsen's writing style is clear, concise and very interesting. I like how he is able to summarize vast quantities of information and ideas in such a short amount of space. I'm not saying this book is short, it is still over 600 pages long, but it could have been much longer.

    Olsen has obvious leanings on which doctrines he supports, and those that he doesn't. I didn't find his biases distracting, and it is always nice to know which way an author is leaning. I thought he did a reasonable job presenting the variety of worldviews within Christianity in a fair manner.

    I personally have the most experience studying early Christianity and I still learned a lot from this book. My weakest area of understanding was in modern theology and this gave me a good view at least to the year 2000. I'll probably need to get some advice on a good book to update me on current theology.

    I highly recommend this book for anyone interested understanding the history and diversity of Christianity.
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  • J.S.
    5.0 out of 5 stars Superb
    Reviewed in Canada on 8 November 2016
    Verified Purchase
    A superb and thoughtful thesis on Christian theological history. Well done and well written by an 'honest' theologian. Highly recommended!
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