Thinking with the Church: Essays in Historical Theology - Softcover

Schubert M. Ogden -- Southern Methodist University -Brian Gerrish's work as a historical theologian always anticipating the systematic theological task continues unsurpassed. In essay after essay, his 'thinking with the church' takes the gerund as seriously as the preposition, by appropriating the church's witness critically, and so advancing both of the disciplines in which he labors so fruitfully. Of particular value in this book is its further, thought-provoking illumination of 'tradition' as ever the duty of -- in his mentor John Calvin's words -- faithfully handing on only by first forming as best we can.- Schubert M. Ogden Southern Methodist University "Brian Gerrish's work as a historical theologian always anticipating the systematic theological task continues unsurpassed. In essay after essay, his 'thinking with the church' takes the gerund as seriously as the preposition, by appropriating the church's witness critically, and so advancing both of the disciplines in which he labors so fruitfully. Of particular value in this book is its further, thought-provoking illumination of 'tradition' as ever the duty of in his mentor John Calvin's words "faithfully handing on"only by first"forming"as best we can.""

Thinking with the Church offers twelve substantial essays from B. A. Gerrish, renowned historian, theologian, and Calvin scholar. In this collection, he focuses on the Calvinist tradition and the interpretation of historical theology as a critical engagement with past leaders of Christian thought and their opponents. / In the first two parts the essays focus on philosophical theology, considering questions such as What is religion? and What is revelation? Part three turns directly to historical interpretation of the Calvinist tradition, viewed in the very diverse work of three of its foremost representatives Calvin himself, Friedrich Schleiermacher, and Charles Hodge. Finally, in the fourth and fifth sections Gerrish deals with particular Christian doctrines in which the diversity of the Calvinist tradition is apparent the atonement, the Eucharist, and grace. Historical interpretation is the foundation throughout, but Gerrish does not exclude the critical engagement that belongs to the task of historical theology.