Harvest of Medieval Theology, The: Gabriel Biel and Late Medieval Nominalism [Paperback]

Heiko A. Oberman (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: February 1, 2001

Reassesses nominalism's impact on 16th century thought through a detailed analysis of the writings of Gabriel Biel.

Editorial Reviews

From the Back Cover

"This is a remarkable and scholarly book which will serve as a quarry and a work of reference on Biel for many years. On the level of history and scholarship it is excellent."

-Journal of Religious History

"Oberman has used all the skills of a specialist to present to us a form of medieval theology which is of great relevance for all theologians."

-Theology Today

"Meticulous historical research, the broad horizon of great historiography, and penetrating elucidation of difficult philosophical and theological problems make it one of the outstanding works in the field of history of Christian thought."

-The Reformed Theological Review

"A massive book for which all students of the later Middle Ages and the Reformation will be grateful."

-Journal of Theological Studies

First printed in 1963, The Harvest of Medieval Theology remains a standard for students of late medieval theology. Herein, Oberman explains the theology and philosophy of late medieval nominalism through a detailed analysis of the writings of Gabriel Biel, the famous German disciple of William Ockham. The book discusses all the themes of Biel's thought: the dialectic of the two powers of God, grace, predestination, justification, Christology, Mariology, eucharist, and mysticism. Because Biel is believed to have had a profound influence on the young Martin Luther, Oberman's book is as important for Reformation scholars as it is for medievalists.

About the Author

Heiko A. Oberman (Ph.D., University of Utrecht) is professor of European history at the University of Arizona and the author of many books.

Product Details

• Paperback: 512 pages
• Publisher: Baker Academic (February 1, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0801020379
• ISBN-13: 978-0801020377
• Product Dimensions: 8.8 x 6 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.5 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #296,977 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 27 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars The root of 'Faith Alone' was a movement called Modernism, oh, sorry, 'Nominalism', February 9, 2007

By 

Steve S. Jones (Wisconsin, USA) - See all my reviews

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This review is from: Harvest of Medieval Theology, The: Gabriel Biel and Late Medieval Nominalism (Paperback)

Heiko Oberman is one of the top Lutheran scholars to ever live. His research is impeccable. Yet, one can't get around the fact that he is an apologist for Modernism (nominalism). And this is where his work always falters. Fair enough, one should figure this by the title, but he always gets his sides mixed up - will the real Modernists please stand up? (But you'd have to read another book of his on Luther to fully appreciate that) I also have a sneaking suspicion that this is a veiled rebuttal to Damascene's 'Fount of Knowledge'. If it is, then he should be up front about it. It's a bit of philosophical dishonesty to portray the Modernists as the true Traditionalists without fairly representing someone who is actually from Tradition.