Customer Reviews

History of Theology

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This book traces theology from the Early Church period through the Lutheran Reformation. People often wonder why different Christian groups differ from one another in belief. This book is a big help. Although not light reading, it shows how individual religious leaders emphasized some point in such a way that it bent what was taught and believed in various movements. It is a very good resource to have and to use.

Bengt Hagglund was and is one of the foremost Lutheran historical theologians of the latter half of the twentieth century. This is a very fine intro to theology as it developed over the ages beginning with the apostolic fathers through to the anti-Gnostic fathers such as Irenaeus and then moving on to such greats as St. Augustine. The major forms of scholastic thought are covered as is Luther's reformation breakthrough and the other major reformers before Hagglund discusses later developments in Lutheranism such as Lutheran Orthodoxy (1580 - 1725 A.D.) and Lutheran Pietism. Rarely will one encounter discussions of the Formula of Concord (1580) and Lutheran Orthodoxy in books written in English, so this is a helpful resource for Hagglund measured judgments. But Hagglund then gives sparser treatment on more recent theologians of the 19th century such as Schleiermacher before offering a brief discussion of early twentieth century theologians.

Hagglund's style is clear and concise and easy to understand. This is a good introductory text book to Christian theology as it developed. Hagglund is relatively fair and balanced, though many will not agree with all of his analyses. For example, his portrayal of Augustine's theology of salvation (soteriology)was far more convoluted than any of Augustine's major works on that subject. Hagglund may have been reading late medieval interpretations of Augustine back into the bishop of Hippo. Either way this is still a very fine resource.