The Christian Tradition: A History of the Development of Doctrine, Volume 3: The Growth of Medieval Theology (600-1300)

When ordering books, accurate description, fair price and on time delivery is everything. The book was delivered as described. The price was certainly reasonable and delivery was earlier than promised.

Jaroslav Pelikan's third volume in "The Christian Tradition" series, entitled "The Growth of Medieval Theology" covers the development of doctrine in Western Christianity during the years 600 AD to 1300 AD (Eastern Christianity during this time period was covered in Volume 2). As such, it covers the development of the doctrines and practices that would one day lead to the splitting of Western Christendom through the Protestant Reformation. Anyone impacted by those events - and that would be all Christians in the West today - would benefit greatly from reading this volume. Unfortunately, this time period is one of the least understood and most disparaged periods of Church history. Most view the early Middle Ages (approximately 600-1100 AD) as a time of little development and great corruption. The years 1100-1300 AD, on the other hand, are seen as a time of too much - and illegitimate - development. Whereas both stereotypes have some basis in truth, Pelikan's book shows that these views are simplifications that do not truly cover the more nuanced truth of the matter. The major influence on this time period in the Church is St. Augustine. In fact, it would not be far from the truth to say that the Church during this time was simply working to process Augustine's theology. Every debate was held under the assumption that one had to show how one's views conformed to Augustine's; if unsuccessful, then the argument was lost. Of course, today it is easy to see how this myopia could lead to problems, but at the same time, Augustine's thought was so comprehensive that it was quite a firm foundation for 1,000 years. Pelikan does an excellent job in relating the various debates and issues of the time, and how Augustine's teachings formed the basis for it all. What I admire most about this series is that Pelikan is able to remove himself from modern presuppositions and enter into the minds of those who lived in the time period under study. Much of the preconceptions of the Middle Ages are not ours; and as such, their arguments can seem simplistic and lacking. But Pelikan is masterful in explaining not only the arguments of the theological debates of the time, but also the assumptions and beliefs that formed the foundation for those arguments. This allows the reader to comprehend debates that are sometimes far removed from our own times.

This is the third of five volumes of the late Jaroslav Pelikanâ(tm)s classic series on the historical development of Christian doctrine. Combining the highest degree of historical scholarship with the pedagogical skill of a great teacher, Pelikanâ(tm)s work still stands as the standard source when approaching the question of doctrinal origins. In this volume, Pelian explores the development of doctrine in Western Christendom from the close of the patristic era to the height of medieval scholasticism. In this period, the Western Church, beginning with the theological synthesis of St. Augustine of Hippo, developed an outlook on the Christian faith that differed in fundamental ways with theological currents in the Christian East. The collapse of the Western Roman Empire, the use of Latin instead of Greek, and the increasing claims of the papacy all were hallmarks on this era where the Christian West began to assert its own unique theology. Pelikan begins with the book with an historical exposition of the Augustinian synthesis and its understanding of the Catholic tradition. The Western Church no less than the East claimed loyalty to the tradition of the Fathers but saw it though an Augustinian prism. So pervasive was the influence of the great Bishop of Hippo, that it seemed natural to add the clause "and the Son" to the Creed when speaking of the Holy Spirit simply based on St. Augustine's own writings on the Trinity. Not just on the Trinity, but on every key aspect of the faith, St. Augustine of Hippo was a towering figure. His ideas on salvation, the nature of the Church, and the Sacraments would dominate Western thinking for centuries to come and the earlier Fathers would be interpreted through the synthesis he created. Then turning to the period at the end of the patristic era, Pelikan explores how Western theologians began to extend the Augustinian synthesis in the face of new challenges. Among the theological challenges facing Western Christendom were semi-adoptionst views, the blurring of the line between the doctrine of the Trinity and tritheism, the role of faith and works in salvation, the nature of the Sacraments, and the position of Mary in the divine economy. Some of these issues, as Pelikan skillfully details, would continue to occupy the theological concerns of the Western Church for centuries to come. One of the areas where such concerns would meld to form a more comprehensive view occurred as the Western Church began to develop its theology of the divine economy. Within Western theology, salvation had since St. Augustine emphasized tended towards a transactional theory of atonement which differed from the idea of theosis that was holding sway in the East. However, the exact nature of the transaction involved was left nebulous in the writings of the great bishop of Hippo. An idea that had begun to hold sway in the Western Church was the ransom theory whereby Jesus gave His life as a ransom paid to Satan who was then unable to

Jaroslav Pelikan, once again, provides readers with a thorough, pluralistic view of the major theological thoughts and innovations of the period. The work, which thankfully does not ignore the Eastern church and therefore gives a truly comprehensive picture, is based on quotations from major theologians, and neither is speculative nor dilutes the writings by trying to fit them into a modern mold.This book is a superb reference for students of theology and history, and definitely "fills in the blanks" for anyone with a limited view of medieval theology. Pelikan's writing is surprisingly readable, though it is sometimes cumbersome to have to keep checking the "marginalia" and separate listing of sources to ascertain who wrote what. It is purely a scholarly work, and not likely to please those looking for engaging narratives, but is invaluable for those with a serious interest in the subjects.

Pelikan's "The Christian Tradition" is a remarkable series that describes the manner in which Catholic, Protestant, and Orthodox christians have interpreted the teaching of Jesus and the manner in which the doctrines of this "one, holy, catholic and apostolic" faith developed and diverged over twenty centuries. Thus, one learns not only what the various christian churches teach today but how and why these teachings differ. While scholarly, "The Christian Tradition" is clearly written and readable. Highly recommended.