Theology of the Reformers

Timothy George's Theology of the Reformers (Broadman and Holman, 1988) has become a standard textbook for students interested in the theology of the Reformation. If you are interested in Reformation theology, but don't have time to look through the primary source material, George's book is where you should turn. The book begins with a chapter that describes life in the Middle Ages - an appropriate place to begin if one is to understand the historical and sociological factors that led up to Luther's break with Rome. George surveys the theological landscape of the period, as well as the mindset of "death" and "rebirth" prevalent in Europe at the time. The corruption of the Roman Catholic Church of the era is also described. After setting the Reformation in historical context, George analyzes the life and theology of three magisterial Reformers and one Radical Reformer - Luther, Calvin, Zwingli, and Simons. Each chapter includes biographical information, quotes and excerpts from the Reformers' works and debates, as well as an overview of the high points of each one's theology. George does a fine job of hitting the highlights without entering into excessive detail. My only point of contention was that sometimes George makes generalizations and doesn't provide support. (An example is his declaration that Calvin affirmed the later Calvinist concept of "particular redemption." Click here for my thoughts on that debate.) One might wonder why George chose Menno Simons as the fourth Reformer to be analyzed in the book. It seems that other Reformers had more immediate impact than Simons, men such as Thomas Cranmer, Philip Melanchthon, or even Theodore Beza. Perhaps Simons is included as a representation of the Anabaptist strand of theology, which eventually led to an alternative view of church and state, as well as peaceful disagreement between different theological movements. Theology of the Reformers is the place to start one's study of the theology that drove the Reformation.

I believe Timothy George offers the student of church history a great concise overview of the theology of the reformers. His presentation is honest and it calls his readers to learn from history. I appreciated his clear and forthright view of the Anabaptist tradition that too often is misrepresented. I especially liked the last chapter of the book. I believe the "mainline reformers" have only given us a "half-way reformation." To be Protestant is still in many ways to be Roman Catholic... only reformed to reflect Luther, Zwingli, and Calvin thought. George brings it all together in the last chapter and beckons the reader to examine their own theology. I believe he is right on when he says, "We have much to learn from each of these traditions, but we are bound to none of them. We are only bound to Jesus Christ." Bravo Mr. George! Bravo!

Timothy George is founding dean and professor at Beeson Divinity School. He has also been a pastor and editor of numerous Christian magazines. Currently he is executive editor of Christianity Today. It was a refreshing change to read Theology of the Reformers. George comes to the subject as a Christian. He does not fudge difficulties presented to believers, but, as we shall see, seeks to assist in our growing in faith and knowledge of God through the reformers. George moves from the familiar to the unfamiliar in that most theological students have read biographies of Luther, Zwingli and Calvin, but probably not Menno Simons. The chapter on Menno Simons, then, is couched in a familiar setting which presented me with some quite new and challenging material. The basic aim of this book is to bring out the emphases in the theologies of these four reformers. In being faithful to this aim, George has assisted in breaking down a number of myths commonly held about the reformers. For example, rather than Calvin being a melancholic and unemotional theologian, he is shown as a pastor who (page 212) "...was frequently called on to counsel those Protestants who had been imprisoned for their faith and who often faced imminent martyrdom." A quick scan of the footnotes between pages 238 and 246 will show that Calvin greatly drew on the Pastoral Epistles to shape his theology. The key phrase used in the four main biographical chapter headings are something that won't easily be forgotten by most readers: "Yearning for Grace: Martin Luther"; "Something Bold for God: Huldrych Zwingli"; "Glory unto God: John Calvin"; and "No Other Foundation: Menno Simons". These chapter headings are tied in with major threads of each of the respective reformer's theologies, and could be used as mnemonics for subsequent reflection. All four reformers are presented in a sympathetic light. However, George doesn't shirk from showing the reformers belligerently holding on to their divisive approaches to the sacraments, when compromise (or at least temporary concession) may have been better for the church at large. Whilst not misrepresenting the unique perspectives of each reformer's viewpoint nor espousing a "facile ecumenism" (page 316) George proposes a way forward of sorts in his final chapter The Abiding Validity of Reformation Theology namely, to hold to the essentials but continue to promote the importance of the sacraments. Regarding this final chapter, Baker (Baker, J.W. (1991) Theology of the Reformers (Book Review). Church History 60, 387-389.) asserts that George "...may have exceeded the reach of his study". I do not agree with this statement for the following reasons: first, given the overall fine quality of the book and George's extensive experience in the pulpit, lecture hall and editor's desk, he is qualified to provide guidance in applying the knowledge he has gleaned from the reformers discussed; second, given the importance of the topic (i.e. the way for

Timothy George develops a great introduction to the theology of the four most influential reformer's during the Protestant Reformation. The first two chapters set the stage by giving a detailed description of the late Middle Ages.The third chapter is dedicated to the life and works of Martin Luther and catalogs his pursuit for the doctrine of grace. The next chapter sets forth the life and works of Huldrych Zwingli and gives an excellent summary of the Marburg Colloquy. The fifth (and longest) chapter is on John Calvin. George spends time dealing with his Institutes of the Christian Religion but also delves further into the broad plethora of Calvin's writings. The sixth chapter gives a summation of Menno Simons and adds a new appreciation for this often misrepresented and underrated reformer. George concludes with a chapter on the relevancy of studying Reformation Theology.This book is a great introduction that will leave you wanting more. No doubt after this is read the reader will find himself digging deeper into the Theology of the Reformation.For a more in depth historical analysis see: Carter Lindberg's "European Reformations."