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Jonathan Hill, The History of Christian Thought. Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 2007. Pp. 352. $21.00.
Jonathan Hill The History of Christian Thought was first published in hardback in 2003 and has now re-appeared in a slightly modified paperback edition. The volume examines over forty great thinkers within the Christian tradition. It does not trace "the history of Christianity itself but the history of Christian thought, of Christians who have tried to reflect on the meaning of their faith and its relation to the cultural world in which they lived" (329). In other words, the study does not survey church history in general but historical theology in particular. The basic structure of the book remains consistent throughout as Hill introduces the life of each thinker, then summarizes the individual's thought, and closes with some personal reflections and assessment.
The History of Christian Thought is an interesting and informative read, and Hill's style is both engaging and accessible. Hill paints the theologians in a colorful manner, and he highlights their feet of clay at times. For example, he explains that John Wesley "invariably preached four or five times every day. It is little wonder that his marriage was a terrible failure, since his wife had no love for such a lifestyle and Wesley was unprepared to change it in the slightest, even when she followed after him, shouting abuse. They drifted apart to such an extent that he did not learn of her death until after the funeral" (2 14),
At times,...