Historical, Thought, Biographical 

In 5 major sections, this is an excellent, quick, objective overview of 2000 years of ~ 100 major thinkers and ~35 major events of the good (mostly) but also the bad and the ugly related to and impacting on the Christian faith.

Part 1 - to AD 500, ~ 60 pages, 18 thinkers and 7 topics

Part 2 - The Eastern Tradition from AD 500, ~ 20 pages, 7 thinkers and 3 topics

Part 3 - Mediaeval West AD 500-1500, ~ 60 pages, 21 thinkers and 4 topics

Part 4 - Reformation & Reaction 1500-1800, ~ 90 pages, 27 thinkers and 9 topics
- 5 sections on traditions of: Lutherans, Reformed, Anabaptists, British, RCC

Part 5 - Christian Thought in Modern World, 1800 on, ~ 100 pages, 29 thinkers and 12 topics


"... (this book) offers a succinct, readable survey of key Christian thinkers and significant theological developments from the church's inception to the present.

In addition to surveying over one hundred important Christian thinkers from Justin Martyr to Joseph Ratzinger (Pope Benedict XVI), the book also covers major creeds, councils, and documents.

Representative extracts allow the reader to hear from each of the key thinkers in his or her own words. After having sold more than 50,000 copies in its earlier editions, the current edition has been refined and updated throughout and includes new material on key contemporary thinkers. It will appeal to church leaders, interested laity, and students."