The First Theologians

By Charles Wesley Lowry

Set against the historical background of the advent of Jesus Christ, and the eruption and movement of the Christian Church as it is known today, this enlightening account follows the impact of early... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0895268043
• ISBN13: 9780895268044
• Release Date: August 1999
• Publisher: Gateway Editions
• Length: 443 Pages
• Weight: 0.75 lbs.
• Dimensions: 6.9" x 0.9" x 4.2"

Customer Reviews

The Biblical Theologians

Early Theologians & Biblical Theology: Eastern Churches describe the fourth evangelist as John the Theologian, his gospel was the base of Alexandrine incarnational and sotereological theology. Many contemporary theologians regard Tertullian as the first Western Christian to write theology, defending Christians against the hostility of the Roman State, as well as arguing against Marcion, Praxeas and theosophical fantasy. Meanwhile, the first great systematic theologian, is reckoned by most as Origen of Alexandria, who invented the word theologia, even if he constructs on the foundations of Clement, in late second century Alexandria, who wrote a substantial trilogy of which Paedagogus an ethical guide, and Stromateis which he wrote to provide biblical themes in the language of Greek philosophers, paved the way of his grand scheme. (p. 166) Introducing Theology: Charles Lowry novel account of New Testament theological trilogy, needed his enlightening exposition, an acclimatizing introduction in the first three chapters. He starts by outlining the historical, cultural, and faith issues that forced the church of 'a dying and rising God who had actually lived among men,' out of the synagogue whose TaNaKh was 'often more a problem than an asset,' to the Graeco-Gentiles that then dominated the new Testament faithful. Early Theological Resources: Here, as eight years later, in his synonym book (Eerdmans, 94) was Princeton President Gillespie influenced by Harnack's 'Didache,' Lowry expresses his fear of being influenced by the same great dogmatic. He postulates three fundamental theological questions that faced second century Church, ought to be answered; What was the faith of the Church? What was the character of the good News of the Gospel of Christ? What was the nature and extent of Christian salvation? The author succinct answer was put under two heads; the church had the Christology of the NT, and the theology of OT. New Testament Theology: Dr. Lowry starts his case in a historical account of the NT books in chapter 4. He starts with the earliest letters of Paul, discusses the synoptic Gospels, and culminates with John's. His compelling theological creativity comes when he proves how original was letter 'To the Hebrews', and how the brilliant was its theology of the redeeming priesthood of Christ Jesus. For the Alexandrines, this epistle was second only to the gospel of John. Adopting Luther's preferred writer fits very tightly Apollos records in the Acts and Paul's letters. Three NT Theologians: The inspiring theologos represents his case of the early three Theologians, in his presumed order, since he made the case that John wrote the ultimate inspired theological book of the New testament, which Origen calls 'The eternal gospel,' in his commentary on john. Paul, The Rabbi Apollos The (Alexandrian Neo-) Platonist John The Incarnationist He concludes his theological essay with the Paschal mystery, as he names it; The Crucified