Dictionary of Theologians

An exhaustive guide to every significant Christian theologian from the first century through to the death of John Duns Scotus in 1308, this is an invaluable window into the complex world of early and medieval Christian thought.

An exhaustive guide to every significant Christian theologian who lived from the first century to 1308, the year in which John Duns Scotus died. The dictionary encompasses the Catholic, Orthodox, Nestorian and Monophysite traditions, including information not previously available in English. Thoroughly indexed, the dictionary incorporates common variants of names and concepts which will help and direct the reader. The main criterion for inclusion has been contribution to the development of Christian theology. Sub-criteria by which that is measured include, above all, originality and influence on later figures. With over 290 entries, the dictionary provides a handy summary of theologiansi lives and writings together with recent scholarship,as well as an up-to-date, definitive bibliography listing primary texts, translations and secondary literature in the major western European languages. Useful for all levels of academia; no other text matches the depth of the dictionaryis bibliographies. The unprecedented thoroughness of Hill’s compilation provides an essential resource for studies at all levels on such a large and varied range of Church thinkers.

Jonathan Hill holds a MPhil in Theology from Oxford University and a PhD in Philosophy from National University of Singapore. He lives in London and Oxford.

• By (author) Jonathan Hill

'The Dictionary covers individuals from Apostolic Fathers to the death of Duns Scouts, one of the most important philosophers and theologians of the Middle Ages. All entries cover individuals who contributed to the development of Christian theology. While the authors provide brief historical and biographical information, the primary focus is on their roles as contributors to the theological discourse of their time. ... Hill provides an excellent overview of Aquinas' ideas and the doctrines those ideas influenced. Many articles provide a similar synopsis of Aquinas' thoughts, but the Dictionary's inclusive bibliography makes it unique. The Dictionary's extensive bibliography is a valuable asset for anyone doing research on Aquinas. It is unparalleled by other reference works.'Garrett Troll, Reference/Instruction Librarian, Corban University: Journal of Religious & Theological Information, 2012.'Hill examines major Christian theologians from the apostolic fathers and the beginnings of post-biblical theology, to Duns Scotus as the last great representative of the golden age of medieval Christian theology. He offers overviews of the life and theology of the figures, and includes comprehensive bibliographies of their work and secondary literature concerning them.'Book News Inc, February 2011 "This is a bold reference work, maybe most likely to be compared with Friedrich Wilhelm Bautz's attempt to create a one-author-lexicon, with an ambition to scholastic profundity, attention to detail, and coverage. ... Everyone who is eager to get a quick round-up of the recent literature on one of the church fathers listed [or one of the few female theologians], concerning their life and accomplishments, will be delighted to draw on this piece of work. ... Anyway, this piece of work is definitely written in a vivid style, that is incentivising to continue reading."Markus Vinzent- Theologische Literaturzeitung, vol 136 (2011) 11'Unlike many dictionaries of theologians or philosophers, this work offers a comprehensive vade mecum of Christian theologians which is useful to anyone studying or working in the field, without being cursory or voluminous. The dictionary is precisely researched and clearly up-to-date, offering a biographical as well as a theological overview of each contributor to Christian thought. Entries include both Western and Eastern theologians, and often include references to the Patrologia Latina and Patrologia Graeca. The work is well structured, and is the result of much thought and distillation. ... Perhaps the most important aspect to consider with this dictionary is the balance that has been achieved in terms of style, content, and appearance. Researching and writing a dictionary of ambitious proportion, as this one is, gives room for careful consideration and planning of presentation and choice of content. Hill has maintained a useful balance of these elements in writing this volume.'Chris Wojtulewicz in: Theologische Revue, Nr.4, 2012''This is a great go-to resource particularly for some more obscure medieval thinkers who are less well-covered in other introductory volumes. ... Overall, an impressive feat for a single scholar, generally reliable and consistent in its approach.''Lee Gatiss (Peterhouse, Cambridge) in: Churchman, Autumn 2012
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