THE BIG 5: The 5 Most Influential Theologians in Church History

[Dee Dee Warren]

THEOLOGICALSTUDIES.ORG

THE BIG 5: The 5 Most Influential Theologians in Church History

By MIKE J. VLACH

They are the Big 5—the five most influential theologians in the history of the church. Together, their lives and teachings have affected religious and political systems and have dramatically changed or contributed to how people understand theology.
Although differing at times on significant points of doctrine, these five theologians share certain things in common. Each has written a massive number of volumes revealing their views on the major areas of doctrine. Second, each has significantly shaped how people view theology, not only in their era, but in the centuries after they lived. Third, each theologian has made such a significant contribution to theology that no serious discussion of Christian doctrine can safely ignore them or their teachings.

Who are these theologians who have left the biggest footprints on the path of church history? We list them in chronological order:

1. AUGUSTINE (354–430)

By far, Augustine of Hippo was the most important theologian of the Patristic Era. He wrote hundreds of works including City of God and On the Trinity. He was the first theologian to thoroughly address the doctrines of man and salvation. Augustine taught that all people are born with original sin and that God predestines those whom He will save. Augustine also made huge contributions in the areas of the church and prophecy. In his battle with the Donatists, Augustine argued that people who lapsed because of persecution should be allowed back into church fellowship. Augustine is also known as "the father of amillennialism" since he promoted the idea that Satan is currently bound and that the millennium of Revelation 20 is being fulfilled in the present age. Many of his views carried over into the Middle Ages and became accepted as the orthodox positions of the church. Today, both Roman Catholics and Protestants often claim this greatest theologian of antiquity as support for their views.

2. THOMAS AQUINAS (1225–1274)

The greatest theologian of the Medieval Era, Thomas Aquinas developed a system of theology that became synonymous with Roman Catholic orthodoxy. Aquinas merged Aristotelian philosophy with Christianity, and in so doing, argued for a strong relationship between faith and reason. A strong proponent of natural revelation and the ability of nature to teach truths about God, Aquinas argued that God's existence and attributes could be proven through reason and observation of the created order. Aquinas produced 18 large volumes of theology. His most significant work was his massive Summa Theologiae ("summation of theology"). When the Protestant Reformation challenged Roman Catholicism, the Catholic Church drew upon the writings of Aquinas in drafting the decrees of the Council of Trent.

3. MARTIN LUTHER (1483–1546)

Little did this Augustinian monk know that when he nailed his "95 Theses" to the door of a Wittenberg church in 1517 that he would set in motion a chain of events that would change the course of history. The Protestant Reformation, of which Luther was the primary mover, forever changed the religious and political landscape of the Western world. Luther's contributions to theology are many. He rejected the idea that church tradition was equal to Scripture in authority. He also questioned the authority of the papacy. Luther argued that there were two marks of the church—the Word preached and the sacraments of Baptism and Lord's Supper rightly applied. Luther's most important contribution was his insistence that justification was based on faith alone, apart from works. The Lutheran denomination was based on his teachings. Both Life magazine and Biography of the Millennium (which aired on the A&E network) listed Luther as the third most important person of the millennium.

4. JOHN CALVIN (1509–64)

If Luther was the primary starter of the Reformation, John Calvin was its main theologian. With the precision of a surgeon, Calvin systematically expounded the major doctrines of the Protestant Reformation including the three solas—sola fide ("faith alone"), sola gratia ("grace alone") and sola scriptura ("scripture alone"). He also taught the doctrines of predestination and the absolute sovereignty of God. Calvin also ably defended that justification was a legal declaration of God and not a process of becoming right with God. In addition to his commentaries, this French theologian is most known for his work, Institutes of the Christian Religion. Calvin eventually became known as the Father of Reformed and Presbyterian theology. The popular designation "five points of Calvinism" is linked to the beliefs of John Calvin. Many today claim Calvin as a major influence in how they view theology.

5. KARL BARTH (1886–1968)

Though perhaps a notch below the other four theologians mentioned in this article, Swiss theologian, Karl Barth, rightly takes his place as one of the most influential theologians in church history. Barth exposed the bankruptcy of Protestant liberalism and ushered in the era of neo-orthodoxy. In stark contrast to the liberal overemphasis on God's immanence, Barth stressed the absolute transcendence of God. Also in contrast to liberalism, Barth stressed that God was the main agent in salvation, not man. Barth took a strong objective approach to the doctrine of salvation. According to Barth, Christ objectively united the entire human race to Himself and wrought salvation for all by His victory on the cross. Barth is also known for his strong emphasis on Christology, which for him was the corner
stone of all areas of theology. Barth's massive Church Dogmatics records the teachings of this influential theologian. When Barth died in 1968, volume 13 was unfinished. Evangelicals, liberal Protestants, and Catholics often refer to Barth in serious discussions of theology.
These are the Big 5—Augustine, Aquinas, Luther, Calvin, and Barth. Those who desire to be serious students of theology should become acquainted with the basic teachings of these five men. Students researching a particular area of doctrine such as salvation or the church should also search to see what these five theologians said about that subject. Doing so does not mean that one will necessarily embrace all that these five wrote, but having a familiarity with their teachings will add depth to one's knowledge and will reveal a keen sensitivity to the major movers in church history.

(NOTE: TheologicalStudies.org does not embrace all the teachings of the above-mentioned theologians. By including them, we are acknowledging their influence and not necessarily the correctness of all they believed.)

TheologicalStudies.org exists to provide reliable information in the areas of Bible, theology, and church history. We intend for our materials to be scholarly yet readable, and appropriate for use in personal, church, and educational settings. In addition to providing reliable information, TheologicalStudies.org also exists for the purpose of promoting and furthering the biblical worldview to all areas of life.

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[Dee Dee Warren]

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[Solly]

All predestinarians too.

Mind you, I would substitute Schleiermacher for Barth, since no Schleiermacher, no Barth. Schleiermacher really kicked theology into another track, from its perceived dead end in orthodoxy, and Barth was trying to react against that, but pushed things the other way; but much of our post-modern sentiments about religion and the Bible can be traced back to Schleiermacher.

And Luther wasn't really a theologian like the others, he produced no system for a start. Influential yes, but it's Calvin's Calvinism that has moulded the English speaking western world, secualr and religious, and they moulded the world, not Lutheran Germany, via Britain and America.

I would, recommend everyone go to the TS website, and see the full list of 150 leaders, theologicans and philosophers, since you can't really pin it down to 5.

[Dee Dee Warren]

I thought you would be the first to post Solly!

[bar Jonah]

Some of the most influential world leaders of the 20th century include... FDR, Hitler, Stalin, Mao, Kennedy, Nixon, Reagan....

Those who desire to be serious students of 20th century world history should become acquainted with the basic policies and actions of these seven men.

[mvlach]

I think the quote about Schleiremacher is a good one. Barth's writing influence puts him above Schleiermacher, but if I did a top 10 or even 7 I would include Schleiermacher.

[Solly]

Point accepted, since his works are voluminous, in print, and taught within the pale of orthodoxy, whereas Schleiermacher has little appeal to most people today, if they even know he existed.

I wonder how much of Barth's influence comes from what people have read, or what they think he said. As I looked into him, I was surprised to see he is technically universalist, seeing election of humanity in Christ, not as an individual thing. His perceived orthodoxy, esp as a "born again Calvinist", has beguiled many I think, like the Bloesch's and Torrance's of this world.

[Paul]

I heard that Karl Barth was a universalist or leaned in that direction. Is that true?

[Jaltus]

I would think that Wesley would need to be there also.

Didn't Augustine believe salvation could be lost? I am reading through a book of essays critiquing OV from a Calvinist perspective (edited by Piper), and one of the guys mentioned Augustine believe that salvation could be lost and never regained. Anyone know where that comes from in his writings?

Oh, it should be Athanasius over any of these guys anyway.

[Paul]

Yes Augustine did believe that. I don't know exactly where he said it though. I have to run at the moment but I'll be able to track it down for you if no one else does in the meantime.

Merry Christmas Jaltus

[Paul]

Jaltus,

OK here is a quotation and citation from St Augustine of Hippo, snagged from Jimmy Akin's website:

For example, in chapter 21 of his book, the Gift of Perseverance, St. Augustine wrote:

[O]f two pious men, why to the one should be given perseverance unto the end, and to the other it should not be given, God's judgments are even more unsearchable. . . . had not both been called and followed him that called them? And had not both become, from wicked men, justified men and both been renewed by the laver of regeneration? . . . In respect of all these things, they were of us. Nevertheless, in respect of a certain other distinction, they were not of us, for if they had been of us, they certainly would have continued with us. What then is this distinction? God's books lie open, let us not turn away our view. The divine Scripture cries aloud, let us give it a hearing. They were not of them because they had not been 'called according to the purpose.' They had not been chosen in Christ before the foundation of the world; they had not gained a lot in him. They had not been predestined according to his purpose who works all things.

Bear in mind that this was the old Augustine, not the young Augustine. He wrote this in 428, just two years before he died.

http://www.cin.org/users/james/files/loss.htm

[geebob]

All predestinarians too.

(and to answer paul's question)

Barth was a "hopeful" universalist. He denied that he was a universalist but most students and barth scholars agree that his system led to universalism. The reasoning is along the lines that Jesus is God's yes to man's no. Do you think that your piddly little no can stand up to God's yes?

As for Luther, a proffesor of mine told me how the president of a Lutherin seminary once lamented that bondage of the will was the only book of Luther's that evangelicals ever read. But Luther later in life mentioned something to the effect that we must not suppose that the reason that some accept the Gospel while others reject it is located somewhere in a mysterious will of God.

[Paul]

Today @ 04:12 PM post located here
geebob:



(and to answer paul's question)

Barth was a "hopeful" universalist. He denied that he was a universalist but most students and barth scholars agree that his system led to universalism. The reasoning is along the lines that Jesus is God's yes to man's no. Do you think that your piddly little no can stand up to God's yes?

As for Luther, a proffesor of mine told me how the president of a Lutherin seminary once lamented that bondage of the will was the only book of Luther's that evangelicals ever read. But Luther later in life mentioned something to the effect that we must not suppose that the reason that some accept the Gospel while others reject it is located somewhere in a mysterious will of God.

Do you know where Luther mentioned this? If you have a citation and/or quotation, I'd be grateful.

Thanks for answering my question about Barth. Was he or his system universalistic wrt to men only or wrt to all spiritual creatures (including the fallen angels)?

[mvlach]

It is definitely fair to say that Barth was a universalist.
He, himself, denied that he was, but his doctrine
clearly leads to universalism. He held that all people
including atheists are united to Christ. Since Christ
is the Federal Head of all people, all people benefit
from his life and death. Thus all are saved in the end.

[Vinnie]

Who are the most influential women theologians in Christian history? Or was it so misognyst that none are commonly known?

Vinnie