Top 5 Christian Theologians: Who Did I Leave Out?
By Trevin Wax on Aug 23, 2008 in Theology, Top Theologians | 
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This week, I devoted one post each day to the Top 5 Most Important Theologians in Christian history. Here are the five I considered to have been most influential:
What follows is a list of honorable mentions: theologians who impacted Christian theology in important ways, but who (usually for a few good reasons) do not make the Top 5 List.
Irenaeus – for his apologetic defense of historic Christianity in the face of Gnosticism. He also popularized the recapitulation theory of the atonement
Anselm of Canterbury – founder of scholasticism. Formulated the ontological argument for God’s existence.
Martin Luther - for his instrumental role in the Reformation. He was definitely a theologian in his own right, although I see him more as a revolutionary than a theologian. Calvin is the one who took the Reformation insights and systematized them and therefore becomes more influential as a theologian.
Friedrich Schleiermacher & Adolf von Harnack - Schleiermacher made the subjective experience of the believer (specifically the feeling of total dependency) the center of theology and thus became the “Father of Liberalism.” Together with the later work of Adolph von Harnack, these two packed quite a punch. The reverberations continue to echo throughout Christian theology.
John Wesley - an important leader of a renewal movement within Anglicanism which eventually became Methodism and the Holiness churches. While probably deserving a place in the Top Ten or Fifteen, I don’t believe Wesley’s theological contributions earn him a Top 5 ranking.
Jonathan Edwards – If I were making a list of the Top 5 Most Important American Theologians, then Edwards would probably be #1. A fine preacher and interpreter of Puritan theology, Edwards’ legacy cast a long shadow over American evangelicalism.
C.S. Lewis – I don’t consider him to be primarily a theologian. He was a terrific apologist, and he ably articulated the essentials of the Christian faith. But one can hardly speak of a “Lewisian” school of theology that has grown up because of his contributions.
Who else do you think of? Did I get these right or wrong?
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How about a book recommendation on each of these theologians? Like a good “primer” of their ideas. Particularly for Barth because I don’t know much about him. Thanks.
Ian | Aug 23, 2008 | Reply
A.W. Tozer may break your honorable mentions as well. Luther had a lot more to do with the 95 Theses than just nailing them to some door. It takes a true scholar of the Word to break down the ineptitude of the Papacy and call B.S. like he did. That’s theological there.
Nice mention on Karl Barth. Most folk forget him.
“The center is not something which is under our control, but something that controls us. ” (Church Dogmatics)
Peace.
hiscrivener | Aug 23, 2008 | Reply
For most charismatics, tops would be Charles Finney.
hiscrivener | Aug 23, 2008 | Reply
I listened to a teaching by R. C. Sproul and he mentioned his top 5 and they were: 1. Augustine 2. Thomas Aquinas 3. Martin Luther 4. Calvin 5. Jonathon Edwards. He said these 5 would be in almost everyone’s top 10. What made me remember this was that you chose Calvin over Luther. In his talk, Sproul referred to Calvin as the junior partner to Luther. Sproul obviously loves the teaching of both men, but he was very clear in listing Luther over Calvin.
For honorable mention I thought of:
Tertullian – introduced the terminology of “trinity,” “unity of substance,” & “three persons.” (deserves a nod for that)
The 3 Cappodocians. They did a lot of work around the arian controversey & kept popping up in the study of history.
Leo & Cyril for their work leading up to Chalcedon.
I have not thought this out much, but those are some that come to mind that you did not mention. Good idea to write about.
Bill Blair | Aug 23, 2008 | Reply
I was partial to Irenaeus to get someone from the Greek speaking pre-Imperial church into the list. But they you would have to bump Barth to #6.
Tony Kummer | Aug 23, 2008 | Reply
I think I would agree with Trevin in putting Calvin over Luther. But it could go either way. The only thing I care about is making sure that no one puts Calvin and Luther over Augustine!
Matt Svoboda | Aug 23, 2008 | Reply
Trevin: I think this list is pretty much right, though there are a lot more theologians that deserve to be in the honorable mentions list. Some have already been mentioned. I would highlight Cyril of Alexandria (would probably replace Athanasius in my list), Tertullian, Gregory of Nazianzus, Gregory of Nyssa, Maximus the Confessor, Ulrich Zwingli, Isaak Dorner, and Hans Urs von Balthasar.
Ian: As a doctoral student studying Barth, I have to say you can’t do better than reading the man himself, and the first book I would read is Evangelical Theology: An Introduction — such a beautiful and simple book. A good beginner secondary text is John Franke’s Karl Barth for Armchair Theologians. If you feel ready to “graduate” to the big leagues, then read Barth’s Church Dogmatics IV/1 (Doctrine of Reconciliation) as the primary text, and Eberhard Jüngel’s God’s Being Is in Becoming as the single best secondary text ever written about Barth, and one of the best books on the Trinity ever written. I hope that helps.
David W. Congdon | Aug 23, 2008 | Reply
Your list is correct, though Luther deserves a very close 6th place. Edwards? Sorry, not even close. I think Edwards is great, but I would hesitate to put him even in the top ten. Can we seriously put Edwards above Irenaeus, Anselm, Luther, and Schleiermacher? No. So that takes up nine spots. Edwards would barely make it in at number 10, but a strong case could be made for either Pseudo-Dionysius or Bernard of Clairvaux — if we are talking about importance in terms of influence.
Kevin | Aug 23, 2008 | Reply
I’d pretty much agree with TWax’s list, though I would list Jonathan Edwards in place of Barth. Edward’s “The End for which God Created the World,” “Freedom of the Will,” “Charity & Its Fruits”, “Religious Affections,” & “Original Sin” are all seminal works, not to mention many of his sermons such as “Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God” and the Publication of David Brainard’s Life & Diary which has perhaps been more influential in igniting the Protestant missionary movement in the 19th& 20th centuries than anything else.
Fun series. Thanks!
http://kicking-the-darkness.blogspot.com/2008/08/big-boys.html
John Ferguson | Aug 24, 2008 | Reply
What R.C. Sproul didn’t have Owen in his 5? Let me call T-Mobile just to make sure!
joyfulfreedom1 | Aug 25, 2008 | Reply
where is Jacob Arminius? Certainly the Calvinist / Arminian divide among protestants is significant
elderj | Aug 25, 2008 | Reply
I am somewhat disappointed no one has mentioned Erasmus yet. Not that I see him in the top 5, but maybe on someone’s top 10. He may not be a current favorite, but he should get a mention anyway.
Biff | Aug 26, 2008 | Reply
Sorry to post again, but after thinking for a few minutes, wanted to add that, given the current philosophy of the church as a whole, we may see his name on the top 5 sometime this century. It goes without saying that your reply will be “Not if I can prevent it”. Just a thought…
Biff | Aug 26, 2008 | Reply
I don’t think that Arminius should make the cut. He more or less reacted from within the Calvinist framework he had. Historically, he is decidedly within the “Reformed” tradition, although he departs from it. But as a theologian, I don’t think he’s as influential (the theology associated with his name comes more from Wesley).
About Erasmus, good pick. I didn’t think of him, but surely his textual contributions are worthy of mention.
trevinwax | Aug 26, 2008 | Reply
A man of inestimable weight and value but underappreciated is P. T. Forsyth. This Congregationalist and Kenoticist is unique. He has been called a Barthian before Barth as he anticipated many of the same themes. Few writers wrote so profoundly in Christology or Theodicy. Give him a look his writings can be found free online.
Babylon's Dread | Aug 27, 2008 | Reply
I vote for Paul. Romans especially was really good.
dancurant | Aug 27, 2008 | Reply
What about Theologians that are still living now? N T (Tom) Wright would have to feature high on that list!
DrNick | Aug 30, 2008 | Reply
My five:
Paul
John
Irenaeus
Origen
Augustine
with Aquinas, John of Damascus, Calvin, Schliermacher and Barth rounding out the top ten.
J. Michael Matkin | Aug 30, 2008 | Reply
How about John MacArthur, Ravi Zacharias, R.C. Sproul Sr., and not living but also Phillip Doddridge. The first three are very influential theologians of our time and great defenders of the Christian faith.
RMS | Aug 30, 2008 | Reply
..if you have Barth, you should consider von Balthasar…
iwka | Sep 2, 2008 | Reply
you left off N.T. Wright.
bryonm | Sep 6, 2008 | Reply
Hmm… well if we’re including biblical writers, I would have to say Paul and John are my number one and two, respectively.
Other than that, I’d have to say
Irenaeus, Luther (I’d have to put him close to the top, his ideas formed the basis of modern thought on grace), Aquinas, Barth, and Lewis.
I’d also put Bonhoeffer pretty far up there. Now, to be honest, I haven’t read many church fathers, so my list will probably change considerably when I find time to read some of their works, but for now, this is mine
I know you said Lewis doesn’t particularly count, but I thought C.S. Lewis had a particular way of bringing new insight about God to me in a way that allows for personal thought and coming to personal conclusions. I love it!
Also, just modern thinkers… or maybe post-modern thinkers, I like McLaren (I don’t always agree with him, but he makes some great points), Rob Bell, and Donald Miller. Also Shane Claiborne.
Tyler J. | Oct 21, 2008 | Reply
What about Emil Brunner? Even though he admitted that Barth was the true theological genius, he still has a place amongst the church’s greatest theologians.
Joe | Feb 14, 2009 | Reply
Apostle Paul (Period)
Wayne Grudem
Charles Hadden Spurgeon
Jeff James | Apr 8, 2009 | Reply
I wouldn´t dare to say that there is “a best theologian“. I will God let be the judge on who was the instrument that He used the most.
Giancarlo | Jun 3, 2009 | Reply
Paul as a first century theologian rather than a third century saint is certainly the ultimate. Rowan Williamson the Archbishop of Cantebury is interesting.
diana clifford | Jun 25, 2009 | Reply
If author C.S. Lewis then Tolstoy rates mention.
MARK | Jul 26, 2009 | Reply
I would also include Watchman Nee for his work on church government. He also had some insightful thoughts on the “trinity of man” (my term) – the flesh, the soul, and spirit. esp. his equating the soul with ego.
MARK | Jul 26, 2009 | Reply
I’m frankly amazed that no one has mentioned Kierkegaard.
Awall | Jul 29, 2009 | Reply
I think the best 10 ever:
The Apostle Paul
John Calvin
Jonathan Edwards
Martin Luther
Saint Augustine
RC Sproul
Karl Bart
Thomas Aquinas
A.W. Tozer
Mathew Henry
Martin G
Martin Gutierrez | Sep 25, 2009 | Reply
Your asessment of Luther as more of a revoltionary and Calvin as more of a theologian. Luther was not a revolutionary he was a reformer. He did not divide the church, he was kicked out. Till the day he died his hope was that Rome would embrace the solas. This is where he and Calvin differed. It was actually Luther’s non-revolutionary nature that gave him the objectivity he needed in developing his sacramental theolgy, which cast aside the elements of Rome’s which were heterodox but preserved where they were still faithful. Calvin on the other hand, because of his strong anti-Rome penchant, completely obliterated any notion of the sacraments as truly being means of grace. Indeed Calvin was more of a reolutionary than Luther. Luther belongs in the top 5.
Steve | Dec 1, 2009 | Reply
I agree with Awall about being surprised about no one mentioning Kierkegaard, also another name to consider is John Howard Yoder. I also would put Dietrich Bonhoeffer high up on the list, and as an honorable mention Greg Boyd.
danny | Jan 22, 2010 | Reply
John without Revelations there is no continuim to Genesis and to which I speak: Analysis at the highest level imaginable to man whether tight to the language with touch of lace and dab of paint or rugged Paul … It is to the anonymouse that the top ten belong. And from such lists as our pointed out here I then must replace Luther with Henry Miller, Marx for Augustine Krishnamurti for Calvin I’ll then add Corrie ten Boom for Barth and Kierkigaard for Thomas and Peter Csiranyi Curtis for the anonymous other: These ’self validating’ pronouncements are antithetical to the Sovereign One of Israel and those that dwell within thus are enslaved by the Father of lies or we carry currency with Creator as if the Tower of Babel is apparently just a curiousity as was with John whom kindly could have said and now my vision finished in Come the New Jerusalem you all so qualitative forget that it is the children to which He references the Kingdom of God: from such mouths a turn of joyful utterance masters the pious or the pretentious or the pathological fields plowed herein to which we have no such comprehension and thus should summarily then either condemn John now quite awake or think these first be first. Guess then there goes Solomon and Isaiah … what say we call these men bold if you think I slight them but I would rather see the 10 best imperfectionists or the 10 made most available and it is through pathos one must wander so each of us in wilderness should caution which or who has His signature been sealed. I love to hear my Father laugh!
Catherine Curtis | Mar 5, 2010 | Reply
Trevin,
Nice list. As far as influence and importance goes:
I think Augustine and Aquinas are indisputable. It’s hard to know if one should include Calvin over Luther or to include him while leaving Luther out. I think I would have included Calvin while leaving Luther out simply because he produced more theology than Luther, even if Luther paved the way.
However, as to Athanasius . . . I don’t know. I would probably put the Cappadocians in there first.
Further, I think that while Barth is very important – Schleiermacher has exerted more influence. Barth’s theology is too indebted to him to leave him out (though I think as the years go by, Barth [has and] will continue to prove himself more and more of a giant).
Thus:
-Cappadocians
-Augustine
-Aquinas
-Calvin
-Schleiermacher
Tyler Wittman | Mar 8, 2010 | Reply