Book Review: The Story of Christian Theology: Twenty Centuries of Tradition and Reform. By Roger E. Olson. Downers Grove: Intervarsity, 1999.

In his book, The Story of Christian Theology: Twenty Centuries of Tradition and Reform, Roger Olson discusses the development of Christian theology over the course of church history. It is clear that Olson understands the development of Christian theology as a story that has been unfolding over the last two millennia. Olson structures his book into nine parts with approximately four chapters in each part. Throughout each of these nine sections, Olson deals with important issues that marked the development of Christian theology. The story of Christian theology, Olson argues, is centered on one overarching and basic issue. Olson writes, “one thread runs throughout the story of Christian theology and holds the many stories together as a single great narrative of the development of Christian thought. That thread is the common concern all Christian theologians have had with salvation—God’s redemptive activity in forgiving and transforming sinful human beings.”[1] As Olson discusses the major conflicts that have shaped theology over the course of church history—the Trinity, the nature of Christ, the relationship between philosophy and theology, and other issues—he explains how those involved in these various debates were concerned and driven by a concern for eternal salvation. The conflicts over the nature of Christ and the Trinity, for example, were not merely understood to be disagreements about peripheral issues, but were understood to be matters central to the Christian doctine of salvation. Hence, they were controversies in which it was understood that eternal destinies were at stake.

Olson seeks to clarify the nature of the development of theology. He strives to create a greater appreciation for the development of doctrine. Olson explaines that a large number of Christians understand theology as having been delivered as a complete body of doctrine. Examples of this can be observed with the doctrines of the Trinity and the Hypostatic Union. Doctines such as these are often taken for granted today.[2] But Christian theology, as it is known today, Olson says, is a result of the work of theologians who have toiled and labored over the course of church history. It is for this reason that he writes with the aim of bringing a deeper appreciation to his readers for the story of the development of theology.

Over the course of the book, Olson tells the story of Christian theology as he sees it. He very capably explains the historical, social, cultural, and religious settings which gave rise to the need for theologians to do theology within those various contexts. Olson’s ability to draw parallels and to recognize connections between the many philosophical systems and cultural ideas that have arisen throughout the centuries, and to explain how these things have contributed to the development of Christian theology, is really quite masterful.

In addition to recognizing the historical connections that have contributed to the development of Christian theology, Olson shows an impressive knowledge of primary sources.[3] A quick glance of the book’s bibliography bears witness to this fact.

While the book has many strengths, I think there is some room for improvement. Firstly, I think that Augsburger rightly notes that Olson’s characterization of John Calvin as a mere organizer of Zwingli’s theology is a bit irresponsible and completely unwarranted.[4] Olson writes on page 413, “to a large extent, all Calvin did was mediate Zwingli’s Reformed theology to the rest of the world." In general, Olson seems to be too quick to diminish the importance and role of those who fought for theological positions that are commonly associated with the reformed theology of today. In addition to his remarks concerning Calvin’s role under Zwingli, this can be seen in the fact that he gives Arminius an equal amount of treatment to that which he gives John Calvin. This is unquestionably disproportionate considering the vast importance of Calvin’s role over that of Arminius. Olson also describes Beza and others as being “obsessed” with the doctrine of predestination,[5] he characterizes five point Calvinism as “rigid,”[6] and he characterizes Arminius as a metaphysical realist for his understanding that it can be deduced from the Calvinist doctrine of predestination that God is the author of evil.[7]

In addition to this, Olson does not discuss Bultman, demythologization, or Tillich, all of which are of such significance as to be an essential part of the story of Christian theology.[8] And so while The Story of Christian Theology is a valuable book—a book which has the potential to be used in both undergraduate and seminary level survey courses—supplementary material is also needed. Carter notes that while Olson draws connections between the various Christian traditions that have come about over the course of church history, that Adrian Hastings surveys the development of Christian thought within the various geographical contexts in which it developed in his A World History of Christianity.[9] Hence, Carter thinks that the two texts complement one another well.

Personally, I found the reading of Olson’s book to be a good experience. And although I am uncomfortable with some of his characterizations of reformed theology, my own understanding of the key people, places, and issues surrounding the history of Christian thought is significantly deepened.

Personally, I would have appreciated it if the author would have done more theology himself. The book has raised some questions for me concerning God’s viewpoint on the various theological conflicts which have come about over the course of the history of the Christian church. But perhaps such a task is best left to another author.

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End Notes

[1] Roger E. Olson, The Story of Christian Theology, (Downers Grove: Intervarsity, 1999), 13.
[2] Ibid, 16.
[3] Milliard Erickson, review of The Story of Christian Theology, by Roger E. Olson, JETS 43:2 (2000), 346-47.
[4] Daniel Augsburger, review of The Story of Christian Theology, by Roger E. Olson, Church History 71:2 (2002), 447.
[5] Olson, 457.
[6] Ibid, 463.
[7] Ibid, 467.
[8] Ibid, 346.
[9] Kenneth H. Carter, Jr., review of The Story of Christian Theology, by Roger E. Olson, Perspectives in Religious Studies 29:1 (2002), 111-12.