Abingdon Pillars of Theology is a series for the college and seminary classroom designed to help students grasp the basic and necessary facts, influence, and significance of major theologians. Written by major scholars, these books will outline the context, methodology, organizing principles, method, primary contributions, and major writings of people who have shaped theology as we know it today.

For many, all theology subsequent to Augustine is a footnote. He is influential, even today, because of his doctrinal formulations, but even more important, Augustine is a stimulating thinker and constant inquirer. Starting with his philosophical interest in Platonism, which set the framework for his thinking, Eugene TeSelle examines the major themes of Augustine's thought following a more or less chronological order including human fulfillment, evil, creation, the human self, the church and its doctrines, the course of human history, and the relation of Christianity to political matters. Even those who think he was wrong in his conclusions can respect Augustine's willingness to confront problems and think through their implications.

"This book on Augustine allows the reader to appreciate how easily one moves from the fourth or fifth century into modern times and back. Eugene TeSelle thus invites the reader to appreciate some of the most significant themes of Augustine's thought--opening a kind of dialogue between Augustine and other thinkers on topics such as evil and grace, politics and piety, and more."

Allan Fitzgerald, O.S.A., Istituto Patristico "Augustinianum," Rome, Italy "This is an extraordinary book. Eugene TeSelle is one of the great masters of Augustine's thought, and here he draws upon his great erudition to present the father of Western theology cogently and comprehensively for the layperson. The book is at once short and accessible but also profound and thought-provoking; a sensitive treatment of Augustine in his own context, which also makes him wholly relevant for today. TeSelle raises the big questions and provides ample material to begin to answer them."

Carol Harrison, Lecturer in the History and Theology of the Latin West, University of Durham, Durham, Great Britain

Eugene TeSelle is emeritus Oberlin Alumni/ae Professor of Church History and Theology at Vanderbilt University in Nashville, Tennessee.

A work of historic and systematic theology, Barth and Dostoevsky examines the influence of the Russian writer and prophet Fyodor Mikhailovich Dostoevsky on the Swiss theologian Karl Barth. This is a study that demonstrates that the writings of Dostoevsky affected the development of the theology of Karl Barth. This was an influence mediated by his friend and colleague Eduard Thurneysen and was in the form of a key element of Barth's thought: his understanding of sin and grace. Therefore, this study explicates first, the reading of Dostoevsky by Barth, 1915-1916, and the influence on this understanding of sin and grace; second, a study of Eduard Thurneysen in so far as his life and work complements and influences Barth; third, Barth's illustrative use of Dostoevsky, around 1918-1921, the period of the rewriting of his seminal commentary on Romans--the bombshell on the playground of the theologians, as Karl Adams put it.

Aquinas' "Summa Theologica" is his most famous work. It was intended as a manual for beginners as a compilation of all of the main theological teachings of that time and consists of a summary of the reasonings for almost all points of the Catholic faith. It is the fullest presentation of his views and covers the widest range of subjects - reason, sin, just war to name but a few - in detailed philosophical language. He worked on it from 1265 until the end of his life in March 1274. When he died, he had reached Question ninety of Part III, on the subject of penance. The work is in three parts, dealing firstly with questions of God, then in part II with man's striving for the highest end, and in the third part with Christ and the union between human and divine. Each part is structured as a series of questions and assertions and relies heavily upon key thinkers and writers at that time, including Aristotle, St Augustine, Dionysius and Rabbi Moses.

To this groundbreaking work, originally published by the Oxford University Press in the 1980s, the author has added a new preface and two appendices, one of which consists of extracts from Calvin's Commentaries. The author demonstrates that the English ""Puritans,"" who he calls ""experimental predestinarians,"" were followers of John Calvin's successor in Geneva, Theodore Beza, and not of Calvin himself. R. T. Kendall maintains that what became known as English Calvinism was largely the thought of Beza, not Calvin. His book is an important clarification of Calvin's position in relation to those who have been regarded as his followers. ""An epoch-making book!"" --Christianity Today ""I recommend Calvin and English Calvinism far and wide. It opened my eyes to who Calvin really was. I learned Calvin was not a Calvinist!"" --Luis Palau ""Dr. Kendall's exciting study . . . is a major step forward in the reappraisal of Puritanism . . . no student in the Puritan field can excuse himself from reckoning with this important contribution."" --J. I. Packer ""This is an important work of impressive scholarship which makes a considerable contribution to the history of ideas in England as well as to Reformed theology. In it Dr. Kendall penetrates through distorting layers of rigid Calvinism to reveal the authentic Calvin."" --T. F. Torrance ""An erudite and distinguished contribution."" --Church Times ""A breakthrough for those who reject particular redemption yet hold to the doctrines of grace. Read it and reap!"" --O. S. Hawkins Born in Ashland, Kentucky, R. T. Kendall became the Minister of Westminster Chapel, London in 1977 after gaining a DPhil at Oxford University. Currently he is President of R. T. Ministries. Married with two children, he is the author of several books including God Meant It for Good, a study of the life of Joseph, Does Jesus Care and Believing God.

The church today is built on the Reformation's linguistic heritage yet is in danger of losing that strong foundation. Many seminaries no longer require that their students learn the Biblical languages for their divinity degrees - some do not even teach them! Yet these are the basic tools of any study of the Bible, and if we don't teach the Bible, then what is the church teaching?

If we need encouragement as to what can happen to our sermons and Bible study when we develop a knowledge of the languages that they are written in then Calvin is an excellent encourager. John Currid shows us how Calvin used a knowledge of the Biblical languages to provide richness, depth and accuracy to his understanding of scripture - and his exposition of it.

If you want to develop a deeper ability to understand and explain God's Word then let the two John's guide you!