Book Review: Theology of the Reformers by Timothy George

Aaron Hodson

Feb. 19th, 2008

Theology of the Reformers, by Timothy George. Broadman Press, Nashville, 1988. 337 pp. $21.95.

As the modern reader takes a step back in time to evaluate the impact and meaning of the reformation as it has been interpreted from the beginnings of critical scholarship they will find a unique and relevant perspective in The Theology of the Reformers. Recognized at the time of its publication as one of the first interpretive studies in English of some of the most influential reformers of the sixteenth century since 1866, this work presents an argument somewhat original for its day and with reference to more recent scholarship its thesis remains unique within certain aspects of its approach and perspective. A foundational assertion of this work is that the reformation was fundamentally a religious event, the deepest of its concerns primarily if not solely being theological in nature.[1] Upon this assertion George examines the reformation through the lens of four central figures—Martin Luther, Huldrych Zwingli, John Calvin, and Menno Simons—highlighting the importance the “theological self understanding” of the reformers as an interpretive key to fully comprehending the broader implications and cause of the reformation as a whole. He contrast this evaluation with various problematic themes in previous historical interpretations—such as periodization and political, social, and economic understandings—that while providing valuable insights into a complex period fall short of a cohesive and comprehensive summary of the reformation. George’s main thesis in light of his evaluation is that the reformation was the result of far deeper spiritual yearnings that sprang forth in drastic ideological changes of religious sensibilities. And in this sense it may be concluded that its core the reformation while certainly a radical revolution of shorts was simultaneously and more importantly a revival.[2]

In the first chapter of his assessment George offers a most helpful analytical overview of the various changes happening all across the western world within the church and culture before the reformation. Among these changes was a certain sense of anxiety and weightiness over being right with God and clean from the many sins that separate us from Him. These concerns among laymen and religious leader alike are demonstrated in the emphasis on and adherence to confessions of various kinds, which in turn contributed to a focus on themes of death and guilt; which George concludes all points a “crisis of meaning” within a search for truth in late medieval society.[3] In the mist of this environment of searching and questioning the abuses and hypocrisy of the visible and traditional church became a huge issue. This gave raise to changes in the previous conception of the identity of the true Church.[4] Papal authority began to be questioned, various theological and biblical formulations were being re-examined, and humanistic (in the classical sense) educational ideals began to be valued above traditional scholastic understandings. These changes all pointed to the same conclusion. Something was coming, and as hunger pains before the commencement of the feast, the church yearned for renewal out of a deep sense of dissolution and incompleteness.

With two extensive and thorough chapters devoted the journey’s and resulting theologies of Luther and Calvin, George while not ignoring the social and political influences on these men nor the cultural contexts which they interacted with, focuses primarily on the development and far-reaching implications of their theological discoveries. By illuminating their theological self-understanding in this way George fairly well succeeds in showing the influential legacy’s that these men left behind. Georges approach does not emphasize the saintliness of life—in Luther’s case—nor the complexity of character—referring to Calvin—of these great men, but instead focuses on the keen insight of these men into character of man and most importantly into the gracious character of God in Christ Jesus.[5]

Likewise George’s chapter on Zwingli dispels the myths and unknowns and focuses on the man and his theological contributions. Devoting a much larger section of consideration on his contributions on the Reformation George shows how in the mist of a humanistic orientation like Calvin and Luther, Zwingli—while differing on many points and more radical in some issue—held to the authority of the Scripture as his foundation for various theological formulations. The most significant insight into the life and thought of Zwingli—making him fall among the influential reformationist—that Georges analysis provides is in showing his deep commitment Christocentric theology, and Divine providence and predestination.[6] Lastly, one of the most significant contributions of Georges work on the whole could be seen to be his evaluation of the Menno Simons of the Anabaptist who he sees as a fairly reliable voice among and the more radical religious reform movements of the century following the beginnings of the Reformation.[7] George gives a fair evaluation of the Anabaptist and other unique radical movements emphasizing on the similarities to other reformation theologians maintained and developed upon even by these minority reform movements, as the unique contributions they offered to this new configuration of the meaning of the Church; some of these contributions includes issue like tolerance and the logical implications of giving the individual the right to interpret the scriptures.

In his final chapter George attempts to pull together his focused evaluation of these four representative reformers to argue for a unified theology of the reformers that holds an “Abiding Validity” for and influence upon the evangelical protestant Christianity of current times.[8] The only criticism that could be offered is that perhaps George’s evaluation while respectable in its attempt to understand this primary religious movement in light mainly theological considerations is limited in its scope. In other words while it could be argued that the reformation is only rightly understood by considering the strong spiritual and theological factors influencing it, resent scholarship[9] would seem to suggest that the political, economic, and social factors can be understood as merely minor factors of these religious event, but must be evaluated seriously along side various solely religious interpretations. Even so, evaluating this work on its own terms at the time it was written it remains an unique and insightful resource in and of itself as well as for the deeper understanding it displays in relation to the progression of reformation scholarship such as it has developed over the last twenty years. In conclusion Timothy George’s Theology of the Reformers offers a valuable perspective and contribution that should be referenced and considered by any student or teacher of reformation history.

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[1] Timothy George, Theology of the Reformers (Broadman 1988) pp. 18

[2] Ibid pp. 19

[3] Ibid pp. 28

[4] Ibid pp. 30

[5] Benjamin W. Farley. Journal of the Evangelical Theological Society “Theology of the Reformers by Timothy George.”. , accessed 18 Feb., 2008.

[6] Ibid (B.W. Farley)

[7] Ibid (B.W. Farley)

[8] Timothy George, Theology of the Reformers (Broadman 1988) pp. 308

[9] A reference to, Alister McGrath Christianity’s Dangerous Idea (HarperOne 2006)