Generally Speaking, What Era Had/Has Your Favourite Theologians To Read?

Which Is The Era Of Your Favourite Theologians To Read?

  • Ante-Nicene Fathers

    Votes: 1 3.4%
  • Nicene/Post-Nicene Fathers

    Votes: 0 0.0%
  • Middle Ages

    Votes: 1 3.4%
  • Reformation

    Votes: 3 10.3%
  • 1600's

    Votes: 13 44.8%
  • 1700's

    Votes: 2 6.9%
  • 1800's

    Votes: 3 10.3%
  • 1900's

    Votes: 5 17.2%
  • 2000's +

    Votes: 1 3.4%

  • Total voters
    29
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Which era of church history contained/contains your favourite theologiams to read?

Not favourite theologians in general, but to read.

Bonus: Why is it your favourite era?

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For me, it is the 1800's. As much as I like the Reformers and the Puritans, I find the language and style of writing in the 1800's to be that which I enjoy most.

I also appreciate men like Ryle and Spurgeon, who took in huge amounts of the Puritans, and distilled their teaching.

As I type this I am second guessing myself for not putting the Puritans...

Disclaimer: I am not well read enough to truly give this question a fair answer.
 
Late 1880s to mid 1950s. That's when the Dutch started to hit their stride and gave us men like Bavinck and culminated in Klaas Schilder.
 
1600's because of the Puritans and Post-Reformation Orthodox in general with their precise theology and understanding of the Christian life. However, the 1800's would probably closely follow because of the Scottish Free Church Presbyterians and Baptists such as Spurgeon and the Haldanes.
 
Late 1880s to mid 1950s. That's when the Dutch started to hit their stride and gave us men like Bavinck and culminated in Klaas Schilder.
If you are so inclined, can you tell me more about these men?
 
1600's because of the Puritans and Post-Reformation Orthodox in general with their precise theology and understanding of the Christian life. However, the 1800's would probably closely follow because of the Scottish Free Church Presbyterians and Baptists such as Spurgeon and the Haldanes.
Indeed. I forgot about the Haldanes. Any recommendations from their works?
 
The biggest work that is a must for any library is Robert Haldane's Commentary on Romans. Top-notch soul food there. Helpful, from what I've heard, are James Haldane's Commentaries on Galatians and Hebrews. In these he espouses Baptist covenantal theology and provides solid exposition of both books. They both also have numerous other lesser known works that are hard to obtain dealing with topics such as the Sabbath, the verbal inspiration and self-authenticating nature of scripture, atonement and etc.
 
What is it about Boston that you appreciate?
He has solid Christ-centered exegesis and pastoral application. I really appreciate his emphasis on union with Christ, and how this kept him from the dangers of both the antinomianism and neonomianism so prevalent in his day. He had very useful illustrations which have have shamelessly stolen.

I think I also have an affinity for him because I serve in a rural congregation like he did and recognize some of the same pastoral struggles.
 
Are you kidding? This is the Puritan Board! The 1600s is the only right answer!

Just ignore Calvin, Edwards, Spurgeon, Vos and a handful of others already mentioned, and the choice will be perfectly clear!
 
In seriousness, and upon reflection, I get a special joy reading Dutchmen. That's probably because of my Dutch heritage and a sense that I am in touch with it when I read those guys. And the 1900s were their greatest era.
 
The biggest work that is a must for any library is Robert Haldane's Commentary on Romans. Top-notch soul food there. Helpful, from what I've heard, are James Haldane's Commentaries on Galatians and Hebrews. In these he espouses Baptist covenantal theology and provides solid exposition of both books. They both also have numerous other lesser known works that are hard to obtain dealing with topics such as the Sabbath, the verbal inspiration and self-authenticating nature of scripture, atonement and etc.

Thank you. I'll put them on my ever growing list of men to read.

I have the Romans commentary packed away somewhere actually. Found it in a thrift store.
 
For me it's the 1800s, specifically the mid-late portion. Benjamin Morgan Palmer, John Lafayette Girardeau, Charles Colcock Jones, James Henley Thornwell, Robert Lewis Dabney, and William Swan Plumer, in particular. For me there's something magical about the Southern Presbyterians, even though they certainly had clay toes and were not without flaws.
 
They had a strong creational aspect to their theology and corrected a lot of Kuyper's problems.
That is definitely beyond my scope of knowledge right now, having not read Kuyper.

I just dug out a' Brakel (vol 1) tonight. Are you familiar with his writings?
 
He has solid Christ-centered exegesis and pastoral application. I really appreciate his emphasis on union with Christ, and how this kept him from the dangers of both the antinomianism and neonomianism so prevalent in his day. He had very useful illustrations which have have shamelessly stolen.

I think I also have an affinity for him because I serve in a rural congregation like he did and recognize some of the same pastoral struggles.
That is a good overview. How often do you read him?
 
In seriousness, and upon reflection, I get a special joy reading Dutchmen. That's probably because of my Dutch heritage and a sense that I am in touch with it when I read those guys. And the 1900s were their greatest era.
As Injust posted a few minutes ago, I'm reading a bit of a' Brakel currently. He is my only exposure to Dutch theologians. Could you explain any further why the 1900's were their greatest era? And do you have any use of a' Brakel?
 
For me it's the 1800s, specifically the mid-late portion. Benjamin Morgan Palmer, John Lafayette Girardeau, Charles Colcock Jones, James Henley Thornwell, Robert Lewis Dabney, and William Swan Plumer, in particular. For me there's something magical about the Southern Presbyterians, even though they certainly had clay toes and were not without flaws.
Again, a whole 'nother world that I have yet to visit. In all honesty, I would probably have a large interest in American theologians if I were American. But, being a Canadian with Scottish and English roots, there are a lot of other theologians on my radar that I take a natural liking to. Perhaps one day.

Could you define this 'magic'?
 
I was planning on immersing myself in Bunyan's writings a while ago, but it never materialized. What is it that you like about him? Any works in particular?

Exceptionally readable and eminently practical. His most famous works are in my opinion the best - The Pilgrim's Progress (both parts) and The Holy War. He can be very solemn and searching, his works on The Barren Fig Tree and The Greatness of the Soul are also excellent.

I should point out that so far I have only read about 30-40% of his works, but fully intend to read the rest God Willing.
 
He has solid Christ-centered exegesis and pastoral application. I really appreciate his emphasis on union with Christ, and how this kept him from the dangers of both the antinomianism and neonomianism so prevalent in his day. He had very useful illustrations which have have shamelessly stolen.

I think I also have an affinity for him because I serve in a rural congregation like he did and recognize some of the same pastoral struggles.

Boston’s Works (does that include his Marrow notes?) is my desert island pick. Just to add to what Patrick said, he is able to summarize Reformed doctrine with little desire to make a name for himself by pushing some modern agenda.
 
While having an appreciation for the Puritans and other historical times, I prefer the modern era best because, especially in the last 50 or 60 years or so, Reformed Christianity has acquired scholars who are not only good at their scholarship but are also talented writers.

Packer, Horton, Reymond, Sproul, Carrick, Beeke, etc., etc. Among the non-Reformed (generally speaking) - Bruce, Carson, MacArthur, etc. You really can't beat the modern era for fine scholarship combined with great writing skills.
 
Puritans. Because I hate modern junk and their ten or so pages of nothing but anecdotes per chapter. When they hit a punch line you are left with 'ok....common sense'? That is probably why Al Mohler and DA Carson can read ten books a week.
 
As Injust posted a few minutes ago, I'm reading a bit of a' Brakel currently. He is my only exposure to Dutch theologians. Could you explain any further why the 1900's were their greatest era? And do you have any use of a' Brakel?

When I think of Dutch theologians of the 1900s I mostly have in mind Herman Bavinck, Louis Berkhof, and Geerhardus Vos (though Berkhof and Vos could be called Americans). There were other notable guys too, but those are the main three I've read. I've never read a' Brakel, who came earlier, except for short excerpts.
 
Which era of church history contained/contains your favourite theologiams to read?

Not favourite theologians in general, but to read.

Bonus: Why is it your favourite era?

------------------------------------

For me, it is the 1800's. As much as I like the Reformers and the Puritans, I find the language and style of writing in the 1800's to be that which I enjoy most.

I also appreciate men like Ryle and Spurgeon, who took in huge amounts of the Puritans, and distilled their teaching.

As I type this I am second guessing myself for not putting the Puritans...

Disclaimer: I am not well read enough to truly give this question a fair answer.
I enjoy reading the current theologians, and current viewpoints regarding theology the most, but my favorite era would be in the 19th Century, as many solid ST seemed to come out back then.
 
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