Early Christian Theology
Early Christian Theology, J. Warren Smith. Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co. (ISBN: 9780802874771) 2026.
Summary: A guide to the development of early Christian theology emphasizing diverse attempts to understand scripture.
One of the texts we used during my seminary education was J. N. D. Anderson’s Early Christian Doctrine. It was an important text helping me understand the centuries of debate behind the creeds we recited in church and the beliefs about Christ, about the Trinity, original sin, and the atonement that I took for granted. Anderson’s book was published in 1960. J. Warren Smith, professor of historical theology at Duke Divinity School, thought it was time for an update. His approach stresses how the theological debates of the early Christian centuries reflected the different readings of scripture in different Christian communities, wrestling with complex questions about the person of Christ and the nature of the Godhead. The challenge of the councils was to address those readings, resisting relativism while constructing a framework of belief that incorporated the best of those readings.
Smith’s focus is on the second through fifth centuries. The book combines chronological and thematic coverage, so that some chapters will recur to an earlier period to discuss a different theological theme. Smith begins with the foundations of scripture and worship in early Christian communities. While this is uppermost, he also weighs the influences of classical culture. Then he turns to the challenges of persecution and the early Christian apologists. This is followed by responses to the gnostic challenge.
Then chapters 4-6 turn to responding to various Christological errors including the formidable challenge from Arius and his followers, culminating in the councils of the fourth century. While there were politics and powerful personalities, what is also evident is the church’s struggle to find language to crystallize its understanding of the data of scripture concerning both Christ and the Trinity.
Chapter 7 addresses Pneumatology including the critical work of the Cappadocians affirming the divinity of the Spirit and the eventual division over filioque. Likewise, chapter 8 on the incarnation also reflects the differences between east and west, as well as conflicts among eastern churches. The remaining chapters (9-14) address early concepts of the atonement, ecclesiology, particularly in North Africa, the Manichaean conflict over creation and evil, divine and human agency, deification, and early eschatology.
I was struck with several differences from Anderson. One is that the treatment of the church’s controversies was far more in-depth and nuanced. In addition, Smith helps us understand how the controversies were based in widespread communities. We see Rome in conversation with Constantinople, Alexandria with Antioch. Theological differences weren’t abstract conversations but based in believing communities. Smith helps us understand the different concerns that shaped the way different communities read scripture and formulated doctrine.
Given the mix of chronological and thematic material, a timeline might have been helpful. In addition, particularly around the discussions of Christology, charts that summarized the major tenets of key figures or movements would help. I would recommend that students using this text create their own versions of this. As a survey text, Smith offers bibliographies of primary and secondary sources for further study.
In conclusion, Smith aspired to create a worthy successor to Anderson’s book. I believe he has succeeded in that work, incorporating more recent scholarship. In addition, he helped me see theology as an ongoing conversation between Christian communities. Sure, it was messy and individuals were not always at their best. Would that we had the sense of the global community reading scripture together to understand the mind of the Maker.
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Disclosure of Material Connection: I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher for review.