Is 'newer' really 'better'? We often assume so, but if we do treat the past as inferior we will ignore the legacy of history, and thus will find ourselves stranded on the tiny desert island of our own moment in time. In particular, this applies to Christian theology, which should be thought, and lived, corporately by the church down through the ages. The remedy to 'chronological snobbery' is, as C. S. Lewis put it, 'to keep the clean sea breeze of the centuries blowing through our minds'. Such is the motivation behind Michael Reeves' introduction to a selection of influential or significant Christian theologians. This accessible and informative volume covers the Apostolic Fathers, Justin Martyr and Irenaeus, Athanasius, Augustine, Anselm and Aquinas. Each chapter begins with a brief biography and some background, then surveys each theologian's major work or works, gives a timeline for historical context, and ends with guidance for further reading.

Mike Reeves

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

INTRODUCTION: SNOBS, BUMPKINS AND DINOSAURS

Would Lewis not be appalled?

Reading these introductions

1. ONLY LET ME REACH JESUS CHRIST! The Apostolic Fathers

Papias

Clement of Rome

Ignatius of Antioch

Polycarp of Smyrna

The Didache

The Shepherd of Hermas

Letter to Diognetus

Letter of Barnabas

Going on with the Apostolic Fathers

Apostolic Fathers timeline

2. TO ARMS Justin Martyr and Irenaeus

Justin Martyr

Irenaeus of Lyons

Going on with Justin and Irenaeus

Justin Martyr and Irenaeus timeline

3. AGAINST THE WORLD Athanasius

Athanasius' life

Going on with Athanasius

Athanasius timeline

4. LOVING WISDOM Augustine

Confessions

Life and theology after the Confessions

Against the Donatists

The City of God

Against the Pelagians

Going on with Augustine

Augustine timeline

5. FAITH SEEKING UNDERSTANDING Anselm

Anselm's life

Anselm's thought

Going on with Anselm

Anselm timeline

6. THE DUMB OX Thomas Aquinas

Aquinas' life

Aquinas' thought

Going on with Aquinas

Thomas Aquinas timeline

INTERMEZZO

Notes

'High school history bored many students to tears. Their idea of visiting the past is like a trip to Chernobyl - grim, and possibly life-threatening! A big mistake when that past is full of insight, and the guide is Michael Reeves. This fascinating volume covers the massive influence of great thinkers, apologists and 'death wish' martyrs like 'food for wild beasts' Ignatius, the courageous alleged murderer and 'black dwarf' Athanasius, the fat friendly giant Aquinas, and the planet-sized mind of Augustine of Hippo, who all faced the challenges we face. Reeves breathes life into dead men, with historic writing that's about as good as it gets - full of interest, burningly relevant, and totally scinitillating. Modern Christians need to re-discover their roots, if only to prevent them poisoning the church's new shoots with ancient heresies. This is as good an introduction the reader could find. Ignorance is not bliss. Let Reeves tell you why.' - Greg Haslam, Westminster Chapel, London  
   
 'Someone has suggested that history only repeats itself is because no-one bothered to listen the first time around. Mike Reeves invites us to listen to our Christian history and to learn from it. He tells the stories with energy and humour - the book is a delight to read - and he introduces us to great thinkers who faced questions and problems uncannily like our own, and who found answers in the Scriptures that we would do well to reflect on. This is an important book, wonderfully written, that every thoughtful Christian will enjoy, and will benefit greatly from.' - Steve Holmes, Senior Lecturer in Theology, University of St Andrews  
   
 'Today, evangelical Christians too often read the Bible as if it had just dropped out of heaven, with little or no appreciation of church history. Michael Reeves offers a good corrective to this with his very readable introduction to many of the key figures and works of the early Church.' - Tony Lane, London School of Theology

The Good Book Stall

Michael Reeves takes his title The Breeze of the Centuries from a C S Lewis quote and draws his inspiration from Lewis’ advice to never read a new book until you have first read an old one in-between. Reeves’ ambition is to introduce readers to some of the great theologians of the past. He seeks to provide a short introduction to some of the giants of Christian thought in the hope that the reader will be enticed into reading the original works of Justin Martyr, Athanasius, Augustine, Thomas Aquinas and the like. In my opinion Reeves has succeeded. His introductions provide a thumbnail sketch of the theologian and a brief introduction to the scope of their work. Reeves then suggests accessible routes into the writings of these theological giants before gracefully leaving the reader to explore further. As Reeves himself points out, this is not a book on ‘great Christians’ and he has thus deliberately left out the likes of Francis of Assisi, John Bunyan and John Wesley. It is, however, a superb introduction to those whose writing has, for centuries, provided the central doctrinal pillars of Christian faith. I loved this book and am looking forward to the sequel that Reeves hints is already on the way.

The Breeze of the Centuries

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