Classic Christianity

In the three volumes of his famous Systematic Theology, Thomas Oden delves deeply into ancient Christian tradition and brings to the contemporary church the best wisdom from the past. Now, for the first time, these rich resources are available in one complete volume. Written for clergy, Christian educators, religious scholars, and lay readers alike, Classic Christianity is a dazzling synthesis of the history of Christian thought.


In this masterly work, Oden tackles the central questions of Christian belief and the nature of the trinity. Classic Christianity examines the traditional elements of systematic theology, covering the ecumenical councils and early synods; the great teachers of the Eastern Church tradition, including Athanasius and John Chrysostom; and prominent Western figures like Augustine, Ambrose, Thomas Aquinas, Martin Luther, and John Calvin. This book offers the reader the fullest understanding of the Christian faith available.

Thomas C. Oden is the Henry Anson Buttz Emeritus Professor of Theology and Ethics at Drew University and the author of more than twenty widely read books, including Pastoral Theology, Agenda for Theology, and Kerygma and Counseling. He is also the general editor of the 28-volume series Ancient Christian Commentary on Scripture.