Most Influential Theologian

Unfortunately, anytime I read a commentary, I see stuff new to me, that I agree with and adopt, and stuff new to me, that I disagree with and reject. I have never read a commentary where the theologian gets it right, according to my light, more than about 70% of the time. So the most influential theologian would be the one who taught me the basic principles of bible study, where I arrive at my understanding of the text, as guided by the spectrum of views available from my bookshelf and the internet.

 

John Piper. Yes, I consider him a pastor-theologian. And of course, N.T. Wright.

 

Outside of the Bible, the following have been tremendously influential on me. I will list them in no particular order but by living and dead.

Dead Theologians

• Augistine--ecclesiology and his arguments against Pelagianism
• Jonathan Edwards-His New Light Theology
• John Calvin-There is just too much to list, love his Institutes
• B.B. Warfield-Revelation and Inspiration
• John Owen-Too much to list here.
• J.C. Ryle-Holiness
• A.W. Pink-Sovereignty of God and Attributes of God
• Martin Lloyd Jones-There is just so much to list.
• Edmund Clowney-Ecclesiology
• Van Til-Apologetics

Living Theologians

• J.I. Packer-Knowing God
• Sam Waldron-Exposition of the London Baptist Confession
• Fred Malone-Best Pastor/Theologian I have ever met.
• Kent Hughes-His commentaries are good, a little light but refreshing.
• Mark Noll-Best Historical Theologian in Christianity today.
• John Frame-Apologetics, but overall he is a solid theologian.
• John MacArthur-his focus on expository preaching

I am sure there are a few I missed but this is my list.

 

gotta love your selections Ruiz:love2::thumbs::thumbs:

 

John Calvin
Millard Erickson
Charles Ryrie
Dont IF considered to be a theologian but
Donald Guthrie also

 

For me, the "most" influential theologian has been Calvin. I find that his influence (or Luther's) is behind almost all others that we examine no matter who else does the writing.

But that pick is colored by the MANY other very influential theologians that I have read, including historical figures like Luther, Augustine, Aquinas, Arminius, Baxter, et al, and more modern offerings such as Owen, Edwards, Pink, Broadus, Wesley, Theissen, Erickson, Grudem, McGrath, Piper, Berkoff, MacArthur, Sproul, Packer, Barth, Brunner, Boyce, Hodge, Ware, Schreiner, Seifrid, Ware, Mohler, Elwell, Allison, Grenz, Demarest, Moore, and a host of other minor players who have contributed journal articles, taught in classrooms, etc.

And yes, I have read a lot (cannot say "all" or "most" for any individual above) of what each has written, and more so, what others have written in response (N.T. Wright, for instance).

 

For me it was Sproul and MacArthur. Chosen By God was influential in my exit from reformed theology, and as someone mentioned MacArthur is a gifted expositor in most instances and skilled in biblical history.

 

Interestingly, both men are Reformed in doctrine...

 

No kidding!

Must have stopped reading before getting to "Chosen By God was influential in my exit from reformed theology"

 

Honestly the three most influential modern (or as I prefer provoking) theologians on my life have:

Karl Barth
Paul Tillich
Millard Erickson

Pannenberg is working his way into the list, but I just haven't haven't read him enough. In terms of historical theologians, well I can list three as well:

Augustine (between De Trinitate and De Doctrina Cristiania my world changed)
Thomas Aquinas
Jean Calvin

I prefer the differentiation above since modern theology (of the last one hundred years) is remarkably different than historical theology (the previous 1900 years.)

Cheerio!

 

were the first 2 looked at as being Christian Theologians though?

 

Why wouldn't they be?

I can understand questions about Tillich (again notice my note about provoking as influencing) but Barth was solidly Christian.

Also, who are we to judge their faith?

 

For me Paul & Augustine started me in a Christian process & Whitefield & the HS slammed it home. The writings of Luther have been particularly inspiring but Martin Lloyd Jones have been sustenance to my daily life.

Now Im John Owen & Spurgeon fixated.

PS: Read Calvin's institutes recently & very impressed by his clear minded evaluations.

These books all accomplished in 14 months right after my conversion date...prior to this I would not have paid it any never mind. Amazing what the HS can do once he gets a hold of you.:thumbs:

 

True, but I wonder if the opposite is true. Won't all true theologians have the heart of a pastor/teacher? I think so.

 

Why "of course, N.T. Wright"? (I'm assuming you mean the Anglican bishop of Durham, author of New Perspective on Paul).

 

Yes, former Bishop of Durham. He's now a prof. at Saints Andrews in NT and Early Christian Writings.

Of course as a Baptist, I'll have to disagree with him here and there.