Book Description
The most comprehensive history of Christian political thought--complete with primary texts available in English for the first time. From the second century to the seventeenth, from Irenaeus to Grotius, this unique reader provides a coherent overview of the development of Christian political thought. The editors have collected readings from the works of over sixty-five authors from this period, together with introductory essays that give historical details about each thinker and discuss how each has contributed to the tradition of Christian political thought. Complete with important Greek and Latin texts available here in English for the first time, this volume will be a primary resource for readers from a wide range of interests.

FROM THE PUBLISHER

"Other Editions: Paperback

A reference tool that provides an overview of the history of Christian political thought with selections from second century to the seventeenth century.

From the second century to the seventeenth, from Irenaeus to Grotius, this unique reader provides a coherent overview of the development of Christian political thought. The editors have collected readings from the works of over sixty-five authors, together with introductory essays that give historical details about each thinker and discuss how each has contributed to the tradition of Christian political thought. Complete with important Greek and Latin texts available here in English for the first time, this volume will be a primary resource for readers from a wide range of interests.

FROM THE CRITICS

Choice

For a millennium and a half the use of theological arguments in political discussion was taken for granted. The threads of this theo-political tradition are impressively collected and annotated in this volume.... There are two aspects of the volume that make it even more important than this breadth of coverage: the first is that a great many of these texts have either been newly translated to replace antiquated—even unreadable—ones, or translated for the first time—and translated very well. The second is that the editors' various introductions are superb; indeed, the O'Donovans (both Oxford) almost write a book within a book. An invaluable reference work for anyone and any library interested in the historical interplay of theology and politics and the lessons that we can learn from that today.

First Things

"This is a magnificent achievement deserving of highest praise, and an essential collection at a time when "political theology" is much discussed without reference to its history.... No library aspiring to theological adequacy can be without From Irenaeus to Grotius."

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