The Word Made Flesh: A History of Christian Thought

by Margaret R. Miles

This outstanding textbook offers an original history of Christian thought, asking what it has meant over the centuries to participate in the religion of the Word made flesh.

Genres: Theology, Faith

464 pages, Paperback

First published November 29, 2004

Reviews

[Tim Cruickshank · Rating 3 out of 5]

Mixed feelings, really. In many ways it's a good book, but it ends rather abruptly at the end of the 18th century and it's Western oriented. The latter is okay, but not if you're purporting to explore"a history of Christian thought", which suggests a more expansive scope.

[cinlin · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fun, readable overview of Western Christian history from the 2nd to 18th centuries. I enjoyed the author's sass (that peaked through appropriately every now and then) and finished the book with many additions on my to-read list. Read for Reading Christian Theology in Context.

[Neil Harmon · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a textbook in a course, "History of Christian Thought." The book was packed with a lot of information but was very readable. It did not feel like a lot of work to read but still was very informative. The book spent time on the big, formal events (councils, etc.) but also paused to consider individual people such as mystics (Julian of Norwich comes to mind.) In addition, the book considered art, music, and architecture as reflections of current theological and ecclesial events. There is a CD (or downloadable collection) of additional pictures that goes along with this theme. The coverage of theological debates is even handed and doesn't push a particular agenda. This makes the book more pleasant and useful.

[Earl · Rating 5 out of 5]

Part of my #RRL (Required Reading Literature) series.

I believe that this is one heck of a history book, not because of the information that it has, but because of the unique perspective of the Word made Flesh. All I can say is that it is striking for us to see that the enfleshment of the Word comes primarily not in thought but on what is done and practiced and, interestingly enough, in the marginalized and silent areas of the history of the world.

[Stephen Dufton]

This is a general history which proved not to be particularly useful for the doctrine of the person of christ. Its actually more interesting now that I know something about the subject. Focussed on personalities and perhaps lacks christian engagement