Why study the books of dead theologians?History also provides examples for our imitation. The greatness of the books that we will be reading does not lie in their theological content alone; it also lies in the exemplary character of the authors who wrote them. In these texts we will meet some of the most extraordinary figures of church history. If we are open, the witness of these "dead" theologians will call out to us, evoke our minds and hearts, and teach us something new about God and the world. We will find much to praise in their examples, and by imitating their examples we will ultimately become better people.
At other times, these "dead" theologians will perplex us, frustrate our minds and hearts, and disagree with our deeply held modern assumptions. If we are honest, we will find something to blame in their examples. That too will make us better people, for in acknowledging the mistakes of these figures we will be less likely to repeat them. When we look at the past through the lens of "praise and blame," history will become one of our greatest teachers.
As we read these Christian classics over the next few months, we will discover that these "dead" theologians are still living. They are all part of a living Christian tradition. A living tradition is simply an ongoing conversation about the things that matter. We are all participants in the great conversation of the Christian tradition. By reading these old books we will make room in the conversation for voices besides our own--namely, the remarkable voices of the Christian past.
