Theology of the Reformers by Timothy George is not a new book, but it is a necessary book, for in it, George does not merely trace the biographical information of the personalities involved in the great reformation, but rather he examines the theology behind each man that led him to react as he did toward the established church. It has often been said that history repeats itself, and if that is true, then George’s book is timely as a reminder that the reformation should not merely be a time in history, but should be a continual activity of the church of Christ in this world.
As George himself says:
While we must not forfeit the hard won victories of the reformers in the interest of a facile ecumenism, we celebrate and participate in the quest for Christian unity precisely because we take seriously the Reformation concept of the church-ecclesia semper reformanda, not merely a church once and for all reformed, but rather a church always to be reformed, a church ever in need of further reformation on the basis of the Word of God.
If one thing alone were to distinguish the reformers, it would be the Word of God. It is unfortunate that their major disagreements (some which led to violence), were over minute details and not the necessary tenets of the faith. However, the devotion to Scripture from Luther, Calvin, Zwingli, and Menno Simons is a high standard that we should all strive to meet.
George has written a text that any serious student of the reformation should not be without. Pastors should read Theology of the Reformers, because pastors led the reformation and the church is always in need of evaluation and reformation.
