Chapter 2: the Middle Ages and the Renaissance, C.500-1500

McGrath, Historical Theology

Chapter 2: The Middle Ages and the Renaissance, c.500-1500

Additional materials

Learning objectives

After reading this chapter, students will be able to:

·  articulate the major theological emphases and developments of the Middle Ages and the Renaissance in the eastern and western church

·  identify the key theological figures of the Middle Ages

·  describe the ways in which medieval and Byzantine theology drew from and built upon patristic thinkers and classical thought

Short-answer questions (in addition to the questions on page 98)

Give an example of one of the translation errors in the Latin Vulgate and how this error affected Christian theology or doctrine.

Describe the “Five Ways” that Thomas Aquinas used to argue for the existence of God.

Name the seven sacraments of the Catholic Church that developed in the medieval era.

List and briefly describe the four senses of Scripture (i.e., the Quadriga).

What were the main contributions of humanism to the study and interpretation of the Bible?

Additional activities

Discussion: Compare the development of theology in the patristic period and the Middle Ages/Renaissance. What are the similarities and points of continuity? What are the differences? How would you characterize each era as a whole?

Discussion/debate: Who do you think is the single most influential Christian theologian from both the patristic and medieval eras, and why?

Two slogans of the medieval era are “ad fontes” (back to the sources) and “faith seeking understanding.” What do these two slogans reveal about the emphases of the medieval era? If you were to write slogans for our present-day world, what would they be?

Compare the role that the Bible played in theological reflection in the patristic and medieval eras.