B.H. Carroll’s Pastoral Theology
Southwestern Journal of Theology
Volume 58, No. 2 – Spring 2016
Managing Editor: W. Madison Grace II
By Jason G. Duesing. Rainer: 2016. 131 pages. Softcover, $10.97.
As a child I was introduced to the “Seven Wonders of the Ancient World” and was instantly captivated. I wanted to know, How was the Great Pyramid built? What did the Colossus of Rhodes look like? What was the magnitude of the Hanging Gardens of Babylon? Not only did these “wonders” pique my interest in and of themselves but they also introduced me to the world of the Ancients. Through them Egypt, Greece, and Babylon came alive to me.
In Seven Summits in Church History Jason G. Duesing has accomplished for the field of Church History what the Seven Wonders did for me. At first glance he has only introduced seven figures from the history of Christianity, but in reality he has exceptionally engaged the lives and ministries of these “seven summits” so that the reader is left wanting to learn more from the history of Christianity and at least for the Christian, is encouraged to live a life more honoring to Christ.
Duesing’s work is intended for the average churchman. In fact the genesis of this project was in a Bible study at his church (much like Mark Noll’s Turning Points). The idea of “seven summits” is borrowed from the mountaineers Richard Bass and Frank Wells who sought to climb the seven largest peaks on each continent. After a thought-provoking appeal on the study of Church History (21–35), Duesing addresses the specific “peaks” he has chosen: Augustine, Martin Luther, John Calvin, Balthasar Hubmaier, Jonathan Edwards, William Carey, and Carl F. H. Henry.
The chapters that follow are brief and, as such, are unable to engage deeply into each figure, but such is to be expected of an introductory text. The reader is provided with what Duesing believes are the major events in the history of these “summits.” These summaries leaves one wanting more. This, however, is not a negative critique, but gives strength to the purpose of the book to introduce and pique interest. So, at the end of each chapter Duesing provides a few sources for further reading.
The one major question that remains is: why these “seven summits?” Duesing himself states, “As with any such list, this one contains some element of subjectivity. . . . These aren’t the seven top theologians or the seven greatest evangelists, and they are not all equal in stature (16).” So these are not necessarily the seven summits of Church History, rather, they were chosen because “each served to shape the general direction of the history of Christianity (16).” Though all of these figures would be on my top 25 I would consturct a different list of seven summits. However, this is Duesing’s list and indeed it is a good list. Seven Summits in Church History is an excellent introduction that is accessible to r eaders of most ages.
