The Library
1577 works catalogued century by century, from the literature the Bible was written among to the present — each with a note on what it is, why it lasted, and where to read it.
201–300
2 works
c. 200–250
Greek, surviving in Coptic
Anonymous
The longest Valentinian text to survive, and the most systematic: a single Father rather than a pair, a fall caused by the Word's own excess of love rather than by Sophia's error, and a redemption in which even the material order is finally reconciled.
c. 220–230
Greek
De Principiis
Origen of Alexandria · c. 185–c. 253
The first attempt at a complete Christian account of God, creation, freedom, and the end of all things — argued speculatively and offered as exploration rather than settled doctrine.
401–500
1 work
c. 400–427
Latin
De Trinitate
Augustine of Hippo · 354–430
Fifteen books written over a quarter of a century, arguing the doctrine from scripture and then searching the human mind — memory, understanding, will — for a created trace of the Trinity.
601–700
1 work
c. 605–615
Syriac
Babai the Great · c. 551–628
A systematic christology of two natures and two hypostases in one person of union, worked out for a church living under Persian rule with no emperor to appeal to.
701–800
1 work
c. 743
Greek
Pege Gnoseos
John of Damascus · c. 675–749
Three parts — philosophical definitions, a catalogue of a hundred heresies, and the exposition of the orthodox faith — assembled as one complete course of instruction.
1101–1200
3 works
c. 1112–1117
Latin
Rupert of Deutz · c. 1075–1129
The whole of scripture read as the successive work of Father, Son, and Spirit, in forty-two books following the Bible from Genesis to the last judgement.
c. 1130–1137
Latin
Hugh of Saint Victor · c. 1096–1141
The whole of doctrine arranged as the work of creation and the work of restoration, with the sacraments as the medicines applied in the second.
c. 1150–1158
Latin
Sententiae in IV Libris Distinctae
Peter Lombard · c. 1096–1160
Doctrine arranged in four books — the Trinity, creation, the incarnation, the sacraments and last things — with the authorities marshalled under each question and a cautious verdict given.
1201–1300
5 works
c. 1236–1245; completed later
Latin
Alexander of Hales and his school · c. 1185–1245
A vast collaborative theology from the first Franciscan master at Paris, notable for organising material by question rather than by commentary on a text.
c. 1250–1255
Latin
Bonaventure · 1221–1274
A full theological system in the form of a commentary on Peter Lombard, argued in the Augustinian tradition against the rising tide of Aristotle.
c. 1257
Latin
Bonaventure · 1221–1274
A compact summary of the whole of theology in seven parts, written for students who found the full commentaries impossible.
c. 1267–1272
Syriac
Bar Hebraeus · 1226–1286
Twelve foundations covering the whole of theology and philosophy — knowledge, nature, the incarnation, the resurrection, the end — written by a physician, historian, and bishop.
1265–1274
Latin
Summa Theologiae
Thomas Aquinas · 1225–1274
Thousands of articles, each posing a question, stating the strongest objections first, answering, then replying to each objection in turn — covering God, creation, human action, virtue, law, and Christ. Left unfinished when Aquinas stopped writing.
1301–1400
2 works
c. 1382–1383
Latin
John Wycliffe · c. 1328–1384
Truth, Falsehood, and Wisdom debate the whole of theology, summarising his mature positions on God, creation, the sacraments, and the corruption of the orders.
1397
Armenian
Grigor Tatevatsi · c. 1346–1409
A vast summary of Armenian theology in question and answer form, defending the national church against both Latin missionaries and Islamic argument.
1501–1600
5 works
1521, revised to 1559
Latin
Loci Communes Rerum Theologicarum
Philipp Melanchthon · 1497–1560
Reformation doctrine arranged by topic — sin, law, grace, justification — beginning from the claim that to know Christ is to know his benefits.
1525
Latin
Huldrych Zwingli · 1484–1531
The first Reformed systematic theology, with a symbolic reading of the Lord's Supper and a strong emphasis on providence and the sovereignty of God.
1536, expanded to 1559
Latin
Institutio Christianae Religionis
John Calvin · 1509–1564
Begun as a short handbook for French evangelicals and grown over twenty-three years into four books on the knowledge of God the Creator, of God the Redeemer, of the grace of Christ, and of the church.
assembled 1576 from earlier works
Latin
Peter Martyr Vermigli · 1499–1562
Theological topics extracted from an Italian ex-Augustinian's biblical commentaries, arranged as a system after his death.
1586–1593
Latin
Robert Bellarmine · 1542–1621
A systematic survey of every disputed doctrine, stating Protestant positions accurately and at length before answering them.
1601–1700
6 works
1610–1625
Latin
Loci Theologici
Johann Gerhard · 1582–1637
Nine folio volumes covering the whole of doctrine with exhaustive citation of scripture, the fathers, and opponents, in the full scholastic apparatus.
1627
Latin
Medulla Theologiae
William Ames · 1576–1633
Theology defined as the doctrine of living to God, organised in tight numbered propositions covering faith and then observance.
1648
Latin
Johannes Cocceius · 1603–1669
The whole of scripture organised as a history of covenants — works, then grace — unfolding in successive periods rather than as a set of timeless topics.
c. 1655–1660; published 1825
Latin
De Doctrina Christiana
John Milton · 1608–1674
A private systematic theology arguing from scripture alone, and arriving at a subordinationist view of the Son, mortalism of the soul, and the lawfulness of polygamy.
1676
Latin
Robert Barclay · 1648–1690
Fifteen propositions setting out Quaker belief systematically — the inward light, the universal saving seed, silent worship, and refusal of oaths and war.
1679–1685
Latin
Francis Turretin · 1623–1687
Theology arranged as a series of disputed questions, each stating the state of the controversy precisely before answering it.
26 of 1577 works