It is impossible to understand the crucial theological issues of today without some appreciation of the historical roots and development of theology itself. Yves Congar, one of the outstanding theologians of our time, here presents a systematic history of theology which is unique in its scope, scholarship, and readability. The work begins with a definition of the word "theology" from its early pre-Christian usage to its adoption by the Greek and Latin Christians and thereafter. The history of theology that follows is divided into six eras, each one treated thoroughly and with scholarly care: The Patristic Age and St. Augustine; The Sixth Century to the Twelfth Century; The Renaissance of the Twelfth Century; The Golden Age of Scholasticism; The Reformation and Counter-Reformation; and From the Seventeenth Century to the Present.