The Creeds of Christendom (3 vols.)

by Philip Schaff

Publisher:

Harper & Brothers

, 1878–1890

Overview

Philip Schaff was one of the leading historians of the nineteenth century and one of the most public theologians and prominent intellectuals of his time. Schaff played a foundational role in the development of American Protestantism and gained wide recognition as one of the leading experts on matters of theology, history, and biblical studies. He was a widely respected scholar and a prolific writer, and his works were influential in both Europe and America.

Key Features

• Presents original Greek and Latin creeds with translation
• Includes the text and history of over one hundred creeds and confessions from the ancient to the modern church
• Offers over 2,500 pages of primary sources and analysis

Endorsements

In the development of the discipline of church history in the United States, few scholars played a more important role than the Swiss-born, German-educated immigrant Philip Schaff. His model of careful, accurate, comprehensive, and irenic scholarship . . . remains worthy of admiration and emulation.

—R. Graham, professor of American church history, North Park Theological Seminary

No scholar of his generation has interested me so much. He was broad, powerful, a man of great genius.

—William G. T. Shedd

Philip Schaff wanted to be remembered as a Christian scholar, and he pursued this scholarship in the context of his grand and optimistic ecumenical vision . . . Schaff was, in his own words, an ‘inveterate hoper.’

—George Shriver

Product Details

• Title: The Creeds of Christendom
• Author: Philip Schaff
• Volumes: 3
• Pages: 2,547

About Philip Schaff

Philip Schaff (1819-1893) was educated in Germany at Tübingen, Halle, and Berlin, where he studied under August Neander. In 1843, moved to America and became professor of church history and biblical literature at the German Reformed Theological Seminary in Mercersburg, Pennsylvania.

During this time, he edited a hymnal, worked on the liturgy in the German Reformed Church, and edited a translation of the Heidelberg Catechism. The English translation of his History of the Apostolic Church appeared in 1853. Schaff remained at Mercersburg until 1863, when the Civil War forced the seminary to close.

In 1870, Schaff became a professor at Union Theological Seminary. During his tenure there, he held the chair of theological encyclopedia and Christian symbolism, the chair of Hebrew and cognate languages, the chair of sacred literature, and the chair of church history. He also served on the committee that translated the American Standard Version.