Church History Figures to be Studied: Part 3

by R.A. Miller
Published August 9th, 2022

I asked several church history professors and lecturers this question (technically, it is two questions): In your opinion, what figure from church history should be studied more than they currently are? And why?

The following response is from one of my favorite church historians, Dr. Nick Needham. He teaches church history at Highland Theological College in Scotland, but you might know him as the author of the multi-volume series: 2,000 Years of Christ’s Power. His response to my question was this:

Bernard of Clairvaux (1090-1153)
Good question that you ask. My answer would probably vary at different times, and maybe depending on the specific audience, but to give a very general answer, I might say Bernard of Clairvaux. This is because in so many ways he was the great proto-Reformer, the medieval figure most admired by Luther and Calvin. Luther extolled Bernard thus: “St. Bernard was a man of so elevated a spirit that I almost dare to rank him above all celebrated writers, whether from ancient or modern times.” Calvin likewise cites Bernard multiple times, almost always favourably; he quotes Bernard at some length in the Institutes, for instance, on the nature of true saving faith and evangelical repentance. In reading Bernard, I often feel it could be Luther or Calvin speaking. Justification by faith, imputed righteousness, personal assurance, the witness of the Spirit to our adoption…. It’s all there. Yet most of us (Protestants) are generally very unaware of Bernard. I’ve tried to rectify this a little in a forthcoming book “Daily Readings from the Middle Ages,” in which all the readings for January are taken from Bernard.

I’d like to thank Dr. Needham for his response. If I get any more responses to my question, I’ll be sure to post them.