The theological role of biography

This article explores the role of biography in Christian theology. For the greater part of Christian history, biography has played a key devotional and apologetic role by providing models of how the one life of Christ is at work in the saints. Following the Reformation, biographies of Protestant mar...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Author: Plant, Stephen (Author)
Format: Electronic Article
Language:English
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Published: Sage 2023
In: Theology
Year: 2023, Volume: 126, Issue: 3, Pages: 164-173
IxTheo Classification:FA Theology
KAA Church history
KCD Hagiography; saints
NBE Anthropology
Further subjects:B Foxe
B Bonhoeffer
B Biography
B Hagiography
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Summary:This article explores the role of biography in Christian theology. For the greater part of Christian history, biography has played a key devotional and apologetic role by providing models of how the one life of Christ is at work in the saints. Following the Reformation, biographies of Protestant martyrs removed the miraculous element of hagiography, but the exemplary and apologetic functions of biography remained centrally important. From the twentieth century, I argue, there has been a loss of confidence in the role of biography in Christian devotional life and in theology. In conclusion, I suggest ways in which the role of biography might continue to be of value for contemporary theology.
ISSN:2044-2696
Contains:Enthalten in: Theology
Persistent identifiers:DOI: 10.1177/0040571X231171278