Podcast Summary: Ranking 50 of the Best and Worst Theologians in Church History

Podcast: White Horse Inn
Host(s): Michael Horton, Justin Holcomb, Bob Hiller, Walter R. Strickland II
Episode Date: November 30, 2025

Episode Overview

This playful yet insightful episode of White Horse Inn features a roundtable game among hosts Michael Horton, Justin Holcomb, Bob Hiller, and Walter R. Strickland II. Their challenge: to collectively rank 50 of the most influential (and notorious) theologians in church history from “Superior” (S-tier) to “Fail” (F-tier). The hosts debate, banter, and at times disagree as they assess each theologian’s doctrinal content, impact, orthodoxy, and even preaching prowess, all driven by the underlying question—what makes a theologian great or problematic for the church? The episode captures both the serious stakes of Christian theology and the camaraderie of theological sparring.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The “Tier List” Format and Criteria

• Structure: Theologians are ranked in categories: S (Superior), A, B, C, D, F (Fail), based on a mixture of doctrinal fidelity, historical impact, and personal quirks.
• Criteria: Gospel clarity, orthodoxy (especially adherence to creeds), personal influence, and overall contribution are frequently invoked. Hosts sometimes distinguish between theological agreement and historical impact.
  • Mike Horton: “I’m going through content, gospel, anthropology, and sin.” [30:47]
  • Bob Hiller: “If you don’t cross your fingers with the Nicene Creed, you start as a C.” [34:05]

2. The Tier Game in Action: Lively Debates

Noteworthy Theologians & How They Were Judged

S-tier (Superior):

• Athanasius, Augustine, Martin Luther, John Calvin, Thomas Aquinas, Cranmer, Maximus the Confessor, Chrysostom, Martin Chemnitz, Irenaeus, Rod Rosenblatt (host’s tribute pick):
  • Bob Hiller: “There are few people this significant in the history of Christianity, especially Western Christianity. He [Calvin] should be a superior theologian. He just is.” [25:58]
  • Walter Strickland: “That guy [Rod Rosenblatt] is why I preach Christ crucified.” [40:46]

A-tier:

• Ambrose, John Owen, B.B. Warfield, William Perkins, Carl F.H. Henry, Turretin, Carl Barth, Spurgeon, Herman Bavinck, Beza, Melanchthon, Charles Octavius Booth, Francis Pieper, Charels Hodge, etc.
  • Justin Holcomb on Warfield: “He even slapped down his student, Jay Gresham Machen, over the color line.” [12:59]

Mixed/Lower Tiers:

• Controversial Figures:
  • Friedrich Schleiermacher: Unanimous F, “If you can call him a theologian.” [04:32]
  • Pelagius, Arius, Finney, Harnack: All rank at the bottom for various forms of heresy or undermining core Christian doctrines.
  • John Wycliffe: B tier, “He liked the Bible, but…” [04:44]
  • Kierkegaard: B tier, lauded as a “theological philosopher,” but not without critique. [02:57]
  • Kuyper, Lombard, Barth, Balthasar: Each debated for their contributions and the problematic aspects of their legacy.
  • Ministers like Menno Simons and Bo Geertz: Lower ranks despite important influence, their ideas “not confessional” or “were not Calvinistic”.

3. Memorable Moments and Banter

• Sharp One-Liners:

  • Walter Strickland: “This is like calling one piece of trash, calling another piece of trash more trashy.” [08:16] (on Schleiermacher vs. Finney debate)
  • Justin Holcomb (on Bohme): “Cobbler who should have stayed a cobbler. He would have enriched the world more.” [21:42]
  • Bob Hiller (on C.I. Scofield): “Who needs a Bible when you have the notes?” [37:03]

• Passionate Defense and Critique:

  • Justin Holcomb: “Calvin said he got all of his sacramental theology from Vermigli.” [03:40]
  • Mike Horton (on Chrysostom): “Clear, but a little synergistic.” [24:20]
  • Justin Holcomb (on Melanchthon): “He and Calvin were best friends, so for both those reasons…” [34:44]

• Fun Personal Touches:

  • Bob Hiller: “You know, Bo Geertz, he was like the Swedish CS Lewis.” [23:31]
  • Bob Hiller: “Menno Simons would be a great name for a fish, Walter.” [29:41]

4. How to Rank A Theologian? Agreement vs. Importance

• The hosts frequently wrestle with whether a theologian should be highly ranked for their doctrinal soundness or for their historical/theological impact, even if their views are problematic.

  • Justin Holcomb: “Can we say his importance in orthodoxy, not necessarily that we agree…” [05:58]
  • Mike Horton: “No, I’m going based on content, not influence.” [33:58]

• Sometimes, the hosts favor orthodoxy over impact, other times, historical significance wins out (e.g., Calvin, Melanchthon, Cranmer).

5. Reflections on Orthodoxy, Heresy, and Influence

• Various heresies and theological trends are critiqued, especially pantheism, Pelagianism, and doctrinal innovations not rooted in creedal Christianity.

  • Mike Horton: “Pelagius is at least within the scope of a Christian heresy. Pantheism is a different, complete religion.” [08:21]
  • Justin Holcomb (on Origen): “The Fs of all Fs.” [31:26]

• The episode underscores the ongoing significance of doctrinal clarity for the life and teaching of the church and its contemporary relevance.

Timestamps of Important Segments

| Timestamp | Segment | |------------|--------------------------------------------------------------| | 00:39–03:47 | Debate on Vermigli, Kierkegaard’s role, introduction to ranking method | | 07:00 | Discussion of Ambrose, reasons for ranking | | 08:01–09:49 | Schleiermacher vs. Finney—“Piece of trash more trashy” debate | | 09:49–10:10 | Abraham Kuyper—his framework, theological legacy, and controversies | | 12:45 | B.B. Warfield and the American fundamentalist tradition | | 15:13–15:50| Cornelius Van Til’s apologetics and Christology, historic importance | | 17:13–17:20| Story of Macrina catechizing Gregory of Nyssa (notable mini-bio) | | 20:12–20:25| Segment on Kant and his role in modern theology | | 23:38 | Bo Geertz’s story and significance (Swedish C.S. Lewis) | | 24:47–25:15| Chrysostom—preaching on justification, “Golden Mouth” | | 25:47–26:02| John Calvin’s significance and the ripple effect of Calvinism| | 27:44–28:40| Jonathan Edwards’ legacy debated | | 33:58–34:05| John Henry Newman and influence/content criteria | | 39:51–40:14| Martin Chemnitz’s place in the Lutheran Reformation | | 40:43–40:46| Rod Rosenblatt, the hosts’ tribute pick—“Superior plus” |

Notable Quotes

• On Orthodoxy and Heresy:

  • Mike Horton: “Pelagius is at least within the scope of a Christian heresy. Pantheism is a different, complete religion.” [08:21]

• On Ranking Criteria:

  • Bob Hiller: “If you don’t cross your fingers with the Nicene Creed, you start as a C. And if you say some other things that are, like, decent, it bumps you up.” [34:05]

• On Preaching:

  • Justin Holcomb (on Chrysostom): “He said he was his [Calvin’s] favorite preacher of the early fathers.” [24:45]

• On Historical Impact:

  • Justin Holcomb: “Calvin said he got all of his sacramental theology from Vermigli.” [03:40]

• On Theologian Disagreements:

  • Walter Strickland: “This is like calling one piece of trash, calling another piece of trash more trashy.” [08:16]

• On Humility and Influence:

  • Walter Strickland: “That guy [Rod Rosenblatt] is why I preach Christ crucified.” [40:46]

Episode Tone & Takeaway

The episode is energetic and congenial, marked by laughter, teasing, and moments of sharp theological insight. The hosts’ approach is honest about the difficulty of ranking flawed but influential thinkers, clearly passionate about gospel clarity and creedal orthodoxy, yet open to complexity and nuance.

If you missed it:
This episode is a fun yet substantial tour through Christian history’s towering and troubling thinkers, offering both church history education and lively entertainment. Whether you’re a theology nerd or new to these debates, you’ll leave with a sense of why theology matters—and how every theological innovation, for better or worse, shapes the faith of generations.