Following are some resources for understanding spiritual theology, which is the theology of Christian spiritual growth. This field focuses on the marriage of doctrine and practice which means it is focused on becoming Christformed and on the present and coming union of love between Christ and his church.
EXPLANATIONS AND DOWNLOADS
BLOG POST COMPARING SPIRITUAL THEOLOGY AND SPIRITUAL FORMATION
Link: What is spiritual theology and spiritual formation and why are they essential to following Jesus?
A SUMMARY OF BIBLICAL SPIRITUAL THEOLOGY
This paper is highly recommended for everyone. It is a short paper (about 10 pages) titled: A Summary of Biblical Spiritual Theology: Being a Biblical Meta-Narrative of Human Maturity. This paper is invaluable because it summarizes the story of human spiritual maturity in the Bible. This serves as a foundation for all discipling, and can be used in many settings including coaching, spiritual direction, youth work, adult education, developing a vision for a church, etc.
INTERVIEW BY RICHARD FOSTER ABOUT SPIRITUAL THEOLOGY
This interview with Eugene Peterson gives some explanation and background on the importance on spiritual theology. Peterson also touches on the separation of theology and experience that became prominent in the 12th century and continues today.
BIBLICAL SPIRITUAL THEOLOGY GUIDE FOR READING SCRIPTURE
This 2-page guide will teach you how to read scripture in a different way: for the purpose of understanding spiritual growth. In this way you will be learning “biblical spiritual theology.” This will be a revolutionary way of reading scripture, one that is not followed in modern commentaries. It provides an interpretive key to learning how a passage leads us to becoming more like Christ and to the community of love with God and his followers which will be completed in the New Creation. This approach is important both for personal use and for teaching.
Download Biblical Spiritual Theology Guide for Reading Scripture -Word Format
Download Biblical Spiritual Theology Guide for Reading Scripture -PDF Format
OUTLINE OF SPIRITUAL FORMATION CLASS
This outline is a course in spiritual formation with an emphasis on transformation of the student, but it also contains much spiritual theology. It is designed as a graduate level class, but it can be tailored for use in undergraduate classes as well as for classes for local churches. It is also very helpful as an individual guide to spiritual formation. Scripture is the supreme authority for this outline. The course will also equip students to minister spiritual formation and spiritual theology to others. This outline is an attempt to summarize the key principles of spiritual growth found in scripture and history. It is over forty pages long.
Please excuse the faults of this outline. It has not been edited and it is just an outline. Feel free to adapt it and make it your own. It will be updated from time to time.
This outline features:
- Most of the important topics in spiritual formation.
- Links to several PowerPoint presentations, and web pages with short explanations of topics.
- Links to or titles of helpful books available on Amazon.com.
- Many exercises for application.
- An appendix with expanded discussion of important topics.
PAGE WITH DOWNLOAD LINK FOR OUTLINE
BLOG POSTS ON SPIRITUAL THEOLOGY
These are the blog posts on this website relating to spiritual theology. They are scripturally oriented discussions of key topics written at the popular level.
LANDING PAGE: WHAT IS SPIRITUAL THEOLOGY?
Includes a basic explanation and definition of spiritual theology.
Link to Spiritual Theology Landing Page
SELECT BOOKS
Spiritual Theologies – Comprehensive discussions of progress in the spiritual life.
Spiritual Theology by Jordan Aumann.
Reprinted by Continuum (New York), 2006. Originally published 1980. We are fortunate to have the PDF available free here.
This is apparently the most used spiritual theology in the Roman Catholic church today. It is an excellent work even if one has objections to specific doctrine. Aumann presents the spiritual life in an organized and readable way. It is full of wisdom and all believers can benefit greatly from it. It is also a must-read for anyone wanting to a full understanding of spiritual theology.
The Mystical Evolution in the Development and Vitality of the Church by Fr. John G. Arintero, O.P.
Trans. Fr. Jordan Aumann, 2 vols (Rockford, Ill.: Tan Books, 1978). Originally published by B. Herder 1951.
Volume 2 focuses on the individual Christian life so it might be best to read first. This is an excellent and inspirational comprehensive set. Arintero is eloquent and this work is deepened with many quotes from classic Christian writers. Well worth your time.
The Three Ages Of The Interior Life: Prelude of Eternal Life by Fr. Garrigou-LaGrange
Translator. M. Timothea Doyle, O.P. St. Louis: B. Herder, 1947; repr. Rockford, Ill.; TAN Books, 1989. This book was originally published in 1938 and 1939 in French. Garrigou-Lagrange was a prominent theologian at the Pontifical University in Rome and supervised the doctoral research of the future Pope John Paul II.
Available for $1.99 in kindle format on Amazon here. This is a massive 2-volume work with in-depth coverage. Very valuable and also works great as a reference work. Protestants can gain from this as he does not emphasize sacramental theology. He is influenced by Aquinas and John of the Cross but he sums up much of the history of Christian spirituality. Highly recommended.
Histories of Christian Spirituality – Comprehensive
Understanding the history of how God has matured his followers throughout the centuries is essential to understanding how God works now. Histories of Christian spirituality will challenge you to deeper growth and understanding in Christ. They will also help you identify writers who will be helpful to you.
Multivolume
A History of Christian Spirituality by Louis Bouyer, Jean Leclercq, and Francois Vandenbroucke.
Trans. Mary P. Ryan. Seabury Press, 1963, 1968, and 1969. The publishing information is unclear. It may be that the series was originally published by Burns and Oates but was reprinted by Seabury Press or that Seabury is an imprint of Burns and Oates. Unfortunately, it is currently out of print but used editions can be found. This 3-volume work was originally published in 1960, 1961, and 1965 in French. Louis Bouyer wrote the majority of the series.
We recommend this series as the best multivolume work on Christian spirituality and probably a necessary reading for anyone wanting to have a working knowledge of historical Christian spirituality. Bouyer is extremely knowledgeable and doesn’t show much bias except when he writes on Protestant spirituality, but even then he is kinder than past Catholic historians. If you are interested in understanding the great spiritual teachers of the Church you will enjoy this series. It is well worth tracking down a used set.
Single Volume
The Study of Spirituality, editors Cheslyn Jones, Geoffrey Wainwright, Edward Yarnold.
New York: Oxford University Press, 1986.
This is probably the best single-volume history of Christian spirituality. It includes broad but succinct coverage of major developments. It can be used as a textbook.