Dante once wrote that Aristotle was "a master of those who know." This description applies equally to the great theologian St. Thomas Aquinas (1225-1274), who was declared a doctor of the church in 1567. Along with St. Paul and St. Augustine, Aquinas stands as one of the towering figures in the history of Christian theology.

In the Summa Theologiae, Aquinas attempts to set forth the whole of Christian theology in summary form. It was written, he says, for "the instruction of beginners," but few Christians today have the time or inclination to reach for the five thick volumes that comprise the standard English-language edition.

Frederick Bauerschmidt wants to change that. In Holy Teaching, he presents some choice selections from the Summa Theologiae, along with commentary that unpacks the selections and places them in context.

With Bauerschmidt as a reliable guide, readers can follow Aquinas as he travels the length and breadth of Christian doctrine. Holy Teaching is an ideal introduction to the work of Aquinas that will give students, pastors, and interested laypeople a greater appreciation for our common Christian inheritance.

This book represents a brilliant idea: select a number of key theses of Thomas’s Summa theologiae and explain them in depth. Introduce the readers thereby to the main lines of Thomas’s thought and at the same time give them a helpful and lucid commentary on the same. I recommend this book for its excellent pedagogy. The explanatory notes are thoroughly reliable, historically and theologically. Students will profit enormously on both counts and take away from Holy Teaching a faithful understanding of Thomas’s mind.–Aidan Nichols, OP

Holy Teaching insightfully guides readers into Thomas’s oft-neglected trinitarian, christological, and sacramental theology. The vast scope and intricate movements of the Summa can be intimidating, but first-time readers will be grateful for such an accessible introduction to the riches of this scholastic masterpiece.–Stephen Spencer, Wheaton College