Williams, D.H. 1955–

(Daniel H. Williams, Daniel Harrison Williams)

PERSONAL: Born May 11, 1955, in St. Louis, MO; married Cindy Breece, April 28, 1979; children: Ryan, Chad. Ethnicity: "Caucasian." Education: Northeastern Bible College, B.A., 1978; Trinity Evangelical Divinity School, M.Div., 1981; Princeton Theological Seminary, Th.M., 1984; University of Toronto, M.A., Ph.D., 1991. Politics: Republican. Religion: Baptist. Hobbies and other interests: Raising horses, horse farming.

ADDRESSES: Office—Department of Religion, Baylor University, P.O. Box 97284, Waco, TX 76798. E-mail—dh_williams@baylor.edu.

CAREER: Ordained American Baptist minister, 1981; West Side Baptist Church, Rochester, NY, associate pastor, 1981–84; University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada, instructor in theology and other religious studies, 1987–91; First Baptist Church of Crafton, Pittsburgh, PA, pastor, 1991–94; Loyola University, Chicago, IL, assistant professor, 1994–99, associate professor of theology, 1999–2002; Baylor University, Waco, TX, professor of religion in patristics and historical theol-ogy, 2002–, fellow of Center for Religious Inquiry across the Disciplines, 2005–. First Baptist Church of Wheaton, Wheaton, IL, teacher and counselor, 1996–2002; Dayspring Baptist Church, occasional preacher, 2005–. International Evangelical-Roman Catholic Dialogue, participant, 2000–; conference and seminar participant and chair; also participant in archaeological field projects in Turkey and ancient Nicaea.

MEMBER: International Association for Patristic Studies, North American Patristics Society (member of board of directors, 2002–05), American Society of Church History, Ecclesiastical History Society, Catholic Theological Society of America, Development of Early Catholicism Seminar, Groupe Suisse d'Etudes Patristiques.

AWARDS, HONORS: Grant, American Academy of Religion, 1990; fellow, National Endowment for the Humanities, 2000.

WRITINGS:

(Editor, under name Daniel H. Williams, with Michel R. Barnes, and contributor) Arianism after Arius: Essays on the Development of the Fourth-Century Trinitarian Conflicts, T. and T. Clark (Edinburgh, Scotland), 1993.

(Under name Daniel H. Williams) Ambrose of Milan and the End of the Nicene-Arian Conflicts, Oxford University Press (New York, NY), 1995.

Retrieving the Tradition and Renewing Evangelicalism: A Primer for Suspicious Protestants, William B. Eerdmans Publishing (Grand Rapids, MI), 1999.

(Editor and contributor) The Free Church and the Early Church: Essays in Bridging the Historical and Theological Divide, William B. Eerdmans Publishing (Grand Rapids, MI), 2002.

Evangelicals and Tradition: The Formative Influence of the Early Church, Baker Academic Books (Grand Rapids, MI), 2005.

Tradition, Scripture, and Interpretation: A Sourcebook of the Ancient Church, Baker Academic Books (Grand Rapids, MI), 2006.

(Editor and contributor) The Church's Bible: Commentary on Matthew, William B. Eerdmans Publishing (Grand Rapids, MI), 2007.

General editor of the series "Evangelical Ressourcement: Ancient Sources for the Church's Future," Baker Academic Books (Grand Rapids, MI), 2005–. Contributor to books, including Christian Origins: Theology, Rhetoric, and Community, edited by L. Ayre and G. Jones, Routledge (London, England), 1998; Recent Studies in Early Christianity: A Collection of Scholarly Essays, edited by E. Ferguson, Garland Publishing (New York, NY), 1999; Revisiting the Idea of Vocation: Theological Explorations, edited by J. Haughey, Catholic University of America Press (Washington, DC), 2002; and Christianity and the Soul of the University: Faith as a Foundation for Intellectual Community, edited by D.V. Henry and M.D. Baty, Baker Academic Books (Grand Rapids, MI), 2005. Contributor of articles and reviews to periodicals, including Christian History and Biography, Pro Ecclesia, Journal of Early Christian Studies, Religion, Interpretations, Journal of Religion, Anglican Theological Review, Journal of Theological Studies, Church History, and Journal of Ecclesiastical History.

WORK IN PROGRESS: Translating from Latin and writing annotations for Commentarium in Matthaeum by Hilary of Poitiers, for Catholic University of America Press (Washington, DC), completion expected in 2008.

SIDELIGHTS: D.H. Williams is the editor, with Michel R. Barnes, of Arianism after Arius: Essays on the Development of the Fourth-Century Trinitarian Conflicts. T.A. Kopecek noted in the Journal of Theological Studies that "this is an important collection of essays well worth careful pondering."

Ambrose of Milan and the End of the Nicene-Arian Conflicts is Williams's study of Nicene and Arian perceptions of the Trinity in the fourth century. Barnes said in the Journal of Religion that the book "has three tasks: to reveal the existence of a vigorous Latin anti-Nicene theology in the second half of the fourth century, to show that Ambrose's own anti-'Arian' position was one that he developed over time as bishop of Milan, and to conclude that Ambrose's triumph over Homoian theology in Milan constituted the end of the conflict between pro-and anti-Nicene theologies. Each of these represents a fresh consideration of the events in question, although it may be said that as Williams moves from the first to the third task, his take on the events becomes more original."

In his study, Williams first summarizes the traditional view of the tensions between the two, writing that "the Western Church was generally committed to the Nicene faith, or 'orthodoxy,' at an early date, and that Arianism posed little … serious threat to its final domination as the Christian faith of the Roman Empire." Historian contributor Jan T. Hallenbeck noted that "much to the contrary, Williams argues, the anti-Nicene position was supported by numerous clergy as well as by Valentinian II; it was often presented in deceptive manners and was not struck down until A.D. 386-387." Hallenbeck, who called this study "complex and challenging," continued by describing Williams's coverage as "thorough, nicely organized, and well written. His introduction establishes both the work's subject matter and his thesis. Eight chapters follow, treating the material in considerable depth."

David G. Hunter noted in Theological Studies that "one of the great virtues of Williams's book is its attempt to draw attention to little-known defenders of Nicaea who preceded Ambrose: Hilary of Poitiers and Eusebius of Vercelli. Williams carefully charts the careers of both men and their efforts to restore to the Nicene faith those bishops who had capitulated at the Western Council of Ariminum." John Currant wrote in the Journal of Ecclesiastical History that "Williams's strengths are very evident in the close study of the texts. Readers will be indebted to him in particular for his valuable work on the opponents of Ambrose…. He has made accessible a compelling fusion of theological and political analysis and he has fleshed out impressively some of the most impassioned dissenters of late antiquity. And if some of his own theories do not find acceptance elsewhere … he has given us a new point of departure for understanding the enemies of Ambrose of Milan."

Neil McLynn wrote in the Journal of Theological Studies that Williams's thesis "is bold and powerfully stated, and is entirely successful in its criticism of easy assumptions about an inevitable 'triumph of orthodoxy,' and of the traditional hagiographical portrait of Ambrose. Williams's own explanation of the Nicene victory and his presentation of Ambrose, meanwhile, are certain to provoke vigorous discussion." McLynn felt Williams's "two great strengths" to be "the detailed exposition (covering nearly half the book) of the doctrinal controversies of the two decades before Ambrose became bishop, and the methodical presentation of each separate issue, with full discussions—and determined criticism—of previous interpretations." McLynn concluded: "That Williams ultimately poses more questions than he answers does not detract from his achievement…. By providing Ambrose with such worthy opponents, moreover, he allows us to appreciate the bishop's achievement in surviving."

A Publishers Weekly reviewer called a more recent work, Retrieving the Tradition and Renewing Evangelicalism: A Primer for Suspicious Protestants, "an informed, well-written appeal for historical foundations." Timothy George wrote in First Things that the book is "at once a protest and a lamentation against what might be called the tradition of traditionless evangelicalism." George noted that Williams's earlier writings "have established him as a careful scholar of doctrinal development in the early Church. He draws on that research in this book as he seeks to reengage his own evangelical community with the Great Tradition of historic Christian orthodoxy embodied in the conciliar decisions of the fourth and fifth centuries." Interpretation contributor Donald G. Bloesch called the Retrieving the Tradition "an important contribution to the current ecumenical discussion on the interrelation of scripture and church tradition."

Evangelicals and Tradition: The Formative Influence of the Early Church appears to bolster the premise of Retrieving the Tradition and Renewing Evangelicalism. In it, according to Mark Edwards in the Journal of Ecclesiastical History, Williams calls for a "return to the traditions of the ancient Church," as a "remedy for the 'theological ignorance' of the modern evangelical." In support of that return, perhaps, Williams offers the essay collection The Free Church and the Early Church: Essays in Bridging the Historical and Theological Divide. Graydon F. Snyder suggested in his Currents in Theology and Mission review of the collection that the book is not intended for the general reader. "Leaders and teachers in a variety of churches," he wrote, are the ones who "will learn much about the source of denominational differences."

BIOGRAPHICAL AND CRITICAL SOURCES:

BOOKS

Williams, Daniel H., Ambrose of Milan and the End of the Nicene-Arian Conflicts, Oxford University Press (New York, NY), 1995.

PERIODICALS

Catholic Historical Review, April, 1997, Joseph T. Lienhard, review of Ambrose of Milan and the End of the Nicene-Arian Conflicts, p. 295.

Christian Century, October 23, 2002, Stanley J. Grenz, review of The Free Church and the Early Church: Bridging the Historical and Theological Divide, p. 42.

Church History, June, 1997, Charles M. Odahl, review of Ambrose of Milan and the End of the Nicene-Arian Conflicts, p. 310.

Currents in Theology and Mission, February, 2005, Graydon F. Snyder, review of The Free Church and the Early Church, p. 57.

First Things, October, 2000, Timothy George, review of Retrieving the Tradition and Renewing Evangelicalism: A Primer for Suspicious Protestants, p. 71.

Historian, spring, 1996, Jan T. Hallenbeck, review of Ambrose of Milan and the End of the Nicene-Arian Conflicts, p. 704.

Interpretation, April, 2001, Donald G. Bloesch, review of Retrieving the Tradition and Renewing Evangelicalism, p. 220.

Journal of Ecclesiastical History, July, 1996, John Curran, review of Ambrose of Milan and the End of the Nicene-Arian Conflicts, p. 555; April, 2006, Mark Edwards, review of Evangelicals and Tradition: The Formative Influence of the Early Church, p. 315.

Journal of Religion, April, 1997, Michel Rene Barnes, review of Ambrose of Milan and the End of the Nicene-Arian Conflicts, p. 293.

Journal of the Evangelical Theological Society, December, 2003, review of The Free Church and the Early Church.

Journal of Theological Studies, April, 1995, T.A. Kopecek, review of Arianism after Arius: Essays on the Development of the Fourth-Century Trinitarian Conflicts, p. 333; April, 1997, Neil McLynn, review of Ambrose of Milan and the End of the Nicene-Arian Conflicts, p. 270.

Publishers Weekly, September 27, 1999, review of Retrieving the Tradition and Renewing Evangelicalism, p. 97.

Theological Studies, March, 1997, David G. Hunter, review of Ambrose of Milan and the End of the Nicene-Arian Conflicts, p. 158.

Theology Today, October, 2001, John R. Franke, review of Retrieving the Tradition and Renewing Evangelicalism, p. 480.

ONLINE

Baylor University Web site: D.H. Williams Home Page, http://www3.baylor.edu/∼DH_Williams (August 4, 2006).