Biographical Notes
Plotinus (c. A.D. 205–270): Pagan philosopher and founder of neo-
Platonism, one of the major sources of Christian Platonism (for example,
Augustine and Pseudo Dionysius).Pseudo Dionysius: (See Dionysius.)Rahner, Karl (1904–1984): German Jesuit theologian, known especially for
his concept of the “supernatural existential,” a major theological inÀ uence at
the Second Vatican Council and subsequently in liberal Catholic theology.Sales, Francis de (1567–1622): Roman Catholic bishop, French author of
the highly inÀ uential devotional writings, Introduction to the Devout Life
and Treatise on the Love of God.Schleiermacher, Friedrich (1768–1834): German theologian and
philosopher, minister in the Reformed church, professor at the University of
Berlin (1811–1834), and founding ¿ gure of Protestant liberalism.Sco¿ eld, C. I. (1843–1921): Minister, Bible teacher, Dispensationalist
theologian, and editor of the Sco¿ eld Reference Bible, whose 2nd edition
(1917) is the most inÀ uential book in the Dispensationalist movement.Servetus, Michael (c. 1511–1553): Anti trinitarian theologian, arrested and
executed in Geneva on evidence Calvin presented.Simons, Menno (1496–1561): A former Catholic priest in Holland who
became a leader in the Dutch and North German Anabaptist communities,
which were later called “Mennonites” because of him.Spener, Philipp Jakob (1635–1705): German Lutheran pastor who became
one of the founders of Pietism when, in 1675, he published Pia Desideria
(“Pious Desires”), calling for reform of the Lutheran church.Speyr, Adrienne von (1902–1967): Swiss physician and Roman Catholic
theologian whose visionary experiences were a major inspiration for the
theology of von Balthasar.