--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Evangelicals have largely misinterpreted…" description: "\"Evangelicals have largely misinterpreted Aquinas, and they have placed on him views that he did not hold.\" — Norman Geisler" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a5d/norman-geisler-25305_aquinas_evangelicals-have-largely-misinterpreted_2201038.png" --- # Evangelicals have largely misinterpreted Aquinas, and they… ![“Evangelicals have largely misinterpreted Aquinas, and they have placed on him views that he did not hold.” quote by Norman Geisler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a5d/norman-geisler-25305_aquinas_evangelicals-have-largely-misinterpreted_2201038.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a5d/norman-geisler-25305_aquinas_evangelicals-have-largely-misinterpreted_2201038.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a5d/norman-geisler-25305_aquinas_evangelicals-have-largely-misinterpreted_2201038.png) > “Evangelicals have largely misinterpreted Aquinas, and they have placed on him views that he did not hold.” [Norman Geisler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-geisler/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Evangelicals often misinterpret Aquinas, attributing views he never held. **In simple terms:** Misinterpretation of Aquinas by evangelicals. Key Takeaway Study Aquinas directly for accuracy. Themes theology interpretation misunderstanding Mood analytical critical Type theological educational When to use this quote - seminar teaching - personal study - church doctrine Key Concepts scholarly critique historical context Questions to Reflect On - What does Aquinas truly teach? - How can churches avoid misinterpretation? A Different Perspective Complex theology may be oversimplified. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Aquinas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/aquinas/) [Aquinas Placed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/aquinas-placed-4835137/) [Did](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/did/) [Evangelicals](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/evangelicals/) [Evangelicals Largely](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/evangelicals-largely-4835135/) [He](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/he/) [Him](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/him/) [Hold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hold/) [Largely](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/largely/) [Largely Misinterpreted](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/largely-misinterpreted-4835136/) [Misinterpreted](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/misinterpreted/) [Misinterpreted Aquinas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/misinterpreted-aquinas-4835134/) [Placed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/placed/) [Views](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/views/) ## Related quotes > [The age of the Earth is a hotly debated issue among evangelicals. Old Earthers believe, like most scientists, that the universe is billions of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-geisler/the-age-of-the-earth-is-a-hotly-debated-issue-among-evangelicals-old/) [Norman Geisler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-geisler/) > [I can't tell you how Aquinas has enriched and changed my life, my thought. He has helped me to be a better evangelical, a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-geisler/i-can-t-tell-you-how-aquinas-has-enriched-and-changed-my-life-my/) [Norman Geisler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-geisler/) > [Aquinas is worth reading. He has stood the test of time. And even where he errs, you can learn more from the errors of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-geisler/aquinas-is-worth-reading-he-has-stood-the-test-of-time-and-even-where/) [Norman Geisler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-geisler/) > [I think evangelicals would do better if they concentrated less on bolstering the formal authority of the Scripture - which I certainly would want…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miroslav-volf/i-think-evangelicals-would-do-better-if-they-concentrated-less-on/) [Miroslav Volf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miroslav-volf/) > [Evangelicals can't be closely identified with any particular party or person. We have to stand in the middle, to preach to all the people,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-graham/evangelicals-can-t-be-closely-identified-with-any-particular-party-or/) [Billy Graham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-graham/) > [“Evangelicals usually fail to challenge the system not just out of concern for evangelism, but also because they support the American system and enjoy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christian-smith/evangelicals-usually-fail-to-challenge-the-system-not-just-out-of/) [Christian Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christian-smith/) > [“What I'd like to read is a scientific review, by a scientific psychologist--if any exists--of 'A Scientific Man and the Bible'. By what route…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/h-l-mencken-2/what-i-d-like-to-read-is-a-scientific-review-by-a-scientific/) [H.L. Mencken](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/h-l-mencken-2/) > [Evangelicals too often fall short in their actual teachings about Judaism.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elliott-abrams/evangelicals-too-often-fall-short-in-their-actual-teachings-about/) [Elliott Abrams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elliott-abrams/) > [Most Evangelicals have the church to thank for the Sunday-school classes that taught us what the Bible says and paved the way for our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-campolo/most-evangelicals-have-the-church-to-thank-for-the-sunday-school/) [Tony Campolo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-campolo/) > [True, the apostles did not expressly say that people will be saved only if they repent, believe, and confess. But most evangelicals assume -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lewis-b-smedes/true-the-apostles-did-not-expressly-say-that-people-will-be-saved/) [Lewis B. Smedes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lewis-b-smedes/) > [Evangelicals come from all ethnic and racial backgrounds, but nearly 90 percent of Americans who call themselves evangelicals are white.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christian-smith/evangelicals-come-from-all-ethnic-and-racial-backgrounds-but-nearly/) [Christian Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christian-smith/) > [Our post-denominational age should be the perfect time for a Mormon to become president, or at least the Republican nominee. Mormons share nearly all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noah-feldman/our-post-denominational-age-should-be-the-perfect-time-for-a-mormon/) [Noah Feldman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noah-feldman/) > [“From the isolated, individualistic perspective of most white evangelicals and many other Americans, there really is no race problem other than bad interpersonal relationships.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christian-smith/from-the-isolated-individualistic-perspective-of-most-white/) [Christian Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christian-smith/) > [There are something like 300 anti-genocide chapters on college campuses around the country. It's bigger than the anti-apartheid movement. There are something like 500…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samantha-power/there-are-something-like-300-anti-genocide-chapters-on-college/) [Samantha Power](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samantha-power/) > [The shelves of many evangelicals are full of books that point out the flaws in evolution, discuss it only as a theory, and almost…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-collins/the-shelves-of-many-evangelicals-are-full-of-books-that-point-out-the/) [Francis Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-collins/) ## More by Norman Geisler > [The age of the Earth is a hotly debated issue among evangelicals. Old Earthers believe, like most scientists, that the universe is billions of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-geisler/the-age-of-the-earth-is-a-hotly-debated-issue-among-evangelicals-old/) [Norman Geisler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-geisler/) > [The universe is specifically tweaked to enable life on earth-a planet with scores of improbable and interdependent life-supporting conditions that make it a tiny…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-geisler/the-universe-is-specifically-tweaked-to-enable-life-on-earth-a-planet/) [Norman Geisler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-geisler/) > [Most relativists believe that relativism is absolutely true and that everyone should be a relativist. Therin lies the self-destructive nature of relativism. The relativist…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-geisler/most-relativists-believe-that-relativism-is-absolutely-true-and-that/) [Norman Geisler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-geisler/) > [For some, the belief in a Young Earth seems to be based on a kind of intuition or faith in what they believe an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-geisler/for-some-the-belief-in-a-young-earth-seems-to-be-based-on-a-kind-of/) [Norman Geisler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-geisler/) > [Pluralism is denied logically; inclusivism is denied scripturally, and that leaves us with exclusivism... you have to know that Jesus died and believe in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-geisler/pluralism-is-denied-logically-inclusivism-is-denied-scripturally-and/) [Norman Geisler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-geisler/) > [One should never tie his faith to how old the earth is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-geisler/one-should-never-tie-his-faith-to-how-old-the-earth-is/) [Norman Geisler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-geisler/) > [In 1963 with Abington v. Schempp, The Court said that reading portions of the New Testament could be 'psychologically harmful' to the children.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-geisler/in-1963-with-abington-v-schempp-the-court-said-that-reading-portions/) [Norman Geisler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-geisler/) > [All views can't be true because all views are opposite; this is the logical aspect. For example, Islam says we are good in nature;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-geisler/all-views-can-t-be-true-because-all-views-are-opposite-this-is-the/) [Norman Geisler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-geisler/) > [Satre found atheism 'cruel', Camus 'dreadful', and Nietzsche 'maddening'. Atheists who consistently try to live without God tend to commit suicide or go insane.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-geisler/satre-found-atheism-cruel-camus-dreadful-and-nietzsche-maddening/) [Norman Geisler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-geisler/) > [Jesus is the only way because the Bible says it to be true. Why? Because only He can bridge the gap between God and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-geisler/jesus-is-the-only-way-because-the-bible-says-it-to-be-true-why/) [Norman Geisler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-geisler/) > [While many have doubted the accuracy of the Bible, time and continued research have consistently demonstrated that the Word of God is better informed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-geisler/while-many-have-doubted-the-accuracy-of-the-bible-time-and-continued/) [Norman Geisler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-geisler/) > [Since the Court took God our of our schools, we've gotten exactly what we should expect: godless schools.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-geisler/since-the-court-took-god-our-of-our-schools-we-ve-gotten-exactly-what/) [Norman Geisler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-geisler/) > [Even Martin Luther and John Calvin believed that the Roman Catholic church, up to the Council of Trent, was basically orthodox - a true…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-geisler/even-martin-luther-and-john-calvin-believed-that-the-roman-catholic/) [Norman Geisler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-geisler/) > [Even Bertrand Russell, who fancied he saw flaws in Christ's character, confessed nonetheless that 'What the world needs is love, Christian love, or compassion.'…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-geisler/even-bertrand-russell-who-fancied-he-saw-flaws-in-christ-s-character/) [Norman Geisler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-geisler/) > [I don't have enough faith to be an Atheist.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-geisler/i-don-t-have-enough-faith-to-be-an-atheist/) [Norman Geisler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-geisler/) [Explore all 23 Norman Geisler quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-geisler/) ## More Aquinas quotes > [“As St. Thomas Aquinas (1225–1274) taught, whatever we say about God is more unlike God than saying nothing. If we do say something, it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-keating/as-st-thomas-aquinas-1225-1274-taught-whatever-we-say-about-god-is/) [Thomas Keating](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-keating/) > [“I couldn't make any judgment on the Summa, except to say this: I read it for about twenty minutes every night before I go…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/flannery-o-connor/i-couldn-t-make-any-judgment-on-the-summa-except-to-say-this-i-read/) [Flannery O'Connor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/flannery-o-connor/) > [There is little of the true philosophic spirit in Aquinas. He does not, like the Platonic Socrates, set out to follow wherever the argument…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bertrand-russell/there-is-little-of-the-true-philosophic-spirit-in-aquinas-he-does-not/) [Bertrand Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bertrand-russell/) > [“Chili is one of those marvelous-simple, elemental, all-important, and fundamental concepts that has been elaborated out of all recognition: rather like justice, or objective…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/markham-shaw-pyle/chili-is-one-of-those-marvelous-simple-elemental-all-important-and/) [Markham Shaw Pyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/markham-shaw-pyle/) > [“Here we must take account of one of St. Thomas's conceptual distinctions, which at first seems like unnecessary caviling. It is the distinction between…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josef-pieper/here-we-must-take-account-of-one-of-st-thomas-s-conceptual/) [Josef Pieper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josef-pieper/) > [“The attempt to understand morality in the legalistic terms of a natural law is ancient but is now mostly associated with the formulation given…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/knud-haakonsen/the-attempt-to-understand-morality-in-the-legalistic-terms-of-a/) [Knud Haakonsen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/knud-haakonsen/) > [“John Finnis observed that, since there is no doctrine of subjective rights in Aquinas and there is such a doctrine in Suarez, a “watershed”…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-tierney/john-finnis-observed-that-since-there-is-no-doctrine-of-subjective/) [Brian Tierney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-tierney/) > [“Aquinas teaches: " As God did not bind His power to the Sacraments, so as to be unable to bestow the sacramental effect without…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-pohle/aquinas-teaches-as-god-did-not-bind-his-power-to-the-sacraments-so-as/) [Joseph Pohle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-pohle/) > [Commentators who today talk of 'The Dark Ages' when faith instead of reason was said to ruthlessly rule, have for their animadversions only the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-berlinski/commentators-who-today-talk-of-the-dark-ages-when-faith-instead-of/) [David Berlinski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-berlinski/) > [Dawkins’s problem is that he doesn’t know the difference between probabilistic empirical theorizing and strict metaphysical demonstration, and thus misreads an attempt at the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-feser/dawkins-s-problem-is-that-he-doesn-t-know-the-difference-between/) [Edward Feser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-feser/) > [“There is ... a contemporary trend to make a sort of 'common intellect' out of society and forbid man his own independent access to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-t-clark/there-is-a-contemporary-trend-to-make-a-sort-of-common-intellect-out/) [Mary T. Clark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-t-clark/) > [“There are indeed solid ontological foundations for an understanding of signals of transformation. Both Thomas Aquinas and John Calvin take the notion of God…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-w-sire-2/there-are-indeed-solid-ontological-foundations-for-an-understanding/) [James W Sire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-w-sire-2/) > [Aquinas was once asked, with what compendium a man might become learned? He answered "By reading of one book.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeremy-taylor/aquinas-was-once-asked-with-what-compendium-a-man-might-become/) [Jeremy Taylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeremy-taylor/) > [“The Fear of the Lord, that is the beginning of wisdom, and therefore belongs to the beginnings, and is felt in the first cold…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/g-k-chesterton/the-fear-of-the-lord-that-is-the-beginning-of-wisdom-and-therefore/) [G.K. Chesterton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/g-k-chesterton/) > [“Thomas Aquinas said that people are fundamentally good and seek the goodness that is God. It goes wrong when we allow ourselves to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lucette-verboven/thomas-aquinas-said-that-people-are-fundamentally-good-and-seek-the/) [Lucette Verboven](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lucette-verboven/) [Browse all 31 Aquinas quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/aquinas/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Evangelicals have largely misinterpreted Aquinas, and they have placed on him views that he did not hold.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Norman Geisler" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-geisler/evangelicals-have-largely-misinterpreted-aquinas-and-they-have-placed/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Aquinas" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-geisler/evangelicals-have-largely-misinterpreted-aquinas-and-they-have-placed/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a5d/norman-geisler-25305_aquinas_evangelicals-have-largely-misinterpreted_2201038.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a5d/norman-geisler-25305_aquinas_evangelicals-have-largely-misinterpreted_2201038.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a5d/norman-geisler-25305_aquinas_evangelicals-have-largely-misinterpreted_2201038.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Evangelicals have largely misinterpreted Aquinas, and they have placed on him views that he did not hold.” — Norman Geisler", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Norman Geisler", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-geisler/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Evangelicals have largely misinterpreted Aquinas, and...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-geisler/evangelicals-have-largely-misinterpreted-aquinas-and-they-have-placed/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-geisler/evangelicals-have-largely-misinterpreted-aquinas-and-they-have-placed/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```