Christopher Stead attended lectures by the philosopher Ludwig Wittgenstein on the nature of religious language while studying at Cambridge. Wittgenstein’s views conditioned his own approach to systematic theology and the writings of the early church fathers — the theological field that he made his own.

Born in 1913, George Christopher Stead was educated at Marlborough College and King’s College, Cambridge, where he took a first in classics and moral sciences. After a short time at Cuddesdon Theological College he was ordained to the Church of St John’s in Newcastle upon Tyne.

He then became an assistant master at Eton and continued as a lecturer at King’s College. In 1949 he was appointed a chaplain and Fellow of Keble College, Oxford, where he worked with four distinguished wardens until 1971, but he became bored with the job.

When Geoffrey Lampe became Regius Professor of Divinity at Cambridge, Stead replaced him as Ely Professor of Divinity. This post was combined with a Canonry at Ely Cathedral which enabled him to return to King’s.

The years of study produced five books beginning with Divine Substance in 1977. His bestseller was Philosophy and Christian Antiquity published in 1994. He contributed many articles to theological journals and dictionaries.

He set exacting standards for himself and his students and was a rather demanding tutor. He lectured mainly on Augustine, Origen and Athansius and launched a new seminar in this field. He was, for a time, a genial and efficient chairman of the Theological Faculty Board.

A popular lecturer, he was awarded a festschrift to mark his 80th birthday in 1993 entitled Christian Faith and Greek Antiquity. He became a Fellow of the British Academy in 1980 and was an Emeritus Fellow of Keble College from 1981.

He enjoyed being a cathedral canon and took a full part in cathedral life, not least as a preacher. He published a book of sermons mainly delivered to The King’s School, Ely. He was deeply conservative in his approach to worship and would only attend Book of Common Prayer services. He resigned his chair in 1980.

An interest in trains continued into his retirement. In 2002 his wellresearched book, The Birth of the Steam Locomotive — a new history, was published. He enjoyed deep-sea sailing and had a good sense of humour, sometimes expressed in comic verse.

His wife, Elizabeth, a daughter and two sons survive him.

Canon Christopher Stead, priest and academic, was born on April 9, 1913. He died on May 28, 2008, aged 95