Christian Theology: An Introduction, 6th Edition [Rental Edition]

Christian Theology: An Introduction, one of the most internationally-acclaimed Christian theology textbooks in use, has been completely rewritten for the 6th edition. It now features new and extended material and companion resources, ensuring it retains its reputation as the ideal introduction for students.
 

• A new edition of the bestselling Christian theology textbook to celebrate its 25^th anniversary
• Rewritten throughout for exceptional clarity and accessibility, and adds substantial new material on the Holy Spirit
• Features increased coverage of postcolonial theology, and feminist theology, and prodigious development of world theology
• Increases the focus on contemporary theology to complement the excellent coverage of historical material
• A new 2-color design includes more pedagogical features including textboxes and sidebars to aid learning

List of Illustrations xxi

Preface xxiii

To the Student: How to Use This Book xxvii

To the Teacher: How to Use This Book xxix

The Structure of the Book: The Fifth and Sixth Editions Compared xxxiii

Video and Audio Resources xxxv

Part I Landmarks: Periods, Themes, and Personalities of Christian Theology 1

Introduction 3

1 The Patristic Period, c.100–c.700 5

The Early Centers of Theological Activity 5

An Overview of the Patristic Period 7

Key Theologians 10

Key Theological Debates and Developments 12

Key Names, Words, and Phrases 19

Questions for Chapter 1 19

2 The Middle Ages and the Renaissance, c.700–c.1500 21

On Defining the “Middle Ages” 22

Theological Landmarks in Western Europe 24

Byzantine Theology: Major Themes 27

Key Theologians 29

Key Theological Debates and Developments 34

Key Names, Words, and Phrases 37

Questions for Chapter 2 37

3 The Age of Reformation, c.1500–c.1750 38

The Main Movements of the Age of Reformation 38

Post-Reformation Movements 43

The Copernican and Galilean Controversies 46

Key Theologians 47

Key Theological Debates and Developments 49

Developments in Theological Literature 51

Key Names, Words, and Phrases 55

Questions for Chapter 3 56

4 The Modern Period, c.1750 to the Present 57

Theology and Cultural Developments in the West 57

Key Theologians 67

Major Modern Theological Movements 70

Key Names, Words, and Phrases 80

Questions for Chapter 4 80

Part II Sources and Methods 81

5 Getting Started: Preliminaries 83

What Is Faith? 83

Defining Theology 85

The Architecture of Theology 89

The Question of Prolegomena 94

Commitment and Neutrality in Theology 95

Orthodoxy and Heresy 97

The Theology of the Relationship Between Christianity and Secular Culture 99

Questions for Chapter 5 103

6 The Sources of Theology 104

Scripture 104

Tradition 122

Reason 127

Religious Experience 130

Questions for Chapter 6 134

7 Knowledge of God: Natural and Revealed 135

The Idea of Revelation 136

Models of Revelation 137

Natural Theology: Its Scope and Limits 141

Approaches to Discerning God in Nature 147

The Natural Sciences and Christian Theology: Models of Interaction 148

Questions for Chapter 7 151

8 Philosophy and Theology: Dialogue and Debate 152

Philosophy and Theology: The Notion of the “Handmaid” 153

Can God’s Existence Be Proved? Four Approaches 155

The Nature of Theological Language 163

Questions for Chapter 8 171

Part III Christian Theology 173

9 The Doctrine of God 175

Is God Male? 175

A Personal God 177

The Omnipotence of God 187

God’s Action in the World 190

God as Creator 194

Theodicies: The Problem of Evil 202

Questions for Chapter 9 206

10 The Person of Jesus Christ 207

The Place of Jesus Christ in Christian Theology 208

New Testament Christological Titles 209

The Patristic Debate Over the Person of Christ 214

Medieval Christology: The Relationship Between the Incarnation and the Fall 224

The Relationship Between the Person and Work of Christ 225

Christological Models: Classical and Contemporary 227

The Quest for the Historical Jesus 236

The original quest for the historical Jesus 237

The quest for the religious personality of Jesus 237

The Resurrection of Christ: History and Interpretation 242

Questions for Chapter 10 245

11 The Nature and Basis of Salvation 246

Christian Approaches to Salvation 248

The Foundations of Salvation: The Cross of Christ 251

“Can a Male Savior Save Women?” Feminists on Atonement 269

Models of Salvation in Christ: Classical and Contemporary 270

The Appropriation of Salvation in Christ 275

The Scope of Salvation in Christ 277

Questions for Chapter 11 279

12 The Holy Spirit 280

The Biblical Witness 280

The Patristic Period 281

The Filioque Controversy 287

The Holy Spirit: Recent Discussions 290

The Functions of the Spirit 294

Questions for Chapter 12 298

13 The Trinity 299

Approaching the Christian Doctrine of the Trinity 299

The Biblical Foundations of the Doctrine of the Trinity 302

The Historical Development of the Doctrine 303

Two Trinitarian Heresies 308

Modalism: chronological and functional 308

The Trinity: Six Classic and Contemporary Approaches 311

Some Discussions of the Trinity in Recent Theology 318

The Trinitarian Renaissance: Some Examples 323

Questions for Chapter 13 326

14 Human Nature, Sin, and Grace 327

The Place of Humanity Within Creation: Early Reflections 327

Augustine of Hippo (354–430) and the Pelagian Controversy 330

The Medieval Synthesis of the Doctrine of Grace 334

The Reformation Debates over the Doctrine of Grace 337

The Doctrine of Predestination 344

The Darwinian Controversy and the Nature of Humanity 350

Questions for Chapter 14 353

15 The Church 354

Biblical Models of the Church 354

The Early Development of Ecclesiology 356

The Donatist Controversy 358

Early Protestant Doctrines of the Church 360

Christ and the Church: Some Twentieth-Century Themes 364

The Second Vatican Council on the Church 367

The “Notes” of the Church 370

Priesthood and Ministry: Some Major Themes 378

Questions for Chapter 15 380

16 The Sacraments 381

The Early Development of Sacramental Theology 382

The Definition of a Sacrament 383

The Donatist Controversy: Sacramental Efficacy 386

The Multiple Functions of the Sacraments 388

The Eucharist: The Question of the Real Presence 395

The Debate Concerning Infant Baptism 401

Questions for Chapter 16 404

17 Christianity and the World Religions 405

Western Pluralism and the Question of Other Religions 406

Approaches to Religions 407

Christian Approaches to Other Religions 416

Questions for Chapter 17 425

18 Last Things: The Christian Hope 426

Developments in the Doctrine of the Last Things 427

The Last Things 439

Questions for Chapter 18 446

Jargon-Busting: A Glossary of Theological Terms 449

Sources of Citations 456

Acknowledgments 465

Index 466