An Introduction to Christian Theology

by Richard J. Plantinga, Thomas R. Thompson, Matthew D. Lundberg

Overview

Far from being solely an academic enterprise, the practice of theology can pique the interest of anyone who wonders about the meaning of life. This introduction to Christian theology – exploring its basic concepts, confessional content, and history – emphasizes the relevance of the key convictions of Christian faith to the challenges of today's world. Part I introduces the project of Christian theology and sketches the critical context that confronts Christian thought and practice today. Part II offers a survey of the key doctrinal themes of Christian theology, including revelation, the triune God, and the world as creation, identifying their biblical basis and the highlights of their historical development before giving a systematic evaluation of each theme. Part III provides an overview of Christian theology from the early church to the present. Thoroughly revised and updated, the second edition of An Introduction to Christian Theology includes a range of new visual and pedagogical features, including images, diagrams, tables, and more than eighty text boxes, which call attention to special emphases, observations, and applications to help deepen student engagement.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781316142172
Publisher:	Cambridge University Press
Publication date:	03/18/2010
Series:	Introduction to Religion
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
File size:	4 MB

About the Author

Richard J. Plantinga is Professor of Religion at Calvin University. He is editor of Christianity and Plurality: Classic and Contemporary Readings (1999) and co-editor of Christianity and Religious Plurality: Historical and Global Perspectives (2016).

Thomas R. Thompson is Professor of Religion at Calvin University. He is editor of The One in the Many: Christian Identity in a Multicultural World (1998).

Matthew D. Lundberg is Director of the de Vries Institute for Global Faculty Development and Professor of Religion at Calvin University. He is the co-editor of Thinking Theologically about Mass Incarceration (2017) and author of Christian Martyrdom and Christian Violence (2021).

Table of Contents

List of illustrations ix

List of tables and figures xi

Preface xiii

Acknowledgments xvii

Abbreviations xix

Part I Introduction to Theology 1

1 What is theology? 3

2 The critical context of theology today 27 l Part II Key Themes of Christian Theology 47

3 Revelation and knowledge of God 49

4 A tale of two theisms 77

5 The triune God 109

6 The world as creation 147

7 Humanity in the image of God and the disfigurement of sin 180

8 The problem of evil and the question of theodicy 204

9 The identity and person of Jesus Christ 227

10 The reconciling work of Jesus Christ 257

11 The person and work of the Holy Spirit 284

12 Dimensions of salvation 313

13 The church and its mission 334

14 Christianity in a global context 359

15 Hope and the future 386

Part III Historical Survey of Christian Theology 417

16 Theology in the patristic era (c. 100-500) 419

17 Theology in the Middle Ages (c. 500-1400) 451

18 Theology in the Reformation period (c. 1400-1700) 479

19 Theology in modernity (c. 1700-1960) 507

20 Theology in the contemporary period (c. 1960-present) 543

Theological glossary 575

Bibliography 605

Index 626

Editorial Reviews

"This is an excellent textbook for undergraduate students and other readers who are interested in theology. It offers a balanced, succinct and clear treatment of all major issues. Its particular strength lies in the endeavour to relate systematic theology to the burning issues of our day and age and its broad scope. In doing so, a good example is set for the readers."
Studia Historiae Ecclesiasticae

From the Publisher