Canonical Theism: A Proposal for Theology and the Church

by William J. Abraham (Editor), Jason E. Vickers (Editor), Natalie B. Van Kirk (Editor)

Overview

The bold thesis of Canonical Theism is that the good and life-giving Holy Spirit has equipped the church not only with a canon of scripture but also with an abundant canonical heritage of materials, persons, and practices. However, much of the latter has been ignored or cast aside. The authors call for the retrieval and redeployment of the full range of this rich legacy. Voices from across the spectrum here chart that mine of opportunity and invite the entire church to explore the benefits of their discoveries.

Ambitious in its scope and agenda, Canonical Theism offers insights that will enable the readers to discover anew the faith that has nourished converts, created saints, and upheld martyrs across the years.

Contributors:

William J. Abraham
Frederick D. Aquino
Paul L. Gavrilyuk
Charles Gutenson
Douglas M. Koskela
Mark E. Powell
Frederick W. Schmidt
Horace Six-Means
Natalie B. Van Kirk
Jason E. Vickers
David F. Watson
 

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780802862389
Publisher:	Eerdmans, William B. Publishing Company
Publication date:	02/18/2008
Pages:	360
Product dimensions:	6.00(w) x 9.00(h) x 0.88(d)

About the Author

William J. Abraham (1947–2021) was Professor Emeritus of Wesley Studies at Perkins School of Theology, Southern Methodist University, and the inaugural director of the Wesley House of Studies at George W. Truett Theological Seminary, Baylor University. His books include The Logic of Evangelism and The Logic of Renewal, and Among the Ashes: On Death, Grief, and Hope.


Jason E. Vickers is associate professor of theology and Wesleyan studies at United Theological Seminary, Dayton, Ohio, coeditor of Canonical Theism (Eerdmans), and the author of Wesley: A.Guide for the Perplexed.

Table of Contents

Acknowledgments     xi
Introduction   William J. Abraham     xii
Canonical Theism: Thirty Theses   William J. Abraham     1
Part I
Medicine of the Holy Spirit: The Canonical Heritage of the Church   Jason E. Vickers     11
Scripture and the Regula Fidei: Two Interlocking Components of the Canonical Heritage   Paul L. Gavrilyuk     27
Handing on the Teaching of the Apostles: Canonical Episcopacy   William J. Abraham     43
Canonical Liturgies: The Dialectic of Lex Orandi and Lex Credendi   Paul L. Gavrilyuk     61
Christ Present in the Moment: The Canon of Sacraments   Natalie B. Van Kirk     73
Saints and Teachers: Canons of Persons   Horace Six-Means     97
Imagining Theology: The Canon of Images   Natalie B. Van Kirk     119
Part II
The Emergence of Canonical Theism   William J. Abraham     141
Canonical Theism and the Primacy of Ontology: An Essay concerning Human Understanding in Trinitarian Perspective   Jason E. Vickers     156
Epistemic Virtues of a Theologian in the Philokalia   Frederick D. Aquino     175
Canonical Theism and the Challenge of Epistemic Certainty: Papal Infallibility as a Case Study   Mark E. Powell     195
The Authority of Scripture in Its Ecclesial Context   Douglas M. Koskela     210
The Jesus of History and Canon: Some Thoughts on Interdisciplinary Scholarship   David F. Watson     224
The Canonical Heritage of the Church as a Means of Grace   Charles Gutenson     244
Canonical Theism and Evangelicalism   William J. Abraham     256
Part III
What Is Being Asked of You? Canonical Theism and Theological Education   Frederick W. Schmidt     273
Canonical Theism and the Future of Systematic Theology   William J. Abraham     287
Canonical Theism and the Life of the Church   William J. Abraham     303
Contributors     316
Index of Names     318
Index of Subjects     325
Index of Scripture References     334

Editorial Reviews

Alan G. Padgett
— Luther Seminary
"Serious systematic theology in North America is showing vitality and energy but little unity of vision. Among the many various theological movements we must now add a fascinating and creative minority voice: canonical theism. After meeting together for several years, William Abraham and several like-minded theologians have put together this programmatic collection that covers many of the central themes of Christian doctrine. . . By grounding theology at the center of classic Christianity, these authors provide a rich feast for theologians of all types to read, ponder, and critique. The way forward for theology in the twenty-first century is not to abandon the great tradition of the church but to creatively engage it. This book helps us do just that."

Reviews in Religion & Theology
“Canonical Theism is a bold volume. It owes its audacious nature to the passion of eleven modern scholars who firmly stand in the academic world yet have their eyes and ears attentive to the contemporary church. . . . We must applaud these scholars for producing a rich repository of first-rate material.”
 
Expository Times
“This collection of essays offers serious ecumenical food for thought.”
 
Anglican Theological Review
“This book will be of great interest to informed laypersons, church leaders, and academic theologians alike. These essays exhibit a fine touch of academic rigor and graceful accessibility from professors of theology, history, spiritual formation, and New Testament studies.”
 

From the Publisher