New Perspectives For Evangelical Theology

This title addresses some of the major themes within evangelical theology including election, the Holy Spirit, eschatology, and sanctification. It examines the Bible and the Church, and has chapters on worship and the sacraments.

This accessible yet comprehensive primer explores the breadth of viewpoints on major issues in evangelical theology by examining positions taken by evangelicals on seventeen seminal issues. The second edition retains the helpful features of the first edition and adds an appendix that addresses thirteen peripheral issues in contemporary evangelicalism. Praise for the first edition "The authors do what no book on the market does: In one volume they faithfully present divergent views on the crucial issues that divide evangelicals, and they do so in an unbiased, succinct, and lively manner. This book is perfect as a supplemental text in an introductory theology course or as a manual for church study groups. It will help everyone arrive at his or her own conclusions within the parameters of the evangelical tradition."--Dennis Okholm, Azusa Pacific University "Across the Spectrum succeeds with distinction in at least two respects. First, it represents a very useful tool for those who wish to begin grappling with different approaches to difficult theological problems. The book will be most helpful to beginning students in evangelical theology, the target audience. Second, the work presents various perspectives in fair and unbiased tones. . . . If used with care, it will repeatedly reward the reader with its fair and even treatment of different theological views."--Nathan D. Holsteen, Bibliotheca Sacra "I've been waiting for this book for some time. Due to its brief, nontechnical format, it can be used in a variety of ways in undergraduate theology courses. Although a concise volume, it succinctly outlines multiple arguments, both pro and con, for (incredibly!) over two dozen issues in disputed, largely non-fundamental areas of doctrine. The professor can present positions in favor of particular views or leave the issues open. It's settled--I'm requiring it!"--Gary R. Habermas, Liberty University "A collective sigh of relief will arise from the evangelical student body when it discovers this book! It helpfully and critically surveys the many legitimate evangelical theological options and convincingly demonstrates that there is no single authentically evangelical viewpoint on a wide range of controversial issues. It constitutes a small library between two covers."--Roger E. Olson, George W. Truett Theological Seminary, Baylor University

Evangelical Theology is a systematic theology written from the perspective of a biblical scholar. Michael F. Bird contends that the center, unity, and boundary of the evangelical faith is the evangel (= gospel), as opposed to things like justification by faith or inerrancy. The evangel is the unifying thread in evangelical theology and the theological hermeneutic through which the various loci of theology need to be understood. Using the gospel as a theological leitmotif—an approach to Christian doctrine that begins with the gospel and sees each loci through the lens of the gospel—this text presents an authentically evangelical theology, as opposed to an ordinary systematic theology written by an evangelical theologian. According to the author, theology is the drama of gospelizing—performing and living out the gospel in the theatre of Christian life. The text features tables, sidebars, and questions for discussion. The end of every part includes a “What to Take Home” section that gives students a run-down on what they need to know. And since reading theology can often be dry and cerebral, the author applies his unique sense of humor in occasional “Comic Belief” sections so that students may enjoy their learning experience through some theological humor added for good measure.

Evangelical Christian theology needs to be checked against, amplified from and constantly refreshed by the Bible. We will not easily change our fundamental beliefs if these are grounded in study of Scripture, but we will always be open to receive new truth. This will sometimes come from personal study, but we must also be open to what others have found in the Word of God. In recent times, influential writers have revisited central doctrines and argued that their traditional interpretations within evangelicalism have been in error. In response, Geoffrey Grogan engages with challenges in a selection of key subjects: open theism, penal substitution, the New Perspective on Paul and justification, the doctrine of Scripture, and hermeneutics. Three convictions undergird Grogan's responses. * The Bible is an inexhaustible book and we can never assume we have already learned all the truth it has to convey to us. * We are called to 'contend for the faith that was once for all entrusted to the saints' (Jude 3) - this is not always easy, but it must be done. * When we are in debate with other Christians, this must always be in a spirit of love and without acrimony. Grogan's wise, positive and balanced analyses will be valued by theological students and scholars, ministers, church leaders and all with a serious interest in Christian theology.

How should one approach the task of theology? The question of methodology is increasingly one of interest among theologians, who recognize that the very manner in which we approach theology informs both the questions we ask and the conclusions we reach. This volume in IVP's Spectrum Multiview series brings together five evangelical theologians with distinctly different approaches to the theological task. After presenting the approaches—which include appeals to Scripture, context, missions, interdisciplinary studies, and dogmatics—each contributor responds to the other views. Emerging from this theological conversation is an awareness of our methodological commitments and the benefits that each approach can bring to the theological task. Contributors: Sung Wook Chung John R. Franke Telford C. Work Victor Ifeanyi Ezigbo Paul Louis Metzger Spectrum Multiview Books offer a range of viewpoints on contested topics within Christianity, giving contributors the opportunity to present their position and also respond to others in this dynamic publishing format.

The second edition of this important foundatinal text for the emerging church includes a new foreword by Biran McLaren and a new afterword from John Franke updating the book for the contemporary church scene.

This book aims to introduce a distinctively evangelical voice to the discipline of practical theology. Evangelicals have sometimes seen practical theology as primarily a ‘liberal’ project. This collection, however, actively engages with practical theology from an evangelical perspective, both through discussion of the substantive issues and by providing examples of practical theology done by evangelicals in the classroom, the church, and beyond. This volume brings together established and emerging voices to debate the growing role which practical theology is playing in evangelical and Pentecostal circles. Chapters begin by addressing methodological concerns, before moving into areas of practice. Additionally, there are four short papers from students who make use of practical theology to reflect upon their own practice. Issues of authority and normativity are tackled head on in a way that will inform the debate both within and beyond evangelicalism. This book will, therefore, be of keen interest to scholars of practical, evangelical, and Pentecostal theology.