Christian Theology: An Introduction

2017·500.83 MB·English

by  Alister E. McGrath

Praise for previous editions of Christian Theology: An Introduction Page: ii
Title Page Page: iii
Copyright Page: iv
List of Illustrations Page: xxi
Preface Page: xxiii
To the Student: How to Use This Book Page: xxvii
To the Teacher: How to Use This Book Page: xxix
The Structure of the Book: The Fifth and Sixth Editions Compared Page: xxxiii
Video and Audio Resources Page: xxxv
Part I: Landmarks: Periods, Themes, and Personalities of Christian Theology Page: 1
Introduction Page: 3
Chapter 1: The Patristic Period, c.100–c.700 Page: 5
The Early Centers of Theological Activity Page: 5
An Overview of the Patristic Period Page: 7
Key Theologians Page: 10
Key Theological Debates and Developments Page: 12
Set 1: Introductory Page: 19
Set 2: Standard Level Page: 20
Chapter 2: The Middle Ages and the Renaissance, c.700–c.1500 Page: 21
On Defining the “Middle Ages” Page: 22
Theological Landmarks in Western Europe Page: 23
Byzantine Theology: Major Themes Page: 27
Key Theologians Page: 29
Key Theological Debates and Developments Page: 34
Chapter 3: The Age of Reformation, c.1500–c.1750 Page: 38
The Main Movements of the Age of Reformation Page: 38
Post-Reformation Movements Page: 43
The Copernican and Galilean Controversies Page: 46
Key Theologians Page: 47
Key Theological Debates and Developments Page: 49
Developments in Theological Literature Page: 51
Chapter 4: The Modern Period, c.1750 to the Present Page: 57
Theology and Cultural Developments in the West Page: 57
Key Theologians Page: 67
Major Modern Theological Movements Page: 69
Part II: Sources and Methods Page: 81
Chapter 5: Getting Started: Preliminaries Page: 83
What is Faith? Page: 83
Defining Theology Page: 85
The Architecture of Theology Page: 89
The Question of Prolegomena Page: 94
Commitment and Neutrality in Theology Page: 95
Orthodoxy and Heresy Page: 97
The Theology of the Relationship Between Christianity and Secular Culture Page: 99
Chapter 6: The Sources of Theology Page: 104
Scripture Page: 104
Tradition Page: 122
Reason Page: 127
Religious Experience Page: 130
Chapter 7: Knowledge of God: Natural and Revealed Page: 135
The Idea of Revelation Page: 136
Models of Revelation Page: 137
Natural Theology: Its Scope and Limits Page: 141
Approaches to Discerning God in Nature Page: 147
The Natural Sciences and Christian Theology: Models of Interaction Page: 148
Chapter 8: Philosophy and Theology: Dialogue and Debate Page: 152
Philosophy and Theology: The Notion of the “Handmaid” Page: 153
Can God's Existence be Proved? Four Approaches Page: 155
The Nature of Theological Language Page: 163
Part III: Christian Theology Page: 173
Chapter 9: The Doctrine of God Page: 175
Is God Male? Page: 175
A Personal God Page: 177
Can God Suffer? Page: 181
The Omnipotence of God Page: 187
God's Action in the World Page: 190
God as Creator Page: 194
Theodicies: The Problem of Evil Page: 202
Chapter 10: The Person of Jesus Christ Page: 207
The Place of Jesus Christ in Christian Theology Page: 208
New Testament Christological Titles Page: 209
The Patristic Debate Over the Person of Christ Page: 215
Medieval Christology: The Relationship Between the Incarnation and the Fall Page: 224
The Relationship Between the Person and Work of Christ Page: 225
Christological Models: Classical and Contemporary Page: 227
The Quest for the Historical Jesus Page: 236
The Resurrection of Christ: History and Interpretation Page: 242
Chapter 11: The Nature and Basis of Salvation Page: 246
Christian Approaches to Salvation Page: 248
The Foundations of Salvation: The Cross of Christ Page: 251
“Can a Male Savior Save Women?” Feminists on Atonement Page: 269
Models of Salvation in Christ: Classical and Contemporary Page: 270
The Appropriation of Salvation in Christ Page: 275
The Scope of Salvation in Christ Page: 277
Chapter 12: The Holy Spirit Page: 280
The Biblical Witness Page: 280
The Patristic Period Page: 281
The Filioque Controversy Page: 287
The Holy Spirit: Recent Discussions Page: 290
The Functions of the Spirit Page: 294
Chapter 13: The Trinity Page: 299
Approaching the Christian Doctrine of the Trinity Page: 299
The Biblical Foundations of the Doctrine of the Trinity Page: 302
The Historical Development of the Doctrine Page: 303
Two Trinitarian Heresies Page: 308
The Trinity: Six Classic and Contemporary Approaches Page: 311
Some Discussions of the Trinity in Recent Theology Page: 318
The Trinitarian Renaissance: Some Examples Page: 323
Chapter 14: Human Nature, Sin, and Grace Page: 327
The Place of Humanity Within Creation: Early Reflections Page: 327
Augustine of Hippo (354–430) and the Pelagian Controversy Page: 330
The Medieval Synthesis of the Doctrine of Grace Page: 334
The Reformation Debates Over the Doctrine of Grace Page: 337
The Doctrine of Predestination Page: 344
The Darwinian Controversy and the Nature of Humanity Page: 350
Chapter 15: The Church Page: 354
Biblical Models of the Church Page: 354
The Early Development of Ecclesiology Page: 356
The Donatist Controversy Page: 358
Early Protestant Doctrines of the Church Page: 360
Christ and the Church: Some Twentieth-Century Themes Page: 364
The Second Vatican Council on the Church Page: 367
The “Notes” of the Church Page: 370
Priesthood and Ministry: Some Major Themes Page: 378
Chapter 16: The Sacraments Page: 381
The Early Development of Sacramental Theology Page: 381
The Definition of a Sacrament Page: 383
The Donatist Controversy: Sacramental Efficacy Page: 386
The Multiple Functions of the Sacraments Page: 388
The Eucharist: The Question of the Real Presence Page: 395
The Debate Concerning Infant Baptism Page: 401
Chapter 17: Christianity and the World Religions Page: 405
Western Pluralism and the Question of Other Religions Page: 406
Approaches to Religions Page: 407
Christian Approaches to Other Religions Page: 416
Chapter 18: Last Things: The Christian Hope Page: 426
Developments in the Doctrine of the Last Things Page: 427
The Last Things Page: 439
Jargon-Busting: A Glossary of Theological Terms Page: 449
Sources of Citations Page: 456
Acknowledgments Page: 465
Index Page: 466
End User License Agreement Page: 480