Christian Theology

""Christian Theology: An Introduction" is a work of prodigious learning and notable clarity. Alister McGrath here combines a mastery of the history of doctrine with his gift of communication to produce the finest university textbook available in this field." "Professor Gabriel Fackre, Andover Newton Theological School, USA""There is much to admire in Dr McGrath's skill as a pedagogue. The range of issues he deals with is marvellously broad, and he says a great many things which are important, beautiful, true and worth knowing." "Church Times" "McGrath has surpassed even himself in his latest work, "Christian Theology: An Introduction"." "His assumption that the reader has little theological expertise and reads only English, makes the book extremely valuable to beginners in theology." "Beginners in theology will want this book, I do not say on their shelf, but rather, in their hands; and yet advanced theologians will not regret digesting the material presented as well." "His purpose is not to pre-scribe but to de-scribe Christian Theology." "Trinity Journal" "This is a wonderfully clear presentation of major questions on each of the topics discussed. The author is a skilful teacher who knows how to explain what is at issue in the different debates and disagreements without overwhelming the reader with unnecessary detail." "ACT Digest" "'Introduction' is perhaps too modest a word for a book which gives a basic introduction to almost every aspect of the history and theology of Christianity. It is clearly written, fairly argued, and very reasonably priced. McGrath has set a standard that will not be broken for a very long time." "Theology" "This is an admirable textbook which will soon grace many shelves." "Expository Times" "This book is an extraordinary achievement, a "tour de force" by McGrath which will establish his reputation as one of Britain's most important theologians. It will also introduce thousands of students to theology as a discipline

ALISTER E. McGRATH is currently Andreas Idreos Professor of Science and Religion at the University of Oxford; he was previously Professor of Theology and Education at Kings College, London. He is regarded as one of the worlds leading Protestant theologians and is the author of some of the worlds most widely used theological textbooks, including the bestselling The Christian Theology Reader (5th edition, Wiley Blackwell, 2016), Christianity (Wiley Blackwell, 2015), and Science and Religion (Wiley Blackwell, 2010). He is in constant demand as a speaker at conferences throughout the world.

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.100c.700 5 The Early Centers of Theological Activity 5 An Overview of the Patristic Period 7 A clarification of terms 8 The theological agenda of the period 8 Key Theologians 10 Justin Martyr (c.100c.165) 10 Irenaeus of Lyons (c.130c.202) 10 Tertullian (c.160c.220) 10 Origen (c.185c.254) 10 Cyprian of Carthage (died 258) 11 Athanasius (c.293373) 11 The Cappadocian fathers 11 Augustine of Hippo (354430) 11 Key Theological Debates and Developments 12 The extent of the New Testament canon 12 The role of tradition: the Gnostic controversies 13 The fixing of the ecumenical creeds 14 The two natures of Jesus Christ: the Arian controversy 15 The doctrine of the Trinity 17 The doctrine of the church: the Donatist controversy 18 The doctrine of grace: the Pelagian controversy 18 Key Names, Words, and Phrases 19 Questions for Chapter 1 19 2 The Middle Ages and the Renaissance, c.700c.1500 21 On Defining the Middle Ages 22 Theological Landmarks in Western Europe 24 The rise of medieval schools of theology 24 The founding of the universities 25 A theological textbook: the Four Books of the Sentences 26 Cathedrals of the Mind: scholasticism 26 The Italian Renaissance and the rise of humanism 26 Byzantine Theology: Major Themes 27 Key Theologians 29 John of Damascus (c.676749) 29 Simeon the New Theologian (9491022) 30 Anselm of Canterbury (c.10331109) 30 Thomas Aquinas (c.122574) 31 Duns Scotus (c.12661308) 32 William of Ockham (c.12851347) 32 Erasmus of Rotterdam (14661536) 33 Key Theological Debates and Developments 34 The consolidation of the patristic heritage 34 The exploration of the role of reason in theology 34 Scholasticism: the development of theological systems 35 The development of sacramental theology 35 The development of the theology of grace 35 The role of Mary in the scheme of salvation 36 The Renaissance: returning to the original sources of theology 36 Key Names, Words, and Phrases 37 Questions for Chapter 2 37 3 The Age of Reformation, c.1500c.1750 38 The Main Movements of the Age of Reformation 38 The German Reformation: Lutheranism 39 The Swiss Reformation: the Reformed church 40 The radical Reformation: Anabaptism 41 The English Reformation: Anglicanism 42 The Catholic Reformation 42 The Second Reformation: confessionalization 43 Post-Reformation Movements 43 The consolidation of Catholicism 44 Puritanism 44 Pietism 45 The Copernican and Galilean Controversies 46 Key Theologians 47 Martin Luther (14831546) 47 Huldrych Zwingli (14841531) 48 John Calvin (150964) 48 Teresa of Avil (151582) 48 Theodore Beza (15191605) 49 Robert Bellarmine (15421621) 49 Johann Gerhard (15821637) 49 Jonathan Edwards (170358) 49 Key Theological Debates and Developments 49 The sources of theology 50 The doctrine of grace 50 The doctrine of the sacraments 51 The doctrine of the church 51 Developments in Theological Literature 51 Catechisms 52 Confessions of faith 52 Works of systematic theology 53 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 The wars of religion and disinterest in religion 58 The rise of the Enlightenment 58 The Enlightenment critique of Christian theology: some case studies 59 Marxism: an intellectual rival to Christianity 61 Darwinism: a new theory of human origins 62 The First World War: a theolog