AN INTRODUCTION TO CHRISTIAN THEOLOGY - Assets

1 AN INTRODUCTION TO CHRISTIANTHEOLOGYFar from being solely an academic enterprise, the practice of theologycan pique the interest of anyone who wonders about the meaning oflife. Inviting readers on a journey of faith seeking understanding, this INTRODUCTION to CHRISTIAN THEOLOGY its basic concepts, confes-sional content, and history emphasizes the relevance of the keyconvictions of CHRISTIAN faith to the challenges of today s thefirst part, this book introduces the project of Christiantheology and sketches the critical context that confronts Christianthought and practice today. In the second part, it offers a survey ofthe key doctrinal themes of CHRISTIAN THEOLOGY including revelation,the triune God, and the world as creation identifying their biblicalbasis and the highlights of their historical development before givinga systematic evaluation of each theme.

2 The third part provides anoverview of CHRISTIAN THEOLOGY from the early church to the j. plantingais Professor of Religion at Calvin is the editor ofChristianity and Plurality: Classic and ContemporaryReadings(1999).thomas r. thompsonis Professor of Religion at Calvin is the editor ofThe One in the Many: CHRISTIAN Identity in aMulticultural World(1998).matthew d. lundbergis Assistant Professor of Religion atCalvin in this web service Cambridge University PressCambridge University Press978-0-521-87026-9 - An INTRODUCTION to CHRISTIAN TheologyRichard J. Plantinga, Thomas R. Thompson and Matthew D. LundbergFrontmatterMore in this web service Cambridge University PressCambridge University Press978-0-521-87026-9 - An INTRODUCTION to CHRISTIAN TheologyRichard J.

3 Plantinga, Thomas R. Thompson and Matthew D. LundbergFrontmatterMore informationAN INTRODUCTION TOCHRISTIAN THEOLOGYRICHARD J. PLANTINGATHOMAS R. THOMPSONMATTHEW D. in this web service Cambridge University PressCambridge University Press978-0-521-87026-9 - An INTRODUCTION to CHRISTIAN TheologyRichard J. Plantinga, Thomas R. Thompson and Matthew D. LundbergFrontmatterMore on this title: Richard J. Plantinga, Thomas R. Thompson, and Matthew D. Lundberg2010 This publication is in copyright. Subject to statutory exceptionand to the provisions of relevant collective licensing agreements,no reproduction of any part may take place without the writtenpermission of Cambridge University published2010 Printed in the United States of America by Sheridan Books, catalogue record for this publication is available from the British Libraryisbn978-0-521-87026-9 Hardbackisbn978-0-521-69037-9 PaperbackCambridge University Press has no responsibility for the persistence oraccuracy of URLs for external or third-party internet websites referred to inthis publication, and does not guarantee that any content on such websites is,or will remain.

4 Accurate or Printing House, Cambridgnited Kingdom Cambridge University Press is part of the University of Cambridge. It furthers the University s mission by disseminating knowledge in the pursuit of education, learning and research at the highest international levels of excellence. Ueii8bs,cb2th in this web service Cambridge University PressCambridge University Press978-0-521-87026-9 - An INTRODUCTION to CHRISTIAN TheologyRichard J. Plantinga, Thomas R. Thompson and Matthew D. LundbergFrontmatterMore informationWe dedicate this book to a delightful dozen:To Sharon, Aubree, Nathan, Lukas; to Kelly, Joshua, Jonathan,Julianna; to Joan, Carrie, Kristie, Matthew each of our wives andchildren three, who continue to ensconce us in their love andfaithfulness.

5 This book is also a fruit of your lives and of our commonjourney of in this web service Cambridge University PressCambridge University Press978-0-521-87026-9 - An INTRODUCTION to CHRISTIAN TheologyRichard J. Plantinga, Thomas R. Thompson and Matthew D. LundbergFrontmatterMore in this web service Cambridge University PressCambridge University Press978-0-521-87026-9 - An INTRODUCTION to CHRISTIAN TheologyRichard J. Plantinga, Thomas R. Thompson and Matthew D. LundbergFrontmatterMore informationContentsList of illustrationspageixList of tables andfiguresxiPrefacexiiiAcknowledgmentsxv iiAbbreviationsxixpart i INTRODUCTION to theology11 What is THEOLOGY ?32 The critical context of THEOLOGY today27partii keythemesofchristiantheology473 Revelation and knowledge of God494A tale of two theisms775 The triune God1096 The world as creation1477 Humanity in the image of God and the disfigurement of sin1808 The problem of evil and the question of theodicy2049 The identity and person of Jesus Christ22710 The reconciling work of Jesus Christ25711 The person and work of the Holy Spirit28412 Dimensions of salvation31313 The church and its in this web service Cambridge University PressCambridge University Press978-0-521-87026-9 - An INTRODUCTION to CHRISTIAN TheologyRichard J.

6 Plantinga, Thomas R. Thompson and Matthew D. LundbergFrontmatterMore information14 Christianity in a global context35915 Hope and the future386part iii historical survey of CHRISTIAN theology41716 THEOLOGY in the patristic era ( 500)41917 THEOLOGY in the Middle Ages ( 1400)45118 THEOLOGY in the Reformation period ( 1700)47919 THEOLOGY in modernity ( 1960)50720 THEOLOGY in the contemporary period ( present)543 Theological in this web service Cambridge University PressCambridge University Press978-0-521-87026-9 - An INTRODUCTION to CHRISTIAN TheologyRichard J. Plantinga, Thomas R. Thompson and Matthew D. LundbergFrontmatterMore Pantocrator. Traditional Byzantine icon.

7 Location:St. Catherine s Monastery, Mt. Sinai, Egypt. Imagecompliments of St. Isaac of Syria Skete, Rocha (1933 2007).Tortured Christ. credit: John Taylor / World Council of Gr newald (1470 1528). Isenheim altarpiece, 16. Location: Mus e d Unterlinden,Colmar, France. Photo credit: Mus e d Unterlinden, Is God Dead? Timemagazine cover, April8,1966. Imagecourtesy of Wright s Reprints. Used by Wejp-Olsen. Who s God? cartoon. Used bypermission of Buonarroti (1475 1564). The Sistine Chapel;ceiling frescos after Creation of : Sistine Chapel, Vatican Palace, Vatican State. Photocredit: Erich Lessing / Art Resource, Rublev ( 1427/30).The Holy Trinity. : Tretyakov Gallery, Moscow, Russia.

8 Imagecompliments of St. Isaac of Syria Skete, s picture of the cosmos. In Michelangelo Caetani, ducadi Sermoneta,La materia della Divina Commedia di DanteAllighieri dichiarata in VI tavole(1855), slightly modifiedversion from Charles Singer, ed.,Studies in the History andMethod of Science,i(Oxford: Clarendon,1917). in this web service Cambridge University PressCambridge University Press978-0-521-87026-9 - An INTRODUCTION to CHRISTIAN TheologyRichard J. Plantinga, Thomas R. Thompson and Matthew D. LundbergFrontmatterMore Picasso (1881 1973) 2009 Estate of Pablo Picasso /Artists Rights Society (ARS), New Oilon canvas,350 782cm. Location: Museo Nacional Centrode Arte Reina Sof a, Madrid, Spain.

9 Photo credit: JohnBigelow Taylor / Art Resource, (Raffaello Sanzio) (1483 1520).The School of Athens, 12. Fresco. Location: Stanza della Segnatura, Stanze diRaffaello, Vatican Palace, Vatican State. Photo credit: Scala /Art Resource, Rublev ( 1427/30).Christ of Location: Tretyakov Gallery, Moscow, Russia. Imagecompliments of St. Isaac of Syria Skete, Chagall (1887 1985) 2009 ArtistsRightsSociety(ARS),New York / ADAGP, Yellow Crucifixion, 101cm. AM1988 : Mus e National d Art Moderne, Centre GeorgesPompidou, Paris, France. Photo credit: CNAC/ union des Mus es Nationaux / Art Resource, the Cretan ( 1559).Pentecost. : Stavronikita Monastery, Mt. Athos.

10 Imagecompliments of St. Isaac of Syria Skete, Paul Rubens (1577 1640).The Adoration of the : Koninklijk Museum voor Schone Kunsten,Antwerp, Belgium. Photo credit: Lukas Art in Hicks (1780 1849).The Peaceable Kingdom, : private collection. Photo credit: Art Resource, Cross. Image credit: CiesaDesign (Lansing,Michigan). Botticelli (1444 1510).Saint Augustine in His : Uffizi, Florence, Italy. Photo credit: Scala / ArtResource, (Maso di San Giovanni) (1401 28).The HolyTrinity. Pre-restoration. Location: S. Maria Novella,Florence, Italy. Photo credit: Scala / Art Resource, of in this web service Cambridge University PressCambridge University Press978-0-521-87026-9 - An INTRODUCTION to CHRISTIAN TheologyRichard J.