Introducing Evangelical Theology

J. Treier Daniel

Description

2020 Christian Book Award® Winner (Bible Reference Works)This textbook offers students a biblically rich, creedally structured, ecumenically evangelical, and ethically engaged introduction to Christian theology. Daniel Treier, coeditor of the popular Evangelical Dictionary of Theology, discusses key Scripture passages, explains Christian theology within the structure of the Nicene Creed, explores the range of evangelical approaches to contested doctrines, acquaints evangelicals with other views (including Orthodox and Catholic), and integrates theological ethics with chapters on the Ten Commandments and the Lord's Prayer. The result is a meaty but manageable introduction to the convictions and arguments shaping contemporary evangelical theology.

Sujets

• Philosophie et théologie
• Christian theology

Informations

• Publié par: Baker Publishing Group
• Date de parution: 16 juillet 2019
• Nombre de lectures: 0
• EAN13: 9781493416776
• Langue: English
• Poids de l'ouvrage: 2 Mo

Extrait

Endorsements
“Treier’s Introducing Evangelical Theology treats the gamut of evangelical theological categories. He seeks to maintain Scripture’s preeminent place as the authoritative source for theological formulation and its evaluative power for faith and practice. In the course of engaging theological and social questions and issues inside and outside the church, Treier consistently demonstrates a respect for centuries of church theological reflection done by sinful people who received the grace of Holy Spirit–empowered reasoning. This volume will no doubt become a standard work for the theological training of professional and lay church leadership.”
— Bruce Fields , Trinity Evangelical Divinity School
“Alert to theology’s doctrinal, moral, and spiritual dimensions; deeply informed by classical and contemporary approaches to the matters at hand; and irenic in its survey of a broad theological landscape, Treier’s Introducing Evangelical Theology offers a faithful and creative account of Christian teaching that both students and teachers will appreciate and that further distinguishes the author as one of our most gifted theologians.”
— Scott R. Swain , Reformed Theological Seminary, Orlando
“ Introducing Evangelical Theology is biblically rooted, historically informed, ecclesially located, and spiritually formative. While readers will not agree with every conclusion, Treier has given us an introduction to Christian theology that is eminently accessible, richly stimulating, grounded in the Christian tradition, and committed to evangelical distinctives—a rare feat. This book will benefit students, pastors, and academic theologians alike.”
— Matthew Y. Emerson , Oklahoma Baptist University
“In making introductions, first impressions count: according to a Harvard study it takes only seven seconds to size up a new acquaintance. Introducing Evangelical Theology makes a good impression in the first seven pages, where we meet a movement that is equally concerned with intellectual, moral, and spiritual formation; ecumenically orthodox and rooted in the great creeds; yet distinctly Protestant in its insistence that the gospel retain its glorious freedom to renew and reform. By the end of the book, readers will also have formed a good lasting impression of evangelical theology and an appreciation for Treier’s clear, fair, and winsome exposition of the trinitarian narrative of the gospel and its interpretive traditions. Each chapter includes theses, definitions of key terms, and a set of learning objectives—everything one needs to learn the grammar of evangelical faith. This is not simply an introduction to but an education in evangelical theology, and one to which I will be enthusiastically introducing students for years to come.”
— Kevin J. Vanhoozer , Trinity Evangelical Divinity School
“In these pages Treier offers a truly remarkable combination of Scripture, tradition, ethics, doctrine, historic debates, and contemporary challenges as he explores one essential topic after another. Trinitarian in both content and structure, the book could not be more thoughtfully ordered and presented. I know this book’s pages will be dog-eared and its binding worn by many a college student, pastor, graduate student, and academic, for whom it will quickly become an invaluable and treasured resource.”
— Kristen Deede Johnson , Western Theological Seminary
“What a great teacher! Treier is a master of summarizing the expansive, explaining the complicated, and highlighting the central. Here we encounter an invitation to experience the breadth of the Christian tradition while standing within the best of the spirit of evangelical theology. Treier is fair, judicious, generous, and wise. Learn to theologize like him not only for the good of your heart but also for the good of God’s church and world. This volume will surely be a great gift to a generation of readers.”
— Kelly M. Kapic , Covenant College
Title Page
Copyright Page
© 2019 by Daniel J. Treier
Published by Baker Academic
a division of Baker Publishing Group
PO Box 6287, Grand Rapids, MI 49516-6287
www.bakeracademic.com
Ebook edition created 2019
Ebook corrections 11.05.2021
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means—for example, electronic, photocopy, recording—without the prior written permission of the publisher. The only exception is brief quotations in printed reviews.
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data is on file at the Library of Congress, Washington, DC.
ISBN 978-1-4934-1677-6
Unless otherwise noted, Scripture quotations are from the Holy Bible, New International Version®. NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide. www.zondervan.com. The “NIV” and “New International Version” are trademarks registered in the United States Patent and Trademark Office by Biblica, Inc.™
Scripture quotations labeled KJV are from the King James Version of the Bible.
Dedication
To my daughter, Anna. May you continue to radiate joy as you grow in the grace and knowledge of the Triune God (2 Pet. 3:18).
Contents
Cover i
Endorsements ii
Title Page iii
Copyright Page iv
Dedication v
Acknowledgments ix
Abbreviations xiii
“One Carries It Around Within” Brett Foster xv
The Nicene Creed xvii
Chapter Theses xix
Introduction 1
Part 1: Knowing the Triune God 9
1. The Creed: Faith Seeking Understanding 11
2. The Ten Commandments: A Community’s Moral Formation 35
3. The Lord’s Prayer: The Church’s Spiritual Formation 57
Part 2: The Father, the Almighty Lord 77
4. The Triune Name of God 79
5. The Character of Providence 101
6. The Goodness of Creation 125
7. Human Beings 147
Part 3: The Son, the Mediating Logos 171
8. The Identity of Jesus Christ 173
9. The Ministry of Reconciliation 197
10. Sin and Salvation 221
11. The Gospel in Christian Traditions 245
Part 4: The Holy Spirit, the Life Giver 273
12. God’s Empowering Presence 275
13. Scripture 295
14. Church 319
15. All Things New 343
Glossary 367
Bibliography 393
Scripture Index 417
Name Index 423
Subject Index 429
Back Cover 442
Acknowledgments
T he roots of this book begin with the seeds of biblical faith that my parents and grandparents planted in my formative years. Professors and peers nurtured this faith in my young adulthood. Mentors and friends have constantly strengthened its roots. Deep thanks to the many people who pray for me and support my vocation. This particular project received helpful exhortations and vital encouragement from Michael Allen, Mark Bowald, Kevin Hector, Beth Felker Jones, Kelly Kapic, Timothy Larsen, Scott Swain, and Kevin Vanhoozer.
Thanks to friendly colleagues, faithful students, and supportive administrators at Wheaton College, who have helped me to find my theological voice; needing special mention from the past are Jeff Greenman, Mark Husbands, Alan Jacobs, Roger Lundin, Mark Noll, Dennis Okholm, and Ashley Woodiwiss. Seventeen other colleagues joined me in a survey course on Christian doctrine during 2014–15, funded by the Faith and Learning program. Their gracious interaction made the present book much better than the teaching notes that legions of students previously encountered.
The book also improved thanks to Sunday school interaction at my home church, Immanuel Presbyterian in Warrenville, Illinois, where we have tackled material from the first few chapters. For a decade, Pastor George Garrison has faithfully proclaimed the primacy of Jesus Christ, which I hope has left a mark on this book. In addition, the Creation Project Regional Discussion group at Trinity Evangelical Divinity School prompted me to revise the sixth chapter; Sharm Davy, whom I met at an Evangelical Theological Society meeting, challenged me to revise the treatment of angels and demons; and Tom McCall graciously answered my eleventh-hour plea for troubleshooting on the doctrine of sin and refinements regarding Wesleyan theology.
Other friends whose comprehensive reading improved the manuscript include colleagues Marc Cortez and Jon Laansma, along with several graduate students: Craig Hefner, Dustyn Keepers, Ty Kieser, Jeremy Mann, and Nimrod Tica. Gerardo Corpeño, Michelle Knight, and Chris Smith made helpful comments on particular portions. Katherine Goodwin, Dustyn Keepers, Ty Kieser, Jeremy Mann, and Anna Williams provided crucial research help during the writing process. Long ago, Barry Jones and Darren Sarisky drafted helpful research for my course notes.
Much of what I learned from professors, pastors, the Basement Boys, and the Dead Theologians Society has undoubtedly made its way into my teaching. In my earliest years, Steve Spencer and Kevin Vanhoozer shared their course notes liberally, and I borrowed from them gratefully. I have acknowledged specific debts that I can remember, but no set of footnotes could fully identify, let alone repay, what I owe.
For permission to reuse previous material, thanks to: InterVarsity Press: (a) Portions of chapter 14 appeared previously in “Who Is the Church?,” in Theology Questions Everyone Asks , edited by Gary M. Burge and David Lauber, 156–67. Copyright © 2014 by Gary M. Burge and David Lauber. Used by permission of InterVarsity Press, P.O. Box 1400, Downers Grove, IL 60515, USA. www.ivpress.com. (b) Aspects of chapter 4 are reworked from (with thanks to my coauthor David Lauber) the introduction to Trinitarian Theology for the Church , edited by Daniel J. Treier and David Lauber. Copyright © 2009 by Daniel J. Treier and David Lauber. Used by permission of InterVarsity Press, P.O. Box 1400, Downers Grove, IL 60515, USA. www.ivpress.com. Zondervan: Brief portions of chapter 13 are from “The Freedom of God’s Word: Toward an ‘Evangelical’ Dogmatics of Scripture,” in The Voice of God in the Text of Scripture , edited by Oliver D. Crisp and Fr