Theology Books
Presbyterian Publishing Corporation Pastoral Theology in the Classical Tradition
Book SynopsisToo often pastoral care is uninformed by historical practice and is overly influenced by psychological theory and practice, according to Andrew Purves. At least one consequence of this is that it is often disaffiliated from the church's theological heritage. Purves examines Christian writers from the past who represent the classical tradition...
£21.85
Westminster/John Knox Press,U.S. Encountering Evil A New Edition Live Options in Theodicy
Book SynopsisEight prominent philosophers and theologians confront the problems posed by natural and human evil for theistic belief. Each thinker sets out his or her theodicy and its connections to current social and philosophical debates. The other contributors then offer critiques of each theodicy, to which its author subsequently responds. The result is...
£34.20
Presbyterian Publishing Corporation The Drama of Doctrine A CanonicalLinguistic Approach to Christian Theology
Book SynopsisObserving a strange disappearance of doctrine within the church, Kevin Vanhoozer argues that there is no more urgent task for Christians today than to engage in living truthfully with others before God. He details how doctrine serves the church--the theater of the gospel--by directing individuals and congregations to participate in the drama of...Trade Review"Vigorously argued, immersed both in Scripture and in the literatures of theology and philosophical hermeneutics, overflowing with provocative ideas, this is a book which both draws upon and furthers the contemporary renaissance of Christian doctrine. For anyone wanting to discover lively and generously orthodox Christian theology, this will be an excellent place to begin." --John Webster, Professor of Systematic Theology at King's College, University of Aberdeen, Scotland. Among his many books are 'Holy Scripture: A Dogmatic Sketch' and 'Holiness.'"
£47.50
Westminster/John Knox Press,U.S. The Making of American Liberal Theology
Book SynopsisIn this concluding volume of his magisterial trilogy, Gary Dorrien sustains his previous definition of liberal theology and his mixture of theological, philosophical, and historical analysis, while emphasizing the unprecedented diversity of liberal theology in the postmodern age. Dorrien argues that liberal theology has been in crisis for the...
£51.30
Westminster/John Knox Press,U.S. The Heavenly Trumpet John Chrysostom and the Art of Pauline Interpretation
Book SynopsisArguing that all Pauline interpretation depends significantly on the ways in which readers formulate their own images of the apostle, Margaret M. Mitchell posits that John Chrysostom, the most prolific interpreter of the Pauline epistles in the early church, exemplifies this phenomenon. Mitchell brings together Chrysostom's copious portraits of...
£51.30
Westminster/John Knox Press,U.S. New Testament Ethics The Legacies of Jesus and Paul
Book SynopsisNeither Jesus nor Paul developed a formal ethical system, yet each left a moral legacy that forms the core of New Testament ethics. In this book, Frank Matera examines the ethic found in the teachings of Jesus and Paul. He explores the broad range of moral concerns found in these writings and finds an identifiable unity that underlies the...
£47.50
Westminster/John Knox Press,U.S. The Gospel According to Tolkien
Book SynopsisReaders have repeatedly called The Lord of the Rings the most important book of our age--absorbing all 1,500 of its pages with an almost fanatical interest and seeing the Peter Jackson movies in unprecedented numbers. Readers from ages 8 to 80 keep turning to Tolkien because here, in this magical kingdom, they are immersed in depth after depth...
£19.95
Westminster/John Knox Press,U.S. Reformed Confessions Theology from Zurich to Barmen Columbia Series in Reformed Theology
In this volume, the internationally respected theologian Jan Rohls chronicles the dynamic tradition of Reformed confessions of faith from the sixteenth century through the first third of the twentieth century. He discusses theological themes and positions that have informed both the tradition in its entirety and also particular confessions...
£38.95
Westminster/John Knox Press,U.S. Passion for God Theology in Two Voices
Book SynopsisComprised of four lectures and two sermons, Passion for God provides a unique look into the theological perspectives of renowned theologians Jurgen Moltmann and Elisabeth Moltmann-Wendel, each a preeminent figure in the proliferation of contemporary theology in the twentieth...
£18.05
Westminster/John Knox Press,U.S. A Short Introduction to Hermeneutics
Book SynopsisHermeneutics defines the rules used to search out the meaning of Scripture. Throughout church history, interpreters have approached biblical interpretation in different ways, using different tools and methods. This book conveniently and accessibly surveys major biblical interpreters and approaches to hermeneutics from the patristic period to...
£23.75
Presbyterian Publishing Corporation Postcolonial Imagination and Feminist Theology
Book SynopsisThe burgeoning field of postcolonial studies argues that most theology has been formed in dominant cultures, laden intrinsically with imperializing structures. An essential task facing theology is thus to "decolonize" the mind and free Christianity from colonizing bias and structures. Here, in this truly groundbreaking study, highly respected...
£30.40
Westminster/John Knox Press,U.S. Engaging the Bible in a Gendered World An Introduction to Feminist Biblical Interpretation An Introduction to Feminist Biblical Interpretation in Honor of Katharine Doob Sakenfeld
Book SynopsisIn this introductory textbook, some of the most widely respected scholars in the field introduce students to the methods, issues, and theoretical frameworks central to feminist biblical interpretation. In highly accessible essays, the book covers the history, achievements, and cutting-edge questions in the area of gender and biblical...
£35.15
Westminster/John Knox Press,U.S. Character Ethics and the Old Testament Moral Dimensions of Scripture
Book SynopsisThroughout the Old Testament, the stories, laws, and songs not only teach a way of life that requires individuals to be moral, but they demonstrate how. In biblical studies, character ethics has been one of the fastest-growing areas of interest. Whereas ethics usually studies rules of behavior, character ethics focuses on how people are formed...
£35.15
Presbyterian Publishing Corporation Biblical Theology Issues Methods and Themes
Book SynopsisIn this, the first overview of biblical theology in nearly thirty years, James K. Mead addresses the core issues of biblical theology essential to both Old Testament and New Testament study. Can we draw theological principles from Scripture? What methods will give useful results for theological exploration of biblical texts? Aptly synthesizing...
£38.95
Westminster/John Knox Press,U.S. The Wounding and Healing of Desire Weaving Heaven and Earth
Book SynopsisUsing refreshingly unconventional prose, rising theologian Wendy Farley has written a theological account of the human condition that delves into the deepest dimensions of the soul. Considering human life from the perspective of the wounding and healing of desire, with desire being that within us which longs for connection, home, and beauty...Trade Review"Wendy Farley's Weaving Heaven and Earth is a work of great beauty and compassion, a gift to the soul yearing for vitality, justice, and joy. In this brilliant work, Farley succeeds in demonstrating powerfully how it is that "attention to our interiority" may "deepen our capacity for justice." Her book is a compelling and original expression of the Christian contemplative tradition, a gift for us, and quite possibly for the ages." -Sharon D. Welch, University of Missouri, Columbia, author of 'Sweet Dreams in America: Making Ethics and Spirituality Work'."
£27.55
Westminster/John Knox Press,U.S. The Meaning of Revelation Library of Theological Ethics
Book SynopsisThis reissue of a twentieth-century classic by H. Richard Niebuhr emphasizes an understanding of God's revelation that takes seriously both the Bible itself and modern ideas about the nature of history. The book argues that God's revelation is "confessional history." The source and setting of basic Christian convictions lie within a historical...
£21.85
Westminster/John Knox Press,U.S. New Testament Theology Exploring Diversity and Unity
Book SynopsisIn this systematic, book-by-book exploration of the theology of each New Testament writing, Frank J. Matera explores theological diversity and unity in the writings of the New Testament. After an introduction to the history and method of New Testament theology, he explains and describes the theologies of the Synoptic, Pauline, and Johannine...
£51.30
Westminster/John Knox Press,U.S. Sex and the Single Savior Gender and Sexuality in Biblical Interpretation
Book SynopsisProbing into numerous questions about gender and sexuality, Dale Martin delves into the biblical texts anew and unearths surprising findings. Avoiding preconceptions about ancient sexuality, he explores the ethics of desire and marriage and pays careful attention to the original meanings of words, especially those used as evidence of Paul's...
£30.40
Westminster/John Knox Press,U.S. The Triune God An Essay in Postliberal Theology
Book SynopsisIn this original, contemporary doctrine of the Trinity, William Placher places the history of theology in dialogue with postmodern philosophy and yields a provocative postliberal interpretation. Placher deftly connects a radical view of God's transcendence with a narrative Christology. His resulting thesis is twofold: first, the doctrine of the...
£25.65
Presbyterian Publishing Corporation The Touch of Transcendence
Book SynopsisHow far away is God? How different is God from human beings? This is the theological question of transcendence, and theology has long struggled to find answers that affirm a human relationship with God. In this provocative new work, Mayra Rivera's answer is that God is not within human grasp but is always within human touch. With a strikingly...
£29.45
Westminster/John Knox Press,U.S. The Groaning of Creation God Evolution and the Problem of Evil
Book SynopsisPain, suffering, and extinction are intrinsic to the evolutionary process. In this book Christopher Southgate shows how the world that is "very good" is also "groaning in travail" and subjected by God to that travail. Southgate then evaluates several attempts at evolutionary theodicy and argues for his own approach--an approach that takes full...
£30.40
Westminster/John Knox Press,U.S. Holy Spirit and Salvation The Sources of Christian Theology
Book SynopsisTheologians from the early church to the present have written much about the Holy Spirit and Christian salvation. This extensive sourcebook of primary theological texts makes many of these writings available with a description of their context and importance. Especially valuable are more recent works emerging from theologians in Africa, Asia...Trade Review"The reader is challenged by the diversity here to confront contextual biases in order to encounter the Spirit at work in the world today." Phyllis Rodgerson-Pleasants, Professor of Church History, Baptist Theological Seminary at Richmond "Unparalleled in scope, this work is a gift to teachers and students alike and will serve as a foundational textbook for years to come." David H. Jensen, Professor of Constructive Theology, Austin Presbyterian Theological Seminary
£44.65
Westminster/John Knox Press,U.S. Off the Menu Asian and Asian North American Womens Religion and Theology
Book SynopsisAsian American Christianity is one of the fastest-growing forms of American Christianity, and it has already proven to be one of the richest and most innovative movements in North American religion. With a deep understanding of their roots in classic Christianity as well as the diversity of Asian culture, these theological voices have...
£38.95
Westminster/John Knox Press,U.S. Preaching the Incarnation
Book SynopsisPreaching the Incarnation, a follow-up to the authors' Preaching the Atonement, offers a theological discussion of ten important Bible passages connected with the doctrine of incarnation, bringing historical and literary questions about the text into dialogue with Christian tradition, drawing out the implications of the passage for preaching...Trade Review"Preaching the Incarnation (Westminster John Knox) by Peter K. Stevenson and Stephen I. Wright is a rich theological exploration of 12 key biblical passages on the subject, offering insights for preaching and teaching. There is an exegetical discussion of each passage, followed by a sample sermon on the passage, followed by a brief commentary on the sermon. This book will provide a wealth of insights for preachers as they approach this important doctrine. This volume by two outstanding British teachers and preachers is a follow-up to their earlier book Preaching the Atonement. We can hope there will be a continuing series."--Michael Duduit, Preaching, Vol. 25, #6, May/June 2010.
£25.65
Westminster/John Knox Press,U.S. Making Sense of Evolution Darwin God and the Drama of Life
Book SynopsisEvolution makes good scientific sense. The question is whether it makes good theological sense as well. Christians who find evolution contrary to faith often do so because they focus solely on the issues of the world's design and the notion of the gradual descent of all life from a common ancestry. But that point of view overlooks the...Trade Review"John Haught is not simply one of the best theologians of our time; he...is a prophet. Any serious thinker will find in his book a rich banquet of thought, a depth of insight and a God who belongs to evolution." --Ilia Delio, O.S.F, America, March 15, 2010 "Making Sense of Evolution will appeal to anybody with an interest in the roles of science and religion in the modern world. Just as Haught argues that Darwin simultaneously challenges and enriches theology, HaughtA's book challenges and enriches the contemporary discourse between science and religion." --Kenrick Vezina, ForeWord Reviews, March/April 2010 "Ours is an age dominated by 'nothing but' treatments. Religious conservatives and atheist biologists alike engage in a war-to-the-death between evolution and creation. How refreshing, then, to read this brilliant 'both and' synthesis by one of America's leading experts in the field. Authoritative yet immensely readable, this volume offers a powerful vision of a God big enough to encompass the adventure of evolution, contingency, suffering, and randomness. Somehow, one feels, when the dust of battle settles, something like John Haught's rich description of 'infinite and inexhaustible depth' will remain standing." Philip Clayton, Ingraham Professor, Claremont School of Theology and Claremont Graduate University and author of In Quest of Freedom: The Emergence of Spirit in the Natural World. "By taking Darwin's and neo-Darwinians' work seriously, Haught satisfyingly shows how Christians can and should be both rigorous scientists and faithful believers." Terrence W. Tilley, Professor of Theology and Chair of the Department, Ford-ham University, Bronx NY
£22.80
Westminster/John Knox Press,U.S. Transforming Congregations through Community Faith Formation from the Seminary to the Church
Book SynopsisIn this helpful book, Boyung Lee offers an encouraging vision of the mainline church's future. Lee grapples with some of the greatest challenges facing the mainline church, offering compelling responses to recurring questions: What does faithfulness to the gospel look like in this changing world? What is our distinctive voice in the larger...
£21.85
Westminster/John Knox Press,U.S. The Nature of Doctrine 25th Anniversary Edition Religion and Theology in a Postliberal Age Religion and Theology in a Postliberal Age Anniversary
Book SynopsisThe Nature of Doctrine, originally published in 1984, is one of the most influential works of academic theology in the past fifty years. A true classic, this book sets forth the central tenets of a post-liberal approach to theology, emphasizing a cultural-linguistic approach to religion and a rule theory of doctrine.In addition to his account...
£27.55
Westminster/John Knox Press,U.S. Triune Atonement Christs Healing for Sinners Victims and the Whole Creation
Book SynopsisThis is a study of the atonement, the meaning of the death of Jesus Christ. The book surveys historical views but also proposes that the atonement be seen as the death of Christ for both victims and the oppressed, for sinners and oppressors, for the whole creation--including animals and nature. This "triune atonement" refers to the involvement...
£21.85
Westminster/John Knox Press,U.S. The Divine Names and the Holy Trinity Volume One Distinguishing the Voices 1
Book SynopsisFew things are so vital to Christian life yet so mired in controversy as the language we use to name the mystery of the Trinity. This project offers a fresh map of Trinitarian language that is simple, yet profound in its implications for theology and practice. Soulen proposes that sacred scripture gifts us with three patterns of naming the...Trade Review"Few scholars can claim to have discerned a new research paradigm. And few of these have themselves carried it out, with a fully ramified development. Kendall Soulen has done both. A major achievement." Robert W. Jenson, Professor Emeritus of Religion, St. Olaf College "Thoroughly researched and beautifully written, this book makes a deeply important contribution to the central question of theology. At once clear, learned, and engaging, Soulen's approach stakes out an original way of understanding that will enlighten interested readers inside and outside the academy. One of the best books on naming God in years." Elizabeth A. Johnson, C.S.J., Distinguished Professor of Theology, Fordham University "The chapters read like a brilliant detective story, with the clues as well documented as the conclusion is revealing." Christopher L. Morse, Professor of Theology and Ethics, Union Theological Seminary "Disciplined by careful and acute analysis of the history of Trinitarian theology, there is a wonderfully creative theological imagination at work here." David H. Kelsey, Professor Emeritus of Theology, Yale Divinity School
£38.00
Presbyterian Publishing Corporation Beyond the Pale Reading Theology from the Margins
Book SynopsisHow should Origen, Anselm, Luther, Wesley, Kierkegaard, Barth, and Whitehead be read today, in light of postcolonial theory and twenty-first-century understandings? This book offers a reader-friendly introduction to liberation theology by having scholars "from the margins" explore how questions of race and gender should be brought to bear on...Trade Review"Beyond the Pale is like Jesus, calling us all to repent. It strengthens our self-critical understanding of the heritage that has shaped us. You will find something to defend or to criticize, but you will have your eyes opened in new ways to see changes we all need for our historical time of tectonic shift." Glen H. Stassen, Professor of Christian Ethics, Fuller Theological Seminary "This provocative book is a critical inquiry into the values and presuppositions of twenty-four major philosophers and theologians concerning racism, sexism, colonialism and other forms of oppression. Clearly, there is much in this book that can and should be challenged by ethicists, philosophers, and theologians. Hopefully, it will generate a lively debate." Peter J. Paris, Professor Emeritus of Christian Social Ethics, Princeton Theological Seminary "Beyond the Pale is a provocative book that raises thoughtful and challenging questions. It offers salient starting points for the critical reexamination of many of the foundational ideas (and the men who wrote them) that continue to shape the (post)modern world." Rebecca Todd Peters, Associate Professor of Religious Studies, Elon University
£38.00
Westminster/John Knox Press,U.S. Beyond the Pale Reading Ethics from the Margins
Book SynopsisHow should Augustine, Aquinas, Bonhoeffer, Kant, Nietzsche, and Plato be read today, in light of postcolonial theory and twenty-first-century understandings? This book offers a reader-friendly introduction to Christian liberationist ethics by having scholars "from the margins" explore how questions of race and gender should be brought to bear...Trade Review"Beyond the Pale is a provocative book that raises thoughtful and challenging questions. It offers salient starting points for the critical reexamination of many of the foundational ideas (and the men who wrote them) that continue to shape the (post)modern world." Rebecca Todd Peters, Associate Professor of Religious Studies, Elon University, and author of In Search of the Good Life: the Ethics of Globalization "This splendidly conceived reader superbly analyzes and assesses how ethics today should deal with its inheritance in the light of liberationist and postcolonial developments. It is a valuable contribution on a crucially important topic." Gary Dorrien, Reinhold Niebuhr Professor of Social Ethics, Union Theological Seminary, Columbia University, and author of Social Ethics in the Making: Interpreting an American Tradition "A rare and important achievement. This work demonstrates both the hard work and hard play of philosophical argument. Not only will it invite a new generation of thinkers to discover the power of western philosophy but it could open new and liberating dialogues with and among communities that have been marginalized and oppressed." Robert Michael Franklin, President, Morehouse College, and author of Crisis in the Village: Restoring Hope in African American Communities "Beyond the Pale gives us a new angle of vision on familiar texts in theology, philosophy, and social thought. By helping us to see that ideas have consequences as well as content, Stacey M. Floyd-Thomas and Miguel A. De La Torre and their colleagues widen the discussion of Christian ethics and bring new voices into the conversation. Students and scholars alike will find these essays essential reading." Robin W. Lovin, Professor of Ethics, Southern Methodist University, and author of Christian Ethics: An Essential Guide "This provocative book is a critical inquiry into the values and presuppositions of twenty-four major philosophers and theologians concerning racism, sexism, colonialism and other forms of oppression. Clearly, there is much in this book that can and should be challenged by ethicists, philosophers, and theologians. Hopefully, it will generate a lively debate." Peter J. Paris, Professor Emeritus, Princeton Theological Seminary, and author of The Spirituality of African Peoples: The Search for a Common Moral Discourse "Beyond the Pale strengthens our self-critical understanding of the heritage that has shaped us. You will find something to defend or to criticize, but you will have your eyes opened in new ways to see changes we all need for our historical time of tectonic shift." Glen H. Stassen, Smedes Professor of Christian Ethics, Fuller Theological Seminary, and author of Living the Sermon on the Mount: A Practical Hope for Grace and Deliverance
£35.15
Westminster/John Knox Press,U.S. Tokens of Trust An Introduction to Christian Belief
£18.05
Westminster/John Knox Press,U.S. From Nothing A Theology of Creation
Book SynopsisToo often the doctrine of creation has been made to serve limited or pointless ends, like the well-worn arguments between science and faith over the question of human and cosmic origins. Given this history, some might be tempted to ignore the theology of creation, thinking it has nothing new or...Trade Review"Acknowledging forthrightly both the exegetical and philosophical problems posed by the church's doctrine of creation from nothing, this well researched and cogently argued study makes an impressive case for why faith in the trustworthiness of the triune God who creates all things in Christ may be shown to provide a deeper understanding of what creation entails than either its ancient or recent alternatives. Once again McFarland has demonstrated how a first rate critical engagement with the sources of Christian doctrinal traditions can constructively address some of today's most vital issues." --Christopher Morse, Dietrich Bonhoeffer Professor Emeritus of Theology and Ethics, Union Theological Seminary, New York "This is a masterful account of God as creator, the world as creation, and how the 'as' in each case shapes how to live both in God and in the world. This is 'doctrine of creation,' not from the perspective of a defensive crouch before scientific skepticism on one side or 'rational design' on the other, but from the perspective of the fundamental importance of the idea of creation for faithful living and thinking. God creates from nothing; Ian McFarland constructs theology of creation out of a rich mix of conversations with Scripture, the history of Christian thought, debates about science and theology, and an ecumenical chorus of theological voices. McFarland's superb theological craftsmanship always keeps the book clear, engaging, and wonderfully illuminating." --David H. Kelsey, Luther Weigle Professor Emeritus of Theology, Yale Divinity School "Ian McFarland has produced one of the most substantial contributions in recent times to the theology of creation. Rooted in Scripture and church tradition, yet always alert to contemporary challenges, his study offers an important defense of the classical ex nihilo doctrine. By describing its vital function for Christian thought and action, he shows how it is not a quasi-scientific hypothesis but an essential part of an account of the ways in which all creatures are sustained and loved by God." --David Fergusson, Professor of Divinity and Principal of New College, University of Edinburgh "McFarland's monograph is arguably the most serious retrieval of the doctrine of creation ex nihilo in recent systematic theology. He successfully dispels the accusation that the doctrine necessarily implies an arbitrary God, and convincingly argues, through christological refocusing, that this key affirmation of Christian faith proclaims how the Creator is 'not only inexhaustibly rich in God's self, but also endlessly profligate in sharing this divine plenitude with creatures.' Through careful rereading of biblical texts and lively conversation with patristic and other sources from the Christian tradition, we are treated to a fresh and incisive analysis of divine transcendence, freedom, providence, and love for the contingent, created 'other.' McFarland furthermore tackles a wide array of philosophical and theological challenges facing the doctrine of creation in modern and postmodern thought, and will thus stimulate many conversations of its own in areas as diverse as ecological theology, sacramentology, and theological aesthetics, to name a few." --Paul M. Blowers, Author of Drama of the Divine Economy: Creator and Creation in Early Christian Theology and Piety (Oxford, 2012)Table of Contents1. Introduction 2. God - God as Transcendent, God as Living, God as Productive, God as Present 3. Creates - The Basic Characteristics of Creatures, The Diversity of Creatures, The Unity of Creatures4 From Nothing - Nothing but God, Nothing apart from God, Nothing Limits God5. Evil - Is Evil Nothing?, Is God Evil?, Is Evil a Creature?, In Place of a Theodicy 6. Providence - Conservatio and the Problem of Occasionalism, Concursus and the Problem of Determinism, Gubernatio and the Problem of Meliorism7. Glory - The Glory of Heaven, Icons: Seeing Heaven's Glory, The Eucharist: Tasting Heaven's Glory 8. Conclusion
£33.25
Westminster/John Knox Press,U.S. Theology and the End of Doctrine
Book SynopsisThis book is about the crisis brought about by doctrine's estrangement from reality--that is from actual lives, experiences, histories, and from God. By invoking "the end of doctrine," Christine Helmer opens a new discussion of doctrinal production that is engaged with the challenges and possibilities of modernity. The end of doctrine refers on...Trade Review"The title is deliberately ambiguous: the true 'end' (purpose) of doctrine is to point beyond itself to the relation of the living God to human beings in this world. Where this 'end' is lost to view, we are threatened with the 'end' (demise) of doctrine. Christine Helmer wants to reinvigorate doctrine. To accomplish this goal, she takes us on a historical journey through twentieth-century theology: from the Ritschlian reaction against mysticism and metaphysics and Brunner's critique of Schleiermacher through Barth's theology of the Word to the creation of an epistemic model by the so-called Yale School in which doctrine has lost its referential status altogether and thus its connection to divine and historical reality. Helmer's constructive solution proceeds through a recovery of Schleiermacher's epistemology (exploding a few myths about the great Berliner along the way!) in order to advance an understanding of doctrine as the expression of a socially conceived interaction with the 'real.' What emerges from this fine study is a theological epistemology that expands and deepens Barth's concept of the Word in important ways and an understanding of doctrine that repairs the damage done to its reputation in recent decades." --Bruce L. McCormack, Charles Hodge Professor of Systematic Theology, Princeton Theological Seminary "Recent discussion on doctrine has often been critical of the theological insights of modernity. Christine Helmer undertakes a careful revision of this discussion, emphasizing the need to take history and religious studies seriously. She demonstrates that this emphasis does not downplay the language and reality of theological doctrine but gives them a new relevance." -Risto Saarinen, Professor of Ecumenics, University of Helsinki "Helmer's book is a groundbreaking revitalization of doctrine for Christian theology and faith but also for the academy. It critiques two prominent approaches: authoritarian views of doctrine that deny its constructed character and the reductionist tendencies of religious studies where 'theology' and doctrine are viewed as anti-intellectual. The crucial connection of doctrine to transcendence through human witness, Helmer argues, requires recognition of doctrine's socially constructed character and the necessity of change. Reappropriating the contributions of Martin Luther and Friedrich Schleiermacher in enormously enlightening ways, she even shows how the work of Karl Barth supports her case for combining social constructionism and the transcendent." --Mary McClintock Fulkerson, Professor of Theology, Duke Divinity School "This is a stimulating work in constructive theology that opens up fresh approaches to several problems at once: the dual responsibility of theology to church and academy, the tension between transhistorical truth and historical tradition, and, most of all, the relation of doctrinal language to a theological reality (i.e., God) that, precisely because it is living, invites us to say not only something faithful but also something new." --Kevin J. Vanhoozer, Research Professor of Systematic Theology, Trinity Evangelical Divinity School "Succinct and elegantly written, this book is an unflinching engagement with our contemporary suspicion that doctrine (or theology itself) has come to an end. Helmer sketches a compelling vision of a new end for doctrine--one that is designed to resonate across academy, culture, and church. That she manages to do this in conversation with theology, religious studies, and philosophy without ever losing the forest for the trees makes her book an excellent candidate for cross-disciplinary discussion." --Andrew Chignell, Associate Professor of Philosophy, Susan Linn Sage School of Philosophy, Cornell UniversityTable of ContentsChapter 1: Theology and Doctrine I. Theology between Church and Academy II. Theology's Concern with Doctrine III. The Lure of Eternity IV. Historicist Shock V. Linguistic Turn VI. A Look Ahead Chapter 2: From Ritschl to Brunner: Neither Mysticismnor Metaphysics, but the Problem with Schleiermacher I. What Does Doctrine Mean? II. Ritschl and the Doctrine of Justification II.1. Righteousness and Justification II.2. A New Take on Justification II.3. Justification and the Problem with Schleiermacher III. Mysticism to Mediation III.1. Mediation in Relationship: Spirit III.2. Mysticism in Relationship: Nature IV. Brunner and the Word against Schleiermacher IV.1. The Problem of "Ground": Metaphysics IV.2. The Problem of ImmediateSelf-Consciousness: Mysticism IV.3. Theology of the Word V. The Problem with Schleiermacher Chapter 3: From Trinitarian Representationto the Epistemic-Advantage Model:Word, Doctrine, Theology PART 1I. From Word to Doctrine II. Theology and Trinitarian Representation II.1. Word in the Aftermath of War II.2. Word in the Crisis of National Socialism II.3. Word in the Prolegomena to Theological System II.3.1. Word and the Dialectics of Genre II.3.2. Word and Dogmatics II.3.3. Word, Trinity, and Dogmatics II.4. Doctrine and Ground of System? PART 2I. The Epistemic-Advantage Model of Doctrine I.1. Doctrine as Root Assertion I.2. Christian Beliefs, Communal Identity, God I.2.1. Christian Beliefs and the Harmonizing Hermeneutic I.2.2. Christian Beliefs and Communal Identity I.2.3. Christian Beliefs and God I.3. Luther's Contribution I.4. Christianity as a Worldview I.5. Conversion to a Worldview II. The End of Doctrine Chapter 4: Language and Reality: A TheologicalEpistemology with Some Help from Schleiermacher I. At the End, a (Tentative) Beginning I.1. Bible and Doctrine I.2. Reception and Production I.3. Qualifying the Help from Schleiermacher II. Language and Reality in the New Testament II.1. Jesus and the New Testament II.2. Mysticism Again II.3. Total Impression II.4. Acclamation II.4.1. Predication and Intensional Logic II.4.2. Predication in a Linguistic Milieu II.5. Consciousness, Language, and Doctrine III. Theological Epistemology and Doctrine III.1. The Origins of Doctrine III.2. The Development of Doctrine in Intersubjective Milieu III.3. Doctrine in a Global Context III.3.1. Categorization III.3.2. Construction IV. From Epistemology to Content Chapter 5: Acknowledging Social Constructionand Moving beyond Deconstruction: Doctrinefor Theology and Religious Studies I. Doctrine as Inevitable Social Construction II. Beyond Deconstruction III. Getting Clear on the Social Construction of Reality III.1. Conversation with Religious Studies III.2. The Return to History IV. Language, Doctrine, Reality
£30.40
Presbyterian Publishing Corporation Readings in the History of Christian Theology Volume 2 From the Reformation to the Present
£28.73
Presbyterian Publishing Corporation African American Theology An Introduction
Book SynopsisThis book presents a substantial introduction to the major methodologies, figures, and themes within African American theology. Frederick L. Ware explores African American theology from its inception and places it within dual contexts: first, the African American struggle for dignity and full humanity; and second, the broader scope of Christian...
£27.55
Westminster/John Knox Press,U.S. Luther and Erasmus Free Will and Salvation The Library of Christian Classics
Book SynopsisThis volume includes the texts of Erasmus's 1524 diatribe against Luther, De Libero Arbitrio, and Luther's violent counterattack, De Servo Arbitrio. E. Gordon Rupp and Philip Watson offer commentary on these texts as well.Long recognized for the quality of its translations, introductions, explanatory notes, and indexes, the Library of Christian...
£47.50
Westminster/John Knox Press,U.S. Jonathan Loved David Homosexuality in Biblical Times
Book SynopsisIn this thoughtful exploration of a sensitive issue, Tom Horner considers all the references to homosexuality in the Bible--the stories of Sodom and Gibeah, David and Jonathan, Ruth and Naomi, and passages from Deuteronomy, Leviticus, Romans, I Corinthians, and I Timothy. He includes an important discussion of the words and actions of Christ in...
£22.80
Presbyterian Publishing Corporation Overcoming Jealousy and Possessiveness
Book SynopsisPsychotherapist Paul Hauck, whose popular books have brought help and advice to countless readers, now shows how jealousy and possessiveness--often the most tragic emotions--can be overcome. Applying the principles of Rational Emotive Therapy (RET), Hauck demonstrates how jealousy is a learned emotion and can be unlearned once you understand...
£18.02
Westminster/John Knox Press,U.S. An Introduction to the Parables of Jesus
Book SynopsisA clear and thorough introduction to the best known of Jesus' teachings, this much-needed text examines what parables are, why Jesus taught in parables, and the purpose and place of parables in the Gospel narratives. Invaluable for the beginning seminary or college students and for church study groups, this enlightening work reveals the meaning...
£26.60
Westminster/John Knox Press,U.S. processtheology
Book SynopsisProcess Theology is an introductory exposition of the theological movement that has been strongly influenced by the philosophies of Alfred North Whitehead and Charles Hartshorne. It offers an interpretation of the basic concepts of process philosophy and outlines a "process theology" that will be especially useful for students of theology...
£28.50
Westminster/John Knox Press,U.S. The Moral World of the First Christians 06 Library of Early Christianity
Book SynopsisThis volume in the Library of Early Christianity examines the ethics and morality of the earliest Christians.The Library of Early Christianity is a series of eight outstanding books exploring the Jewish and Greco-Roman contexts in which the New Testament...
£26.60
Westminster/John Knox Press,U.S. Unapologetic Theology A Christian Voice in a Pluralistic Conversation
Book SynopsisIn Unapologetic Theology, William Placher examines religion and the search for truth in a pluralistic society. Among the issues he considers are science and its relation to belief, dialogue among various religions, and the theological...
£26.60
Westminster/John Knox Press,U.S. Homiletics
In this complete and valuable version of his Homiletics, renowned theologian Karl Barth's offers his thoughts on sermon preparation, including his understanding of the way in which the preacher should interpret scripture. Translated by Donald E. Daniels and renowned Barth translator Geoffrey W. Bromiley, this book presents lecture materials...
£21.85
Presbyterian Publishing Corporation Morality and Beyond Library of Theological Ethics
Book SynopsisPaul Tillich's classic work confronts the age-old question of how the moral is related to the religious. In particular, Tillich addresses the conflict between reason-determined ethics and faith-determined ethics and shows that neither is dependent on the other but that each alone is inadequate. Instead, Tillich reveals to us the gift that came...
£18.05
Westminster/John Knox Press,U.S. New Testament Christology
Book SynopsisHow should we understand the Christ of the New Testament? What is the biblical framework that theologians and students must master if their systematic Christology is to be rooted in Scripture? In this book, Frank Matera answers these questions through a comprehensive study of the Christology found in the New...
£38.95
Westminster/John Knox Press,U.S. A Theology for the Social Gospel Library of Theological Ethics
Book SynopsisA Theology for the Social Gospel is undoubtedly Walter Rauschenbusch's most enduring work. It is here that Rauschenbusch, the father of the social gospel in the United States, articulates the theological roots of social activism that surged forth from mainline Protestant churches in the early part of the twentieth century. Skillfully examining...
£38.95
Westminster/John Knox Press,U.S. Sexual Ethics An Evangelical Perspective
Book SynopsisIn this biblically grounded study, Stanley Grenz synthesizes theology, ethics, and current medical research to offer an evangelical perspective on the profound role which sexuality plays in our lives, and in doing so, calls the church to be a reconciling community which proclaims God's grace to...
£38.95