Theology

Alister E. McGrath is Andreas Idreos Professor of Science and Religion at the University of Oxford. He was previously Professor of Theology and Education at King's College, London. He is regarded as one of the world's leading Protestant theologians and is the author of some of the world's most widely used theological textbooks, including the bestselling The Christian Theology Reader (5th edition, Wiley Blackwell, 2016), Christian Theology: An Introduction (6th edition, Wiley Blackwell, 2016), and Christianity (Wiley Blackwell, 2015). He is in constant demand as a speaker at conferences throughout the world.

• List of Illustrations xiPreface xiiiThe Development of Christian Theology: A ShortHistorical Overview xviiiThe Apostles' Creed xxviGetting Started xxviii1 Faith 1What is faith? 1Can God’s existence be proved? 3Are proofs of God's existence of any use? 7Faith is beyond reason but not contrary to reason 8Faith and God's promises 10Faith and doubt: the problem of suffering 13Engaging with a text 162 God 19Analogies in theology 21God as father 24A personal God 28God as almighty 32Can God suffer? 35Engaging with a text 373 Creation 39Creation in the Old Testament 39The concept of creation "out of nothing" 41Creation and dualism 43Implications of the doctrine of creation 44Models of God as creator 46Humanity and creation: the "image of God" 48Creation and natural theology 51Creation and creationism 57Engaging with a text 594 Jesus 61Jesus as Messiah 62Jesus as Lord 64Jesus as Son of God 65Jesus as Son of Man 66Jesus as God 67Functional statements about Jesus 68Early Christological models 71The Council of Chalcedon 73The incarnation and icons 74Jesus as mediator 76The debate about the “Historical Jesus” 78Engaging with a text 805 Salvation 82Pauline images of salvation 83The problem of analogy: salvation as ransom 84The cross as a sacrifice 88The cross as a victory 91The cross and forgiveness 93Salvation, sin, and Christ 97An Orthodox perspective: salvation as deification 100Salvation as being righteous in the sight of God 101Salvation, Christ, and the redeemed life 102Engaging with a text 1036 Spirit 105Biblical models of the Holy Spirit 105Irenaeus on the role of the Holy Spirit 109The debate over the divinity of the Holy Spirit 111The filioque debate 114The functions of the Spirit 117The symbols of the Spirit: a dove, fire, and oil 123Engaging with a text 1247 Trinity 127The grounds of the doctrine of the Trinity 128The development of the doctrine of the Trinity 131A trinitarian heresy: modalism 135Visualizing the Trinity 137The Trinity and the naming of God 138Communicating the Trinity: hymns 142The "social Trinity": Jürgen Moltmann 143Engaging with a text 1468 Church 150The church: local or universal? 150Only one church? 152The catholicity of the church 154The church: holy or just human? 156The church as constituted by the Word of God 161Pure or mixed body: what difference does it make? 163Ministry within the church: the Second Vatican Council 164Engaging with a text 1679 Sacraments 170What is a sacrament? 171What is the function of the sacrament? 174What factors affect the effectiveness of sacraments? 177Is infant baptism justified? 179In what way, if any, is Christ present at the eucharist? 184Engaging with a text 18910 Heaven 191The New Testament 191Augustine: the two cities 194Medieval debates about the resurrection body 195Modernity: criticism and recovery of eschatology 196Jürgen Moltmann: the theology of hope 198Spe Salvi: Benedict XVI on the Christian hope 199The last things 201Engaging with a text 207Moving On 210Audio and Video Resources forThis Textbook 213Brief Glossary of Theological Terms 214Details of Theologians Cited 223Sources of Citations 232Index 245