Evangelical Theology: A Biblical and Systematic Introduction - Hardcover

Bird, Michael F.

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0310494419 ISBN 13: 9780310494416

Publisher: Zondervan Academic, 2013

Synopsis

Evangelical Theology is a systematic theology written from the perspective of a biblical scholar. Michael F. Bird contends that the center, unity, and boundary of the evangelical faith is the evangel (= gospel), as opposed to things like justification by faith or inerrancy. The evangel is the unifying thread in evangelical theology and the theological hermeneutic through which the various loci of theology need to be understood.

 

Using the gospel as a theological leitmotif―an approach to Christian doctrine that begins with the gospel and sees each loci through the lens of the gospel―this text presents an authentically evangelical theology, as opposed to an ordinary systematic theology written by an evangelical theologian.

 

According to the author, theology is the drama of gospelizing―performing and living out the gospel in the theatre of Christian life. The text features tables, sidebars, and questions for discussion. The end of every part includes a “What to Take Home” section that gives students a run-down on what they need to know. And since reading theology can often be dry and cerebral, the author applies his unique sense of humor in occasional “Comic Belief” sections so that students may enjoy their learning experience through some theological humor added for good measure.

About this title

About the Author:

Michael F. Bird is Academic Dean and lecturer in theology at Ridley College in Melbourne, Australia. He is the author of Jesus and the Origins of the Gentile Mission, The Saving Righteousness of God, Evangelical Theology, Romans (Story of God Bible Commentary Series), The Gospel of the Lord: How the Early Church Wrote the Story of Jesus, and editor of The Apostle Paul: Four Views. He also runs a popular theological studies blog called “Euangelion” and can be followed on twitter @mbird12. 

Review:

It is rare for a biblical scholar to produce a systematic theology of the breadth and depth of this book. Warm-hearted yet with a critical and engaging style throughout, Michael F. Bird presents a theology that is robustly biblical, doxological, and woven through the breadth of the evangelical ecclesial traditions. Providing fresh interaction with concepts from the wider theological world while persistently mining the biblical text, this theology takes no short cuts in offering an evangelical theology that has everything to do with the gospel. -- Jason S. Sexton, Research Associate, USC's Center for Religion and Civic Culture, Los Angeles

Taking its bearings in the gospel story of Jesus, Michael Bird’s Evangelical Theology is unique among the current crop of one-volume systematic theologies. Bringing the sensibilities of an exegete and biblical theologian to the task of systematics, Bird pursues a drama of redemption approach: doing theology through telling the story. While championing the expositional realities of the biblical text, Bird also keeps a keen eye toward the creedal inheritance of the church and the contributions of the theological tradition. Broadly Reformed and self-consciously evangelical, Bird’s accessible and conversational style will be sure to win him a wide reading among students, pastors and teachers. -- Michael D. Williams, Professor of Systematic Theology, Covenant Theological Seminary

About this edition

• Publisher: Zondervan Academic
• Publication date: 2013
• ISBN 10: 0310494419
• ISBN 13: 9780310494416
• Binding: Hardcover
• Number of pages: 912