The Logic of Evangelism (80) - Softcover

Abraham, William J.

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0802804330 ISBN 13: 9780802804334

Publisher: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co., 1989

Synopsis

In this book William J. Abraham attempts to address the dearth of modern theology on the topic of evangelism. In contrast both to the traditional focus on proclamation and to the more recent emphasis on church growth, Abraham argues that evangelism should be construed as primary initiation into the kingdom of God. / Fleshing out his thesis by discussing how conversion, baptism, morality, the creed, the gifts of the Holy Spirit, and the classical spiritual disciplines are related to kingdom initiation, Abraham seeks to articulate the implications of his theory of evangelism for the practice of evangelism. / Besides holding forth a specific norm regarding how evangelism should be understood, Abraham also maintains that the sorely needed critical discussion about evangelism should proceed in a particular way—not by drawing up new, specialized schemes but rather by bringing to bear on the topic relevant material from a number of appropriate disciplines. The book thus seeks to provoke or inspire other scholars to pursue critical reflection on evangelism, to further develop the new ground broken here.

About this title

About the Author

William J. Abraham is Albert Cook Outler Professor of Theology and Wesley Studies at Perkins School of Theology, Southern Methodist University. His other books include Canon and Criterion in Christian Theology: From the Fathers to Feminism (Oxford).

From Library Journal

Abraham (Perkins School of Theology) subjects the theory and practice of evangelism to modern theological reflection. He points out that very little critical theological thought has been applied to this area and that no major contemporary theologian has written about it. In an attempt to foster such serious study, Abraham takes a logical and scholarly approach, defining evangelism as "primary initiative into the Kingdom of God" as opposed to "preaching the Gospel" or "church growth." After developing his thesis in the first five chapters, he then examines the relation to evangelism of conversion, baptism, spiritual gifts, and related topics. Practical evangelism and ecumenism are also discussed. An excellent and scholarly work long overdue in the field. Recommended for large public and academic libraries. For another look at evangelism, see Randall Balmer's Mine Eyes Have Seen the Glory , reviewed below.
- Ed. -- C. Robert Nixon, M.L.S., Lafayette, Ind.
Copyright 1989 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Edition details

• Publisher: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co.
• Publication date: 1989
• ISBN 10: 0802804330
• ISBN 13: 9780802804334
• Binding: Paperback
• Language: English
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 254