Across the Spectrum: Understanding Issues in Evangelical Theology [Paperback]

Paul R. Eddy (Author), Gregory A. Boyd (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 080103793X | ISBN-13: 978-0801037931 | Publication Date: September 1, 2009 | Edition: 2

This new edition of a popular text presents an accessible yet comprehensive primer that helps readers understand the breadth of viewpoints on major issues in evangelical theology, with chapters using the popular three- or four-views book format. The authors carefully examine positions taken by evangelical scholars on seventeen seminal issues. They lay out the biblical, theological, and philosophical arguments for each position in point-counterpoint fashion and discuss possible objections.
The second edition retains the helpful features of the first edition--end-of-chapter "For Further Reading" sections and an extensive glossary--and adds an appendix that addresses thirteen peripheral issues in contemporary evangelicalism.

Editorial Reviews

From the Back Cover

This accessible yet comprehensive primer explores the breadth of viewpoints on major issues in evangelical theology by examining positions taken by evangelicals on seventeen seminal issues. The second edition retains the helpful features of the first edition and adds an appendix that addresses thirteen peripheral issues in contemporary evangelicalism.

Praise for the first edition

"The authors do what no book on the market does: In one volume they faithfully present divergent views on the crucial issues that divide evangelicals, and they do so in an unbiased, succinct, and lively manner. This book is perfect as a supplemental text in an introductory theology course or as a manual for church study groups. It will help everyone arrive at his or her own conclusions within the parameters of the evangelical tradition."--Dennis Okholm, Azusa Pacific University

"Across the Spectrum succeeds with distinction in at least two respects. First, it represents a very useful tool for those who wish to begin grappling with different approaches to difficult theological problems. The book will be most helpful to beginning students in evangelical theology, the target audience. Second, the work presents various perspectives in fair and unbiased tones. . . . If used with care, it will repeatedly reward the reader with its fair and even treatment of different theological views."--Nathan D. Holsteen, Bibliotheca Sacra

"I've been waiting for this book for some time. Due to its brief, nontechnical format, it can be used in a variety of ways in undergraduate theology courses. Although a concise volume, it succinctly outlines multiple arguments, both pro and con, for (incredibly!) over two dozen issues in disputed, largely non-fundamental areas of doctrine. The professor can present positions in favor of particular views or leave the issues open. It's settled--I'm requiring it!"--Gary R. Habermas, Liberty University

"A collective sigh of relief will arise from the evangelical student body when it discovers this book! It helpfully and critically surveys the many legitimate evangelical theological options and convincingly demonstrates that there is no single authentically evangelical viewpoint on a wide range of controversial issues. It constitutes a small library between two covers."--Roger E. Olson, George W. Truett Theological Seminary, Baylor University

About the Author

Gregory A. Boyd (PhD, Princeton Theological Seminary) is the senior pastor at Woodland Hills Church in St. Paul, Minnesota, and formerly served as professor of theology at Bethel University. Paul R. Eddy (PhD, Marquette University) is professor of biblical and theological studies at Bethel University in St. Paul, Minnesota. Boyd and Eddy are coauthors of The Jesus Legend.

Product Details

• Paperback: 351 pages
• Publisher: Baker Academic; 2 edition (September 1, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 080103793X
• ISBN-13: 978-0801037931
• Product Dimensions: 8.8 x 6 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #20,298 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Honest and pressing us to think, December 31, 2009

By 

S. G. Fortosis "Amazon author&seeyourselfinpr... (North Port, Florida) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Across the Spectrum: Understanding Issues in Evangelical Theology (Paperback)

Eddy and Boyd are not so insecure in their theological foundations that they insist dogmatically that all Christians believe a particular viewpoint in every case. They (and, hopefully, we) want to know all the possible theological options and they also seem to wish us to think through biblically what we believe to be true and accurate.

In the one instance of predestination, I do not believe that they teach that God does not even know who will choose salvation and who will not. Nor do they claim that God either chooses arbitrarily some for eternal bliss and others for eternal damnation and agony. Some things are better left for God to sort out according to a wisdom that is as greater than ours as is an acorn to a limitlessly massive redwood.

Personally, I like that fact that the authors lay out the options as clearly and without bias as they can and allow us to think for once and study out what we believe as saints. A fine book.

3 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A great help for those willing to admit that the Bible, not our automatic understanding of it, is without error, October 8, 2009

By 

Molly S. Waggoner "mollysidera" (Minneapolis, MN USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Across the Spectrum: Understanding Issues in Evangelical Theology (Paperback)

Overall thoughts:
I use this book as a text for an introductory theology class I teach for a discipleship school. At the beginning of the class I tell my students that one of my main goals in the class is to help us all see that it is possible that the Bible may support views other than the ones we automatically assume it does. It seems that many followers of Jesus assume that the Bible "obviously" teaches the doctrines they happen to have been raised with (or introduced to when they first devoted their lives to Christ). However, the very fact that many of these debates have been raging for so long--among people who are undoubtedly sincere in their faith--must show that there is something to be said for more than one viewpoint. This book helps me to illustrate that fact--that a solid argument can be made, based on Scripture, to support a variety of doctrinal understandings.

I attend a church where people hold to many distinct theological views. We come together, however, in our love for Jesus and our faith in his death and resurrection. We are able to look at one another and say, "I completely disagree with your understanding of , but we can still be united, because we are not saved by our understanding of <said theological doctrine>." It is my goal to help my students get to a place where they can not only say that, but also say, "I understand Scripture differently from you, but I can see how you can love Jesus and believe what you believe, how you can hold to Scripture as your authority but understand it differently than I do. I can at least see where you're coming from." This book is a great help in helping them arrive at that point.

Jesus' prayer was that his followers would be united. He said the world would know we follow him based on our love for one another. This book, I believe, is a wonderful tool in helping us live out the fulfillment of his prayer... but only if we are willing to consider that Scripture might say something we are not used to, or even that we are uncomfortable with. If we are open to that possibility, then we can see in this book how people who uphold the authority of Scripture can come to different conclusions about it and still love Jesus, serve and follow him, and even help usher in his Kingdom.

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A practical note:
I find the book extremely well-written. Boyd and Eddy have a gift for expressing a great depth of information in a very concise and accessible manner. And despite the reviews claiming that it is simply propaganda for a particular viewpoint, I find each view very equally- and well-defended. If you don't know what the authors believe, I think you would be hard-pressed to guess based on the text. It really does allow readers to consider each side and come to their own conclusions.

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A closing thought:
For what it's worth, I also happen to know one of the authors personally, and anyone who feels that Christendom is somehow deteriorating because of people like these men would, I believe, be ashamed of those thoughts if they met him in person. His heart beats with a passionate love for the Lord, and his wisdom and humility are an inspiration to me.

2 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Spectrum, February 15, 2010

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Rhonda Miller - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Across the Spectrum: Understanding Issues in Evangelical Theology (Paperback)

Across the Spectrum is the book I am using for a Theology class and it has been very intense. The thing I like is it gives both pro's and con's, it is not one sided. I would recommend this book to anyone who is looking to dig deeper into Theology.