Christian Theology: An Introduction (4th Edition) [Paperback]

Alister E. McGrath (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: November 13, 2006 | ISBN-10: 1405153601 | ISBN-13: 978-1405153607 | Edition: 4

Alister McGrath’s internationally-acclaimed Christian Theology: An Introduction is one of the most widely used textbooks in Christian theology. Fully revised and featuring lots of new material, this fourth edition provides an unparalleled introduction to 2,000 years of Christian thought.

• A fully revised new edition of the bestselling introductory textbook in Christian theology
  
• Features new sections on monastic schools of theology, the English Reformation, and Radical Orthodoxy
  
• Includes increased discussion of women in the early Church, feminist theology, Eastern Orthodox theology and history, and Catholic teachings on the Doctrine of the Church
  
• Incorporates user-friendly key terms sections, and study questions
  
• Supported by a website at www.blackwellpublishing.com/mcgrath, containing additional lecturer resources.

Editorial Reviews

Review

Of the previous edition

"This book is an extraordinary achievement, a tour de force which will introduce thousands of students to theology as a discipline with a rich heritage, a clear sense of its own methods and norms, and an elusive yet articulate understanding of Christian language." Reviews in Religion and Theology

"This publication is a seminal text for the student or teacher of Christian Theology. Its readability and general presentation make it a very accessible text for those with a general interest in this area of academic endeavour. In essence this is a text which would be a useful and valuable resource for the teacher or student of theology. For school-based practitioners it is a very sound teacher reference text. It contains in one volume a very thorough treatment of the key developments in Christian Theology over the past 2000 years." Religious Education Journal of Australia

new

"This is one of the most user friendly textbooks I have come across drawing attention to important connections between different histories and human attempts to give expression to Christianity. I highly recommend this edition of McGrath's book to anyone looking for a place to begin the study of Christianity as a major World Religion." Dr Isabel Mukonyora, Western Kentucky University

"I have successfully used, over a decade, the earlier editions of McGrath’s strikingly clear and astonishingly comprehensive Introduction in helping students to be historically grounded in classical theological heritage and to engage with its contemporary developments. I consider this fourth edition, more concise and impressively more accessible, as a ‘must’ for theological students and pastors." Prof. Christopher Duraisingh, Episcopal Divinity School, Cambridge, MA

“This revised and expanded edition of a popular textbook has several features geared toward making it an accessible introduction and a useful reference tool. “
Religious Studies Review

From the Back Cover

Alister McGrath’s internationally-acclaimed Christian Theology: An Introduction is one of the most widely used textbooks in Christian theology. Fully revised and featuring lots of new material, this fourth edition provides an unparalleled introduction to 2,000 years of Christian thought.

Key features of this new edition include:

• New sections on monastic schools of theology, the English Reformation, and Radical Orthodoxy
  
• Increased discussion of women in the early Church, feminist theology, Eastern Orthodox theology and history, and Catholic teachings on the Doctrine of the Church
  
• User-friendly key terms sections and study questions.

These changes will ensure that Christian Theology remains the essential textbook, providing an even-handed, comprehensive and lively introduction to the field. The fourth edition is accompanied by a website at www.blackwellpublishing.com/mcgrath, featuring additional lecturer resources.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 568 pages
• Publisher: Wiley-Blackwell; 4 edition (November 13, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1405153601
• ISBN-13: 978-1405153607
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 7.4 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (14 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #365,045 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Alister E. McGrath is a historian, biochemist, and Christian theologian born in Belfast, Northern Ireland. A longtime professor at Oxford University, he now holds the chair in theology, ministry, and education at the University of London. He is the author of several books on theology and history, including Christianity's Dangerous Idea, In the Beginning, and The Twilight of Atheism. He lives in Oxford, England, and lectures regularly in the United States.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A Broad Sweep of Christian Theology, July 25, 2009

By 

C. Stephans - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Christian Theology: An Introduction (4th Edition) (Paperback)

McGrath's introduction to Christian theolgy provides a broad look at the subject. His intention is to introduce readers to Christian theology by covering all the areas of it enough to give a basic understanding. He writes for the audience that does not necessarily have any background in theology and is reading on the matter for the first time. In fact, he states that he assumes his readers "know nothing about Christian theology." Therefore, he introduces topics carefully and clearly and focuses on essentials to understanding. He admits that more sophisticated readers will be frustrated with his simplicity.

While admitting that space will not allow room to discuss every theological development, movement or theologian, McGrath does include a full range of topics and tries to include various diverse sources.

McGrath includes a history of theology in the church begining with the early church and continuing to contemporary thought. This also serves as a primer on church history. He also includes a broad section on the sources of theology and the process of doing theology. I think the main thrust of the book is the theology of specific topics such as the doctrines of God, Trinity, Christ, Faith, Salvation, Human Nature, Church, Sacraments and Last Things.

McGrath, himself an orthodox Anglican, includes views of theologians that range from liberals,(Bultmann, Tillich, Macfague, Schliermacher), reformers (Calvin, Luther, Zwingli), Patristics (Origen, Athanasius, Irenaeus, Augustine), to contemporary orthodox theologians (Barth, Moltmann, McGrath). He also frequently discusses rationalist views of the enlightenment and their effect on theology.

The simple, broad approach to theology serves to effectively introdcue readers to the many areas of theology. I found the writing helpful, even though it is probably too broad and not deep enough to satisfy many readers with some experience in the topic; however, I also think even the most sophisticated readers will find new and helpful information and insights due to the breadth of the writing. I think he gave too much space to liberal and rationalist theologians rather than giving the space to the Patristics, Reformers or traditional Christian theologians.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Better than the other editions, December 1, 2009

By 

N. San (West Covina, CA USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Christian Theology: An Introduction (4th Edition) (Paperback)

I had the 2nd and 3rd edition and I found the 4th to be the best thus far. It was easier to use because the sections were not set in the 1.2, 1.3,1.4 ... format. Instead, it was done by subject and the way it was written made it a much easier read. I would recommend this book as a good starting point for various theological terms and concepts that may be new. McGrath does a great job in bringing deep concepts to the layperson and those that are seeking deeper concepts at an easy to read and understandable fashion.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Extraordinary Theological Resource, November 3, 2009

By 

Johnathan Perez "Pastor" (Puerto Rico) - See all my reviews
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Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Christian Theology: An Introduction (4th Edition) (Paperback)

This is one of the most needed theological resources to those who wants to learn about the development of the Christian Theology in a deeper way. Alister McGrath is a practical and profound teacher in this subject and he treats this theme with a magisterial and spiritual touch. This is a MOST have it resource.