Is Jesus the Only Savior? [Paperback]

James R. Edwards (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: June 2005

In this timely book for believers, inquirers, and skeptics alike, James R. Edwards faces head-on the question of whether or not Jesus is indeed the sole savior of the world. After tracing the currents of modernity from the Enlightenment to the Jesus Seminar, Edwards contends that the assumptions of the most skeptical historical-Jesus scholars are no more intellectually defensible than the claims of faith. He then assembles extensive support to show that Jesus considered himself the unique and saving mission of God to the world. Edwards devotes the second half of the book to discussing Jesus as savior in light of contemporary cultural currents, specifically addressing the thorny issues of religious pluralism, moral relativism, postmodernism, and the quest for world peace. Illustrated with real-life stories, Is Jesus the Only Savior? gives a fair hearing to twenty-first-century concerns while upholding historic Christian faith.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

James R. Edwards is professor of biblical languages and literature at Whitworth College, Spokane, Washington. He is also an ordained minister in the Presbyterian Church (USA) and a contributing editor of "Christianity Today."

Product Details

• Paperback: 250 pages
• Publisher: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Company (June 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0802809812
• ISBN-13: 978-0802809810
• Product Dimensions: 8.8 x 5.9 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 15.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (12 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #367,925 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

65 of 72 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars One of the best books on the subject, September 2, 2005

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theologicalresearcher "theologicalresearcher" (Canada) - See all my reviews

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This review is from: Is Jesus the Only Savior? (Paperback)

It seems to be a popular fad these days among many professing Christians to downplay the particularity of Jesus Christ as the Lord and Saviour of the world. In this book, Edwards does a very good job demonstrating that what is fashionable may not always be true and biblical. The book you can say is divided into two main sections. In the first part (chaps. 1-6) Edwards talks about the legitimacy of the orthodox Christian view of Jesus Christ. He delves into the Jesus Quests, the Jesus Seminar, the historic reliability of the New Testament documents, Jesus' self-identification, etc. In all these dicussions, Edwards does a good job exposing the various flaws of liberal and anti-Christian perspectives on these matters (demonstrating how the Enlightenment's heightening of the individual and a naturalistic view of the universe has severely skewed how one reads the biblical narrative). In fact, students who are interested in the methodology of finding out who Jesus really is from an evangelical and conservative perspective will enjoy reading the first six chapters. All in all, Edwards pretty much smashes the presuppositions and arguments of the liberal school that aims to deconstruct the historical Jesus Christ (the God-man) and orthodox Christianity through a worldview that is foreign to the biblical period.

The second part (chaps. 7-12) deals more intensely with soteriological pluralism. Edwards does an excellent job smashing down the often ridiculous accusations laid against a particularistic understanding of the gospel. For instance, he does a good job showing how orthodox Christianity does not undermine world peace but aims at reconciliation with the whole world because of the nature of the gospel (cf. Matthew 5:9). He also provides a good treatment regarding the relationship between the gospel and postmodernism (chap. 9). He does a good job exposing the flaws of a postmodern worldview (i.e., that there are no such things as universal truths and that every opinion has legitimacy--which is a joke to any rational mind). Edwards' commitment to the particularity of Jesus Christ comes out strong in chapter 11 ("How Should Christians Think about Other Religions?"). He gives ample Scriptural evidence that the Bible supports only one way to heaven--through Jesus Christ. In fact, Edwards is even bold enough to proclaim that Judaism has no saving efficacy apart from Jesus Christ and that we cannot automatically assume that some people who have never heard the gospel will be saved. In a final note, Edwards convincingly argues that the particularity of the gospel leads to its own universality. If God did not come down in a particular place and time then there would have been no possibility of redemption for the whole world.

Overall, this is an excellent book. The one thing that is refreshing to know is that this book was written by a New Testament biblical scholar rather than a Christian theologian or philosopher. Hence, you will notice throughout the book that Edwards quotes Scripture to back up his arguments. Though many modern scholars are willing to rebel against Scripture because they feel that this leads to hostility and dogmatism Edwards does not fall into this futile path. Modern Christians should realize that ONLY in Jesus Christ are people saved from eternal perdition and that Christianity does not have to cater to certain disenfranchised groups because they complain that orthodox Christianity is too exclusivistic (which is quite the oppposite, read Galatians 3:28), morally-upright (which is no surprise, since some people in this world still want to live a sinful lifestyle), and sexist (which, if understood properly, is not).

40 of 47 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Yes, and it is said so well., December 11, 2005

By 

John B. Hoehn (Walla Walla, WA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Is Jesus the Only Savior? (Paperback)

James Edwards asks the question in the book's title (Is Jesus the ONLY Savior?) and the answer is Yes.

But it is not the Yes of a demagogue, a hermit, or an
American evangelist. Is is the Yes of a student, a scholar, an intellectual, and a world citizen.

It is a measured Yes, a thoughtful Yes, a reasoned Yes.

The book answers the objections to the uniqueness, the non-equivalance, of Jesus to other religious thought leaders.

It is written for anyone curious about Jesus, and that covers all kinds of belief and non belief. If you want a clear exposition of why some find him unique and not merely one of many, this book makes it clear.

If you are already convinced, it may help you present your convictions with kindness and generosity.

It was bracing and satisfying to read, the best spiritual read of the year. I'm sending copies to thoughtful people I love.

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Timely and Necessary, December 16, 2006

By 

Daniel E. Sullivan (Chicagoland) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Is Jesus the Only Savior? (Paperback)

James Edwards has written a timely and necessary book that deserves a great deal of attention from a broad Christian community. At issue is the drift in our culture toward a type of multiculturalism which causes Christian and non-Christian alike to question whether Christ can or should be spoken of as the "only" savior.

Edwards looks, in the early chapters, on the various forms of the "quest for the historical Jesus" up to and including the historically recent conclusions of the "Jesus Seminar". As is common in many fields, some theological excursions into the quest for the Jesus of history were fully indebted to naturalism, the view that all things can and should be explained in purely natural terms. Edwards calmly and clearly asks whether such assumptions are warranted and finds the resulting conclusions wanting.

He takes the question further showing that there is a great deal of reason to trust the historical reliability of the New Testament with easy to read, cogent arguments and a judicious choice of compelling evidence. Having established the reasonableness of trusting the New Testament, he tackles the central issue - did Jesus believe himself to be God.

What is unique about the book is that it is not a mere apologetic for the historicity of the Christian faith. Edwards, having established the reasonable foundation, moves from the key questions of the 20th century in the first half of the book to the key questions of the 21st century in the second half. Postmodern theories and multicultural sentiments lead many to believe that the exclusive claims of Christianity are unwarranted, arrogant, and perhaps even a threat to world peace. Without disparaging anyone in the process, Edwards carefully deals with questions about postmodernism and exclusive truth claims, relativism and its relation to human sin, the clash of cultures and its relation to the tendency of many Christians today to embrace universalism rather than the historic view of the uniqueness of Christ.

This book hits all the critical issues at an important time. It is sholarly enough to have credibility, but readable enough for lay study. It would be a great gift for college bound kids at graduation. Highly recommended.