Systematic Theology, Vol. 3: Witness [Paperback]

James William McClendon Jr. (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: December 2000

Ethics, the first volume of McClendon’s Systematic Theology, explored the shape of life in the Christian community. Doctrine, the second volume, investigated the teaching necessary to sustain that life. Witness, the third and final volume of the work, considers the wider context in which that life takes place. It asserts that the church’s identity is established not only by how it lives and what it teaches but also by how it enters into conversation and connects with systems of thought and social structures outside itself. McClendon continues here his exploration of “the baptist vision,” a tradition of the church’s understanding of itself, its relation to Scripture, and its place in the larger society, which flows from the Radical Reformation of the 16th century. He employs that vision to engage in conversation with three principal partners: other theologies; current philosophy; and culture, including science and letters, the fine and performing arts, and politics—in short, what Scripture calls “the world.”

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

James Wm. McClendon, Jr. was Distinguished Scholar in Residence, Fuller Theological Seminary, Pasadena, California. He passed away in October of 2000.

Product Details

• Paperback: 368 pages
• Publisher: Abingdon Press (December 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0687098238
• ISBN-13: 978-0687098231
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.5 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,071,949 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Baptistic theology of witness, February 3, 2004

By A Customer

This review is from: Systematic Theology, Vol. 3: Witness (Paperback)

How does one adequately sum up this last volume in McClendon's excellent work? If the author advised us to read slowly it must give anyone pause who would review such a work. However, I can only say that our world is certainly diminished by the loss of such voices as Yoder and McClendon, they are irreplacable.

In this volume McClendon makes an elegant and challenging case for the difference baptist life makes in the world. Particular high points in this volume are the chapters on jazz, Wittgenstein, and the retrospective chapter on the practice of the univeristy.

It is crucial, particularly for those who find themselves in the baptist tradition (broadly defined)to listen to McClendon's perspective. Without listening to a voice like McClendon's it seems clear that this theological tradition will become less true to itself and more confused by the winds that are currently blowing in the church and world. For those outside baptists (this broad, third way non-violent Christianity) one must listen to McClendon to hear the distinctively ecumenical voice of small "c" catholicity that he and John Howard Yoder sought to propound.

It would be difficult indeed to read this rich book and still believe that this is the final act of some sort of irresponsible world-denying sectarian theology. (Let us hope that this work might finally lay to rest that ever so tired and lazy charge laid against this tradition!) McClendon succeeds admirably in the task he has set for himself by writing a theology that is probing and elegantly welcomes the reader into the multi-faceted peaceful purposes of God. The author will be sorely missed even though the written works remain.