Evangelical Theology

by Michael F. Bird

Publisher:

Zondervan

, 2013

Overview

Evangelical Theology is a systematic theology written from the perspective of a biblical scholar. Michael F. Bird contends that the center, unity, and boundary of the evangelical faith is the evangel, or gospel, as opposed to things like justification by faith or inerrancy. The evangel is the unifying thread in evangelical theology and the theological hermeneutic through which the various loci of theology need to be understood.

According to Bird, theology is the drama of gospelizing—performing and living out the gospel in the theater of Christian life. Using the gospel as a lens to examine Christian doctrine, this text presents an authentically evangelical theology, as opposed to an ordinary systematic theology written by an evangelical theologian. The text features tables, sidebars, and questions for discussion. The end of every part includes a “What to Take Home” section that gives students a run-down on what they need to know. And since reading theology can often be dry and cerebral, the author applies his unique sense of humor in occasional “Comic Belief” sections so that students may enjoy their learning experience through some theological humor added for good measure.

Key Features

• Systematic theological approach to Christian doctrine
• Strong emphasis on the supremacy of Scripture and the gospel
• “Comic Belief” sections to keep your theological reading interesting

Contents

• Prolegomena: Beginning to Talk about God
• The God of the Gospel: The Triune God in Being and Action
• The Gospel of the Kingdom: The Now and the Not Yet
• The Gospel of God’s Son: The Lord Jesus Christ
• The Gospel of Salvation
• The Promise and Power of the Gospel: The Holy Spirit
• The Gospel and Humanity
• The Community of the Gospelized

Top Highlights

“1. Theology is necessary to provide clarification and unity to the diverse body of biblical materials.” (Page 55)

“When I refer to experience as a source of theology, I mean the acquisition of knowledge and relational intimacy through an encounter with the living God. I want to advocate that our encounter with God in prayer, worship, sacraments, Scripture, mission, and Christian fellowship provides a genuine source for theology.” (Page 72)

“The key Reformation contribution to the subject of theological prolegomena was the assertion that theology should commence with a description of the mode of God’s self-communication of himself to his creatures.” (Page 33)

“It is my contention that an evangelical theology should proceed by taking into account four primary sources of authority: Scripture, tradition, nature, and experience.” (Page 62)

“However, an evangelical theology should take into account not only the propositional content of what God says in Scripture, but also how God has revealed himself in Scripture. In other words, the content and genre of revelation are equally important in our analysis of the divine revelation.” (Pages 79–80)

Product Details

• Title: Evangelical Theology: A Biblical and Systematic Introduction
• Author: Michael F. Bird
• Publisher: Zondervan
• Print Publication Date: 2013
• Logos Release Date: 2013
• Pages: 912
• Era: era:modern
• Language: English
• Resources: 1
• Format: Digital › Logos Research Edition
• Subjects: Evangelicalism; Theology, doctrinal
• ISBNs: 9780310494430, 0310494435
• Resource ID: LLS:VNGLCLTHLGY
• Resource Type: Systematic Theology
• Metadata Last Updated: 2022-10-05T15:19:16Z

About Michael F. Bird

Michael F. Bird is lecturer in theology at Ridley Melbourne College of Mission and Ministry. He is the author of several books, including Jesus and the Origins of the Gentile Mission, The Saving Righteousness of God, and with James Crossley, How Did Christianity Begin?