Handbook of Evangelical Theology: A Historical, Biblical, and Contemporary Survey and Review

by Robert Lightner

Publisher:

Kregel

, 1995

Overview

Covering nine major doctrines of the Christian faith, Dr. Lightner provides a historical perspective on each topic, a positive statement of the areas of agreement among evangelicals, and a discussion of the different positions held by evangelicals. Practical suggestions and study questions for applying the doctrine to the daily issues of Christian living are also included at the end of each chapter. Lightner's balanced and evenhanded treatment of various theological positions and the breadth of coverage of beliefs among various evangelical groups make this one volume a helpful and reliable resource for doctrinal study.

Contents

Top Highlights

“For Christ the Son of God to be Lord of the life of the child of God there must be surrender and obedience to his lordship. But how is this done? If Christ’s lordship is to be a reality, obedience to the inscripturated Word of God is indispensable. No amount of church attendance, Christian stewardship, prayer, Bible reading, or any other Christian responsibilities of themselves will accomplish the goal. Only as the child of God knows, loves, and obeys the written Word of God will the Son of God be Lord of life.” (Page 98)

“The postapostolic fathers were not theologians, nor did they pretend to be. Their chief concern was to promote a close personal walk with Christ. These men wrote devotional literature, not theological treatises. In their writings Christ stands out as both divine and human. No attempt was made to explain how one person could be both Son of man and Son of God at the same time.” (Page 66)

“In the first place, of the three passages that list the gifts of the Spirit—Romans 12; 1 Corinthians 12; Ephesians 4—only 1 Corinthians includes tongues in the list. This is significant because 1 Corinthians was written before the other two books, which may imply that tongues had ceased before Romans and Ephesians were written.” (Page 125)

“Apart from God the Father there would have been no plan of salvation. Without God the Son there would have been no provision for salvation. Apart from the work of God the Spirit there would be no application of this great salvation to man’s needs.” (Page 196)

“So it is not Christ’s substitutionary atonement plus faith in Christ that provides the basis for acceptance with God. Christ’s work alone saves; but unless his person and work are received by faith, no benefit comes to the individual sinner.” (Page 201)

Praise for the Print Edition

No other treatment of theology in the present era does exactly what Lightner accomplishes in the comparison and analysis of theological differences.… His work is always done evenhandedly, with an irenic spirit and remarkable comprehensiveness.

—Bibliotheca Sacra

An immensely useful study text and reference work for anyone with a serious interest in evangelical Christian theology.

—Alliance Life

Product Details

• Title: Handbook of Evangelical Theology: A Historical, Biblical, and Contemporary Survey and Review
• Author: Robert P. Lightner
• Publisher: Kregel
• Publication Date: 1995
• Pages: 312

About Robert Lightner

Dr. Robert Lightner joined the Dallas Seminary faculty in 1968 after teaching for seven years at Baptist Bible College/Seminary in Johnson City, New York, and also teaches at the Seminary’s extension sites. A professor of all the doctrines of Systematic Theology, Dr. Lightner has authored twenty-three books, most of which are about these doctrines. Since the 1950s he has helped struggling churches and/or ones seeking a pastor by serving as interim pastor thirty-three times at twenty-four churches in Pennsylvania, New York, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Louisiana, and Texas. His overseas ministries include work in Venezuela, Peru, Paraguay, and London (Spurgeon’s Tabernacle).