Survivor's Guide to Theology

by M. James Sawyer

Publisher:

Zondervan

, 2006

Overview

This introduction to theology provides students with a complete overview of theology. Its three sections bring together information that is usually scattered over many volumes. The first section looks at what theology is, while the second offers an overview of the many theological systems, past and present. The last part is a quick-reference theological fact-finder, providing definitions of theological terms and brief biographies of major theologians.

Key Features

• Provides a thorough introduction to theology
• Includes an appendix and names and subject indexes
• Contains a comprehensive list of bibliographic resources for studying theology

Contents

• Who Needs Theology Anyway?
• On Being a Theologian
  • The Theologian’s Contradictory Job Description
  • How Do We Know? Epistemology, History, and Truth
  • Sources and Authority in Theology
  • Doctrinal Taxonomy: Are All Doctrines of Equal Importance?
  • Hardening of the Categories: Why Theologians Have Opposed “New Knowledge”
  • The Divisions of Theological Study
• Theological Systems
  • Orthodoxy
  • Roman Catholicism
  • Lutheranism
  • Reformed Theology (Calvinism)
  • Wesleyan-Arminian Theology
  • Dispensationalism
  • Liberalism
  • Neoorthodoxy
  • Liberation Theology
• Significant People and Terms
  • Biographical Sketches of Major Theologians and Philosophers
  • A Brief Dictionary of Theological and Philosophical Terms

Top Highlights

“The word theology is a compound of two Greek terms: θεός (theos, ‘God’) and λόγος (logos, ‘word, statement, discourse, a line of argument’). Therefore, in simple terms, a theologian is someone who knows about or speaks about God, and theology is what is thought or said about God.” (Page 17)

“To extend our analogy a step further, our theology should have not only a functional structure but also a beauty and attractiveness that reflects the beauty of God, who is himself the source of beauty.” (Page 19)

“Whenever we think about God, we are involved with theology. The question therefore is not whether we will be theologians—we have no choice in the matter. Rather, the question is what kind of theologians we will be—good or bad, responsible or irresponsible.” (Page 17)

“We need to understand the true nature of orthodoxy. Orthodoxy involves right belief, but that belief is not static, since God has revealed untold amounts of truth to us. We must start with the faith once delivered to the saints and then incorporate progressively discovered truth into that underlying faith. Orthodoxy should be growing and progressing, open to correction and growth, not static, defensive, and dead.” (Page 12)

“The three aspects of the theologian’s job are guardian of truth, scientist, and contextualizer.” (Page 27)

Product Details

• Title: The Survivor’s Guide to Theology
• Author: M. James Sawyer
• Publisher: Zondervan
• Print Publication Date: 2006
• Logos Release Date: 2013
• Pages: 640
• Language: English
• Resources: 1
• Format: Digital › Logos Research Edition
• Subject: Theology, doctrinal › Popular works
• Resource ID: LLS:SRVVRSGDTH
• Resource Type: Monograph
• Metadata Last Updated: 2022-02-12T06:09:25Z

About M. James Sawyer

M. James Sawyer has taught theology, church history, and historical theology for nearly 25 years. He currently serves as Professor of Theology and Church History at Pacific Islands Evangelical Seminary, and as a director of ‘Sacred Saga’ ministries.