What is Christian doctrine? The fourteen specially commissioned essays in this book serve to give an answer to many aspects of that question. Written by leading theologians from America and Britain, the essays place doctrine in its setting - what it has been historically, and how it relates to other forms of culture - and outline central features of its content. They attempt to answer questions such as 'what has, and does, Christian doctrine teach about God, the creation, the human condition and human behaviour?' and 'what is the part played in Christian doctrine by the Trinity, Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit?' New readers will find this an accessible and stimulating introduction to the main themes of Christian doctrine, while advanced students will find a useful summary of recent developments which demonstrates the variety, coherence and intellectual vitality of contemporary Christian thought.
Notes on contributors; Preface; Glossary; Chronology; Part I. Christian Doctrine in the Late Twentieth Century: the Historical and Intellectual Context: 1. Historical and systematic theology Colin Gunton; 2. On doctrine and ethics Stanley Hauerwas; 3. The basis and authority of doctrine Gerard Loughlin; 4. The scope of hermeneutics Francis Watson; 5. Christ and the cultures: the Jewish people and Christian theology Bruce Marshall; 6. Christ and the cultures: Christianity and the arts Jeremy Begbie; Part II. The Content of Christian Doctrine: 7. The triune God Ralph Del Colle; 8. The doctrine of creation Colin Gunton; 9. Human being, individual and social Kevin Vanhoozer; 10. Redemption and fall Trevor Hart; 11. The church and the sacraments Robert W. Jenson; 12. Eschatology David Fergusson; 13. Jesus Christ Kathryn Tanner; The Holy Spirit Geoffrey Wainwright; Index.
