The Faith of the Christian Church: An Introduction to Theology
Digital Verbum Edition
Overview
Tyron Inbody has taught the basics of Christian theology for more than twenty-five years. Having seen over the years what issues and questions his students bring to class, he now offers this engaging, accessible introduction to all the major beliefs of the Christian faith.
Meant especially but not exclusively for readers new to theology, Inbody’s Faith of the Christian Church covers twelve traditional areas of Christian teaching: theology, revelation, faith, God, creation, suffering and evil, humankind, Jesus Christ, salvation, church, sacraments, and the end times. Inbody also dives into provocative topics not usually treated in introductory texts -- creationism, the devil, miracles, the virgin birth, and more.
The book’s broad-ranging perspective, which intentionally defies labels, commends it to individuals and small groups from many church traditions. Quote boxes and illustrations drawn from popular culture make the text visually interesting and enjoyable to read.
Inbody does not hide his own stance on issues but presents a full range of interpretations and openly points readers to other possibilities they can pursue. The Faith of the Christian Church offers just enough questions to provoke reflection and just enough answers to encourage readers to form their own grasp on the Christian faith.
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- Offers this engaging, accessible introduction to all the major beliefs of the Christian faith.
- Covers twelve traditional areas of Christian teaching.
- Dives into provocative topics not usually treated in introductory texts.
- Preface
- Chapter One: Thinking about Faith
- I. The Faith of the Christian Church
- II. Why Complicate Things? Some Preliminary Questions about Theology
- III. Making Sense of Faith: The Task of Theology
- IV. The Limits of Theology
- V. Modes of Thinking Theologically
- Chapter Two: Resources for Thinking about Faith
- I. The Question of Authority in Theology
- II. The Primacy of Scripture
- III. Shaped by Tradition and Traditioning
- IV. Reasoning Faith
- V. Confirmed by Experience
- Chapter Three: Revelation and Faith
- I. The Idea of Revelation in Recent Thought
- II. General Revelation
- III. Special Revelation
- IV. Elemental Faith and Saving Faith
- V. The Faith of the Church
- Chapter Four: Faith in God
- I. Awareness of God
- II. God in the Bible
- III. The Theistic Concept of God
- IV. Dialectical Theism
- V. The Triune God
- Chapter Five: Faith and the Natural World
- I. Scripture and Creation
- II. Creation and the Question of Origins: Creatio ex Nihilo
- III. Six Days or Forever? Creation and Evolution
- IV. Continuing Creation and Divine Providence: Creatio Continua
- V. Miracle and Prayer
- Chapter Six: The Threat to Faith
- I. How Long, O Lord? Suffering and Evil
- II. We Deserve What We Get: A Theistic Explanation of Suffering and Evil
- III. The Devil, the Demons, and the Demonic
- IV. Why Doesn’t God Do Something? Creation, Tragic Structure, and the Will of God
- V. God with Us: God and Human Suffering
- Chapter Seven: The Lack of Faith
- I. The Image of God
- II. Sin and Original Sin
- III. Becoming Children of God: Developments within the Classical Tradition
- IV. Beyond the Tradition: Shame and Han
- V. Redeemed Humanity
- Chapter Eight: Faith in Jesus Christ
- I. The Ministry of Jesus of Nazareth
- II. The Birth and Death of Jesus
- III. The Resurrection of Jesus
- IV. Jesus the Christ
- V. Jesus Christ Liberator
- Chapter Nine: Saving Faith
- I. “He Was Crucified, Dead, and Buried”: The Cross and Atonement
- II. Cross Purposes: Interpreting the Atonement
- III. Amazing Grace: The Christian Idea of Salvation
- IV. “You Are Accepted”: Justification
- V. “Be Perfect, Therefore”: Sanctification
- Chapter Ten: The Community of Faith
- I. “The Lord and Giver of Life”: The Holy Spirit and the Christian Life
- II. “In Used Pots and Pans” (2 Cor. 4:7; 1 Cor. 4:13): The Identity of the Church
- III. “One, Holy, Catholic, and Apostolic”: The Marks of the Church
- IV. Our Ministry of Reconciliation (2 Cor. 5:18): The Mission of the Church
- V. “The Gifts He Gave . . . for the Work of Ministry” (Eph. 4:11): The Ministry of the Church
- Chapter Eleven: Initiating and Maintaining Faith
- I. “Every Common Bush Afire with God”: Worship in a Sacramental Universe
- II. Christian Sacraments
- III. The Sacrament of Initiation into the Christian Life: Baptism
- IV. The Sacrament of Maintenance of the Christian Life: Eucharist
- V. FAQs
- Chapter Twelve: The Fulfillment of Faith
- I. What Can Christians Hope For? Eschatology and Apocalypticism
- II. What Is the Goal of History?
- III. Dying We Live: Do We Survive Our Death?
- IV. What Are God’s Ultimate Purposes?
- V. Is Jesus the Only Way to God?
- Glossary
- Index
Students frequently arrive at seminary with deep faith commitments but often with a alack of knowledge of the Christian tradition and theology. Inbody’s succinct survey of theology goes a long way in providing students with the background knowledge necessary to engage in theological reflections.
—Reviews in Religion & Theology
As a first introduction to a wide range of topics, something to provide students with a framework . . . , it is a very good little book. I will certainly be recommending it to students new to the study of theology.
—International Journal of Systematic Theology
This book can be recommended to a broad range of readers. Requiring very little previous acquaintance with Christian thought or the intellectual history of the West, it formulates Christian teaching in an attractive and convincing fashion in terms that are acceptable to a wide variety of believers.
—John B. Cobb Jr.