A Theology for the Church

The beginning was rough, the author citing the works of historic liberal theologians (who by all accounts do not have a faith commitment to Jesus). Because this work is a collection of different authors writing each chapter you do lose some theological and convictional consistency (unlike Wayme Grudem's Systematic Theology). It did get better. Overall this is a good resource for seminary students and pastor-theologians. I would not consider it my primary systematic, but a good one nonetheless.

I enjoyed this Systematic Theology for a couple of reasons:Multiple authors: this allows you to see theology from various perspectives within the general shared scope of beliefs.Chapter Outline: the major divisions of the chapters: intro, Bible, history, how does it all fit together, and application truly help one to understand doctrine more deeply.

I'm going to start off with the bad, and you are probably wonder why I gave this 4 stars.This book has an extreme amount of irrelevant quotes. Like calling Job26:8-14 a "magnificent hymn" or saying that Hegel is the "greatest of the German Idealist". There are many that are like this. There are ones add no extra information and/or are not explained as having anything. It seems to me that the writer is either adding in quotes to make it more impressive or to lend credence to something the author agrees with. Hegel is one of the greatest Idealists there is no need to quote someone to make this point in quoting Livingston. Who most people would be less familiar with then Hegel.This book doesn't do a good job of developing the concepts I think are important. Specifically strengths and weaknesses of the view it s presenting. It will offer views that are in opposition to the one it proposes is correct. It doesn't offer sufficient reasons why these are wrong. The author often just claims that a view is liberal or unbiblical or uses a wrong hermeneutical principle. I understand that the author can't refute every claim that opposes his view, but I do expect that when he brings one up that he should at least try to deal with it.This book has a misleading title. It could have easily been titled "a theology for the Baptist Church" or "Baptist Systematic theology 101" or "Theo101 required reading" or "theology written to be accessible everyone that only theology students will ever read".The last bad thing about this book is that it doesn't offer enough information on theology proper. This is probably the most important section of the book and it felt severely lacking.Now for the good things which overshadow the bad by a lot. This book on the whole is very well written. It is in a format that is accessible by most laypeople while still offering nuggets for nerds like me. I didn't grow up Baptist so some of these ideas new and kind of interesting. I am one of the dirty liberals who reads Pannenberg, Barth, Moltman, Cobb, Just Catherine, and Schleiemacher. But I enjoy reading from conservatives as well as liberals, because neither has the corner on truth.

I have the first edition of this book but wanted the revised one. Has some topics not covered in the first. Each topic written clearly and interestingly.

Well written systematic theology guide with some bias toward Baptist theology and against pentecostal theology. The bias is not completely unwarranted and the book does not force it's theology upon reader.

If you're taking Theo 201 or any other Theo course online. You need this in kindle form. Control find is a life saver

The Book is sectioned well and is intriguing on all the various theological topics discussed!

The book itself is a good book I am learning a lot from it, however, my compliant is that the treads of the book is coming apart already (unbelievable). I have had it for just 3 weeks and have some more weeks of class left and it is going to barely hold up. Mostly books are suppose to be made to last, Not This One. They should have done a better job in sewing it together/ bonding it together. This book will not last long at all very disappointed.

fantastic study book...should be read by everyone into theology.