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theology
An Authentically Evangelical Theology with the Gospel as Its Center
Evangelical Theology is a systematic theology written from the perspective of a biblical scholar. Michael F. Bird contends that the
center, unity, and boundary of the evangelical faith is the evangel, as opposed to things like justification by faith or inerrancy. The
evangel or gospel is the unifying thread in evangelical theology and the theological hermeneutic through which the various loci of
theology need to be understood.
Using the gospel as a theological leitmotif—an approach to Christian doctrine that begins with the gospel and sees each locus
through the lens of the gospel—this text presents an authentically evangelical theology, as opposed to a traditional systematic
theology written by an evangelical theologian.
According to the author, theology is the drama of gospelizing—performing and living out the gospel in the theatre of Christian
life. The text features tables, sidebars, and questions for discussion. The end of every part includes a “What to Take Home” section
that gives students a rundown on what they need to know. And since reading theology can often be dry and cerebral, the author
applies his unique sense of humor in occasional “Comic Belief ” sections so that students may enjoy their learning experience
through some theological humor added for good measure.
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Contents
Preface: “Without the Gospel” (John Calvin)
Why an Evangelical Theology?
Part 1: Prolegomena—Beginning to Talk about God
1.1 What Is Theology?
1.2 What Do You Have to Say before You Say Anything?
1.3 What Is the Gospel?
1.4 The Necessity and Goal of Theology
1.5 Is Theology Possible?
1.6 Sources for Theology
1.7 Toward a Gospel-Driven Theological Method
1.8 A Final Word
Part 2: The God of the Gospel—The Triune God in Being and Action
2.1 God and the Gospel
2.2 Getting an Affinity for the Trinity
2.3 What Is God Like?
2.4 The God Who Creates
2.5 The God Who Reveals Himself
2.6 God’s Purpose and Plan
Part 3: The Gospel of the Kingdom—The Now and the Not Yet
3.1 Gospel and Kingdom
3.2 Apocalypse Now … and Not Yet!
3.3 The Return of Jesus Christ
3.4 Millennium and Tribulation
3.5 The Final Judgment
3.6 The Intermediate State: What Happens When You Die?
3.7 The Final State: Heaven, Hell, and New Creation
Part 4: The Gospel of God’s Son—The Lord Jesus Christ
4.1 The Gospel of God’s Son
4.2 Christological Method
4.3 The Life of Jesus
4.4 The Death of Jesus
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4.5 The Resurrection of Jesus
4.6 The Ascension and Session of Jesus
4.7 The Story of Jesus and the Identity of God
Part 5: The Gospel of Salvation
5.1 Saved by the Gospel
5.2 Redemptive History: The Plan for the Gospel
5.3 Order of Salvation: The Logical Working of the Gospel
5.4 Images of Salvation: The Result of the Gospel
5.5 Scope and Security: How Wide and How Certain a Salvation?
Part 6: The Promise and Power of the Gospel—The Holy Spirit
6.1 God’s Spirit: The Breath of the Gospel
6.2 Person of the Holy Spirit
6.3 Work of the Holy Spirit
Part 7: The Gospel and Humanity
7.1 Sons and Daughters of the King
7.2 Image of God
7.3 What Is Humanity? The Human Constitution
7.4 What Is the Problem with Humanity?
7.5 The Odyssey of Theodicy
Part 8: The Community of the Gospelized
8.1 The Evangelical Church
8.2 Biblical Images of the Church
8.3 The Shape of the Church
8.4 The Marks of the Church
8.5 Governance of the Church
8.6 Emblems of the Gospel: Baptism and Lord’s Supper
Epilogue: Urgent Tasks for Evangelical Theology in the 21st Century
Bibliography
Scripture Index
Subject Index
Author Index
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