Christian Theology: The Basics

189 Pages·2015·1.309 MB·English

by  Murray Rae

CHRISTIAN THEOLOGY
THE BASICS
Christian Theology: The Basics is a concise introduction to the nature,
questions and central concerns of theology – the study of God
within the Christian tradition. Providing a broad overview of the
story that Christianity tells us about our human situation before
God, this book will also seek to provide encouragement and a solid
foundation for the reader’s further explorations within the subject.
With debates surrounding the relation between faith and reason in
theology, the book opens with a consideration of the basis of
theology and goes on to explore key topics including:
(cid:1) The identity of Jesus and debates in Christology
(cid:1) The role of the Bible in shaping theological inquiry
(cid:1) The centrality of the Trinity for all forms of Christian thinking
(cid:1) The promise of salvation and how it is achieved.
With suggestions for further reading at the end of each chapter,
along with a glossary, Christian Theology: The Basics is the ideal
starting point for those new to the study of theology.
Murray Rae is Professor of Theology at the University of Otago,
New Zealand.
The Basics
ACTING ECONOMICS(THIRDEDITION)
BELLAMERLIN TONYCLEAVER
AMERICANPHILOSOPHY EDUCATION
NANCYSTANLICK KAYWOOD
ANCIENTNEAREAST ENERGY
DANIELC.SNELL MICHAELSCHOBERT
ANTHROPOLOGY EUROPEANUNION(SECONDEDITION)
PETERMETCALF ALEXWARLEIGH-LACK
ARCHAEOLOGY(SECONDEDITION) EVOLUTION
CLIVEGAMBLE SHERRIELYONS
ARTHISTORY FILMSTUDIES(SECONDEDITION)
GRANTPOOKEAND AMYVILLAREJO
DIANANEWALL
FINANCE(SECONDEDITION)
ARTIFICIALINTELLIGENCE ERIKBANKS
KEVINWARWICK
FREEWILL
THEBIBLE MEGHANGRIFFITH
JOHNBARTON
GENDER
BIOETHICS HILARYLIPS
ALASTAIRV.CAMPBELL
GLOBALMIGRATION
BUDDHISM BERNADETTEHANLON
CATHYCANTWELL ANDTHOMASVICINIO
THECITY HUMANGENETICS
KEVINARCHER RICKILEWIS
CONTEMPORARYLITERATURE HUMANGEOGRAPHY
SUMANGUPTA ANDREWJONES
CRIMINALLAW INTERNATIONALRELATIONS
JONATHANHERRING PETERSUTCHANDJUANITAELIAS
CRIMINOLOGY(SECONDEDITION) ISLAM(SECONDEDITION)
SANDRAWALKLATE COLINTURNER
DANCESTUDIES JOURNALISMSTUDIES
JOBUTTERWORTH MARTINCONBOY
EASTERNPHILOSOPHY JUDAISM
VICTORIAS.HARRISON JACOBNEUSNER
LANGUAGE(SECONDEDITION) RELIGION(SECONDEDITION)
R.L.TRASK MALORYNYE
LAW RELIGIONANDSCIENCE
GARYSLAPPERANDDAVIDKELLY PHILIPCLAYTON
LITERARYTHEORY(THIRDEDITION) RESEARCHMETHODS
HANSBERTENS NICHOLASWALLIMAN
LOGIC ROMANCATHOLICISM
JCBEALL MICHAELWALSH
MANAGEMENT SEMIOTICS(SECONDEDITION)
MORGENWITZEL DANIELCHANDLER
MARKETING(SECONDEDITION) SHAKESPEARE(THIRDEDITION)
KARLMOOREANDNIKETHPAREEK SEANMCEVOY
MEDIASTUDIES SOCIALWORK
JULIANMCDOUGALL MARKDOEL
METAPHYSICS SOCIOLOGY
MICHAELREA KENPLUMMER
THEOLYMPICS SPECIALEDUCATIONALNEEDS
ANDYMIAHANDBEATRIZGARCIA JANICEWEARMOUTH
PHILOSOPHY(FIFTHEDITION) SUBCULTURES
NIGELWARBURTON ROSSHAENFLER
PHYSICALGEOGRAPHY SUSTAINABILITY
JOSEPHHOLDEN PETERJACQUES
POETRY(SECONDEDITION) TELEVISIONSTUDIES
JEFFREYWAINWRIGHT TOBYMILLER
POLITICS(FIFTHEDITION) TERRORISM
STEPHENTANSEYANDNIGELJACKSON JAMESLUTZANDBRENDALUTZ
PUBLICRELATIONS THEATRESTUDIES(SECONDEDITION)
RONSMITH ROBERTLEACH
THEQUR’AN WOMEN’SSTUDIES
MASSIMOCAMPANINI BONNIESMITH
RACEANDETHNICITY WORLDHISTORY
PETERKIVISTOANDPAULR.CROLL PETERN.STEARNS
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CHRISTIAN THEOLOGY
THE BASICS
Murray Rae
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Firstpublished2015
byRoutledge
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LibraryofCongressCataloginginPublicationData
Rae,Murray.
Christiantheology:thebasics/MurrayRae.--1[edition].
pagescm.--(Thebasics)
Includesbibliographicalreferencesandindex.
1.Theology,Doctrinal--Popularworks.2.Theology.I.Title.
BT77.R252015
230--dc23
2014037953
ISBN:978-0-415-81495-9(hbk)
ISBN:978-0-415-81494-2(pbk)
ISBN:978-1-315-73026-4(ebk)
TypesetinBembo
byTaylor&FrancisBooks
CONTENTS
Preface viii
1 Speaking of God 1
2 Creation and Covenant 23
3 Jesus and the Spirit 43
4 The Triune God 70
5 Salvation 89
6 Christian Hope 113
7 A New Community 138
Glossary 160
Bibliography 170
Index 175
PREFACE
The subject matter of Christian theology is the God who meets
us in Jesus of Nazareth. That God is the same God who created
all things, who called and formed Israel to be the bearer of his
promise that all the families of the earth should be blessed, and who
brings that promise to fulfilment through Jesus Christ and through
the Spirit. Christian theology goes about its work in light of this
reality and in attentiveness to it. It deals, therefore, with something
that is given. It deals with God’s gift of himself as creator, redeemer
and sustainer of all that is.
This account of what Christian theology is arises from a long
history,beginningwithIsraelandcontinuing throughthelifeof the
Christian church. In order to understand the content of Christian
theology, it is necessary to develop some familiarity with that his-
tory, particularly as it is told in the Bible. The Bible is a collection
of many different kinds of literature, including historical narrative,
but including as well prayers, laments, parables, laws, theological
reflectionsandsoon.Itisa literature,soChristiansbelieve,thatwas
called forth by God, that bears witness to God’s gift of himself, and
that becomes, again and again, an instrument through which God
makes himself known. It is for this reason that the Bible is the pri-
mary source and authority for the work of Christian theology. The
Bible is also, therefore, the primary source and authority for this
PREFACE IX
book. As you read the chapters that follow, it will be helpful to
have the Bible at hand. It would be helpful too, if you have not
done so already, to familiarise yourself with some of the Bible’s
content. Begin by reading one of the gospels, Matthew, Mark,
Luke or John, and, from the Old Testament, the books of Genesis
and Exodus, which give a good orientation to the central elements
of Israel’s story.
Alongside the frequent reference to biblical texts, this book will
also introduce beginners in the field of Christian theology to some
oftheterminologythattheologycommonlyuses.Whereverpossible,
themeanings of theological terms are explained withinthe text,but
readers are also referred to a glossary of terms, movements and
events that can be found on pp. 160–169.
TherearevariouswaysinwhichthecontentofChristiantheology
could be presented in a book such as this. I have chosen to organise
the chapters around major themes of Christian theology, beginning
with Revelation and proceeding then to discuss God’s work in
Creation and Covenant, Jesus and the Spirit, the Trinity, Salvation,
Christian Hope and then, finally, the church. Although the Spirit
appears in the title of chapter three, discussion of the Spirit is in fact
woven through the whole book and rises to prominence in several
chapters.Likewise,thereisnochapterdedicatedexplicitlytohuman-
ity, but, again, this theme appears in all chapters, while receiving
particular attention in chapter two.
While the organisation and content of a book such as this reflects
the theological convictions of theauthor, it also reflects the author’s
particular cultural and ecclesial context. Those with a trained eye
will recognise in the content of this book that I belong to the
Reformed theological tradition as it has developed in a Western
culturalcontext.Thatshapeseverysentencethatisfoundinthisbook,
butIhavetriedwhereverpossibletodrawuponwidertraditions, and
to point readers in the direction of further reading that should be
done in order to appreciate the rich diversity and breadth of
Christian theology. I hope, however, to have introduced readers to
the central content of Christian theology, and to have done so in a
way that will encourage further exploration.
There are many people whose own theological work and
Christian faith have enriched and encouraged my own – far too
many to mention here. I am especially grateful, however, to Lucy