Inter-Varsity Press

CONTENTS

Foreword by J. I. Packer

Preface

Introduction

PART 1. The final authority in matters of faith

1. Authority

The meaning of authority. The source of authority.

2. Revelation

The significance of revelation. The likelihood of revelation.

General revelation. Special revelation.

3. Scripure

The Bible: the material form of special revelation. Grounds for receiving the Bible as God’s written Word. Inspiration. Canonicity. Other issues. Hermeneutics: the science, and art, of interpreting Scripture.

Application

PART 2. The doctrine of God

4. The being of God

The grounds for Christian theism. The rational ‘proofs’ of God’s existence. Presuppositional apologetics. Evaluating the rational approach.

5. God the Holy Trinity

The biblical basis. Understanding the doctrine. The importance of the doctrine.

6. The attributes or perfections of God

The glory of God. The lordship of God. The holiness of God. The love of God.

7. The work of creation

Creation ‘out of nothing’. Continuing creation. A question of language. The scientific enterprise. Miracle. The question of origins. Creation of the spiritual world.

8. The work of providence

The extent of providence. Necessary distinctions. God’s providence and evil.

Application

PART 3. Humanity and sin

9. Essential human nature

The perennial question. Humanity in relation to God. Humanity in relation to itself: the nature of humanity. Persons in relation to their neighbours. Humanity in relation to the created order. Humanity in relation to time.

10. Humanity in sin

The fall of humanity. The nature and extent of sin. The effects of sin. Further issues. Present debates. Summary.

11. Humanity in grace

Jesus Christ, the God-man. The Christian, the new creation in Christ.

12. Humanity in glory

Application

PART 4. The person and work of Christ

13. The humanity of Jesus Christ

His religious life. His limited knowledge. His dependence upon, and submission to, the Father. Temptation. Post-resurrection.

14. The deity of Jesus Christ

Direct statements of deity. Jesus’ identity with Yahweh/Jehovah. Other Gospel evidence. The conclusion of this testimony.

15. The one person

The early debates. Other important concepts. Modern interpretation. Further comment.

16. The work of Christ: biblical teaching

Atonement in the Old Testament. Jesus the Messiah.

17. The work of Christ: historical perspectives

Objective interpretations. Subjective interpretations. Modern interpretations. Pluralism.

Application

PART 5. The person and work of the Holy Spirit

18. The person of the Spirit

Old Testament teaching. New Testament teaching.

19. The Spirit of promise

The Spirit before Christ’s coming. The Spirit and Christ.

20. The Spirit and Christian beginnings

The foundation: the grace of God. The essence: union with Christ by the Spirit.

21. The Spirit and Christian growth

Hope. Assurance. Sanctifi cation. Perseverance. Means and end.

22. Historical perspective: the Holy Spirit today

Application

PART 6. The church

23. The identity of the church

Biblical images of the church. Characteristics of the true church.

24. The function of the church

Worship. Fellowship. Ministry. Witness.

25. The life of the church

The Word of God. The sacraments. Prayer. Fellowship. Suffering.

26. The church in history

Forms of organization. Historical perspectives. The church’s future.

Application

PART 7. The last things

27. The kingdom of God

Old Testament background. Jesus and the kingdom. Later New Testament teaching. The kingdom and Christian experience.

28. The second advent of Christ

New Testament terms. Biblical passages. The nature of the second coming. The purpose of the second coming. The time of the second coming. Related issues.

29. The final state

Death. The intermediate state. The resurrection. Judgment. Hell. The life to come.

30. The last things in Christian thought

The early centuries. The Middle Ages. The Reformation. The nineteenth century. Today.

Application

INTRODUCTION

‘Of course, I’m no theologian.’ How often have I heard that comment over the years, not infrequently from those who ought to know better! It usually implies that serious thinking about Christian beliefs and the attempt to express them in an ordered form are altogether distinct from real Christianity, which is about practical concerns: our personal walk with the Lord, sharing the gospel, and so on. While the theologians may have their place, the serious study of doctrine is seen as something which need not bother ordinary Christians, and indeed may even hinder their Christian life if they go into it too deeply.

This prevalent anti-doctrine spirit is a major departure from the Christian instincts of earlier ages and its roots go deep into contemporary Western culture. In face of the tremendous challenges and opportunities facing the church today this dismissal of doctrine is, in my judgment, nothing short of a recipe for disaster.

Why then is the study of doctrine so vital?

First, as a matter of plain fact every Christian is a theologian! Theology literally means ‘the science of God’, or more fully, ‘thought and speech which issue from a knowledge of God’ (cf. 1 Cor. 1:5). By virtue of being born again we have all begun to know God and therefore have a certain understanding of his nature and actions. That is, we all have a theology of sorts, whether or not we have ever sat down and pieced it together. So, properly understood, theology is not for a few religious eggheads with a flair for abstract debate – it is everybody’s business. Once we have grasped this, our duty is to become the best theologians we can to the glory of God, as our understanding of God and his ways is clarified and deepened through studying the book he has given for that very purpose, the Bible (2 Tim. 3:16). This handbook is written with the simple aim of helping you do that.

Secondly, getting doctrine right is the key to getting everything else right. If we are to know who God is, who we are, and what God wants of us, we need to study Scripture. That means its teaching as a whole, and that means doctrine. This holds true for every single area of the Christian life, worship (John 4:23), witnessing (Acts 17:11), discipleship (John 8:31f.), Christian relationships

(1 Cor. 12:12), daily work (Eph. 6:5–9); at every point right living begins with right thinking. The NT writers exemplify this principle. Faced with practical problems in the churches, they always sought first to clarify the theological issues underlying the problem, then to apply the practical remedy.

In this profound sense doctrine is the key to life; the Holy Spirit uses God’s truth in his work in and through us.

Of course correct doctrine in itself is not enough; it is tragically possible to fail to work God’s truth out in practical obedience. That is one reason why doctrine often gets a bad press. If correct doctrine does not lead to holy, loving, mature lives, something has gone terribly wrong. But that is no reason for neglecting or discounting it. In an effort to drive this point home, I have concluded each Part of the handbook with a section of application. These are by no means exhaustive; their significance lies in what they attempt to demonstrate, that correct doctrine is the basis for correct living.

Thirdly, the study of doctrine is an expression of loving the Lord with our minds (Matt. 22:37). True thinking and understanding are as valid an expression of our response to God as true actions and true speech, and as significant in bringing glory to the God of truth. At a time when for many practice is the test of truth, there is need to stress that the pursuit of truth itself is God-honouring.

Fourthly, doctrine is vital because it is impossible finally to separate Christ from the truths which Scripture reveals concerning him. There is no other Christ than the Christ who is known through the truths and doctrines of the whole Bible. He comes to us, as Calvin used to say, ‘clothed in his gospel’. Hence loyalty to his person inevitably involves commitment to the truths about him. And conversely, carelessness or indifference concerning these biblical doctrines is a form of disloyalty to his name and unconcern for his honour.

These four arguments are not alternatives but complements. Their combined message is simple and inescapable: doctrine matters. ‘Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a workman . . . who correctly handles the word of truth’ (2 Tim. 2:15).