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Summary: A Seminary Level Evangelical Systematic Theology
Review: "Christian Theology" by Millard Erickson is a comprehensive, seminary level, evangelical systematic theology. Erickson is obviously well studied in a vast array of theological issues from various schools of thought. Typically he will present common viewpoints on a subject and then make an argument for his own position. Most of Erickson's positions seem clearly Calvinistic, but he treats other views with fairness, appreciation, and respect. Though I come from a dissimilar denominational background and some of my personal views are very different than his, I never felt my beliefs were under an unfair scrutiny or malicious attack. The book was so engaging and interesting that I actually found it hard to put down. I highly recommend the book to anyone desiring to study Christian theology at a seminary level.
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Summary: Very even-handed summary of Theology
Review: Erickson does an admirable job of presenting all sides of controversial topics in the best possible light. There are no straw men here. For instance, on predestination, he lists scores of scripture references supporting Armenian free will, and as many supporting Calvinist predestination. In most cases, he weighs in with his own take after both sides have been presented.
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Summary: Thorough, Fair, and Compelling
Review: Erickson is thoughtful and thourough. He surveys ranges of views and Biblical data on the standard systematic catagories (and some additions) and interacts with secular and scintific data with competance and humility. He does not inovate for its own sake but deals honestly with input from both specific and general revelation. It was the most compelling 1200 pages I have read in some time.
Rating:
Summary: Thorough, Fair, and Compelling
Review: Erickson is thoughtful and thourough. He surveys ranges of views and Biblical data on the standard systematic catagories (and some additions) and interacts with secular and scintific data with competance and humility. He does not inovate for its own sake but deals honestly with input from both specific and general revelation. It was the most compelling 1200 pages I have read in some time.
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Summary: Excellent Christian resource!
Review: Erickson's Christian Theology is an excellent resource for the Seminary student and for anyone who wants to understand the different issues in Christian doctrines and theories. Erickson does well in showing different views and theories surrounding doctrines, summing up each chapter with his own synthesized opinion. My only criticism is the length of each chapter. They all seem to be about 20 pages. While some topics need to be looked at more in depth others are drawn out. I couldn't help but think that I was being short-changed on some topics.
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Summary: Readable and universally applicable!
Review: Erickson's language may be simple, but not simplistic. Interfaith theology students will find the book absent of theological "good guys" and "bad guys." The book creatively presents "hard core" theology in plain, contemporary language. Students of theology from non-English speaking countries may happily find Erickson's sources adequate for thesis writing!
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Summary: Excellent introduction, but one topic missing
Review: Erickson's theology is an excellent introduction into Christian dogmatics for today's students. So I'm looking forward to the publishing of the Polish translation next year. Still, it seems odd to me that the whole issue of canonicity is missing, although Erickson's chapter on Special Revelation provides an excellent basis for a discussion of the canon. I'd like to know his reasons for not engaging this topic.
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Summary: some recommendations
Review: For those interested in systematic theology, particularly by philosophically competent writers, I would recommend that they also read books by Gordon Clark and Vincent Cheung. Search the web for "trinity foundation" and "vincent cheung", and I think you will find them. Cheung's books are free for download.
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Summary: some recommendations
Review: For those interested in systematic theology, particularly by philosophically competent writers, I would recommend that they also read books by Gordon Clark and Vincent Cheung. Search the web for "trinity foundation" and "vincent cheung", and I think you will find them. Cheung's books are free for download.
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Summary: Standard, Higher Education Text
Review: I bought this theology at the urging of one of my ministers at Church. I found the book deep, but not overwhelming. Erickson comes from a robustly evangelical, gently Calvinistic background. He is respected by moderates and conservatives alike for interacting with other positions fairly, namely that position of Karl Barth--Erickson offering an Evangelical interaction.For the information of one reviewer who said that Erickson's book Lacked the intellectual rigor of a Barth or Rahner, I would reply that this is an intro-level text at seminary , not a doctoral text (I went to one seminary bookstore to look around and conversed with other PhD students to find this out). In fact, Erickson's willingness to interact with Barth on numerous occasions is praiseworthy. Although Erickson is said to be Calvinistic in his approach, there will be times that he annoys Calvinists (See Wayne Grudem for a slight difference in, for example, "Does Regeneration precede faith?"). To get the most out of this text, read another systematic theology at the same time to compare and contrast. Final Analysis:
THis is a good work, especially for young evangelicals as myself. It is a work that will get one excited about systematic theology.
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