"Across the Spectrum" (Gregory A. Boyd and Paul Rhodes Eddy)

TITLE: Across the Spectrum: Understanding Issues in Evangelical Theology
AUTHOR: Gregory A. Boyd and Paul Rhodes Eddy
PUBLISHER: Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Academic, 2022, (384 pages).
 

What do Christians believe? What are the beliefs held by evangelicals? Why are there so many different views? If only there is a handbook to list down the different views fairly for broad understanding, allowing the reader to draw their own conclusions. That said, the main purpose is to enable readers, especially students to learn about the different views across the spectrum of issues so that they could better understand the similarities and differences within the evangelical world. Not only does it help promote a deeper understanding of one's own standpoint, but it also enables one not to misrepresent others. The authors use a common framework to discuss each issue.  There are many issues the authors have covered. They include debates about:

1. The Inerrancy of the Bible
2. Providence
3. Foreknowledge
4. Genesis
5. Divine Image
6. Christology
7. Atonement
8. Salvation
9. Sanctification
10. Eternal Security
11. Destiny of the Unevangelized
12. Baptism
13. The Lord's Supper
14. Charismatic Gifts
15. Women in Ministry
16. Millenium
17. Hell

Now in its third edition, this book has a significantly revised chapter on "The Sanctification Debate," "The Hell Debate," and additional questions in the Appendix. Using a "liberal arts approach," the goal is to broaden students' understanding of the different views on each issue and to encourage them to find their own conclusions. Within Christendom, there are branches of Christianity such as Eastern Orthodoxy, Mainstream Protestantism, Roman Catholicism, Evangelicalism, and so on. Even within evangelical circles, there are different views, which is the focus of this book. There are several ways one can use this book. The first is to use it as a primer. Here, the table of contents alone should give students a birdseye view of the different perspectives per issue. Knowing the key stances can help students to do further research that they need to. The authors provide lots of arguments, counter-arguments, and further resources to enable students to springboard their research. This is especially helpful for those who are new to the broad study of evangelical theology. Primers are helpful to give students an overview from a non-judgmental position. The second way to use this book is to deepen the understanding of alternative views. Sometimes, we tend to become too fixated on our own convictions that we fail to understand or represent alternative views accurately and fairly. Just like the famous prayer of St Francis of Assisi, we become a channel of God's peace as we seek to understand others more than wanting to be understood. I believe many readers will find it helpful to have an objective description of different views without pre-judging them. On this note, I must say that the authors have done a great job in presenting the material as fairly as possible. This is a mark of a good professor. The third way is to use this book as an introductory text for teaching. There are many laypeople increasingly confused by the split in evangelical circles. Some even question why they cannot get along. This presents an opportunity for church leaders and teachers to educate their congregations on what they believe and why they believe. Not only that, mature students or those who had already studied these theologies during their seminary years can use this book to refresh their learning. 

This book is a solid investment for learning the multiple perspectives on each theological issue mentioned. Clearly written and fairly described, this is a wonderful resource not just for students, but also for teachers, pastors, professors, and anyone seeking to revise or recall what they had learned in the past.

Gregory A. Boyd (PhD, Princeton Theological Seminary), formerly professor of theology at Bethel University, is senior pastor of Woodland Hills Church in St. Paul, Minnesota, where average attendance has grown to 5,000 since he helped plant the church in 1992. He is the author of many books, including the critically acclaimed Seeing Is Believing and the best-selling Gold Medallion Award-winner Letters from a Skeptic. He is also coauthor of The Jesus Legend.

Paul Rhodes Eddy (PhD, Marquette University) is professor of biblical and theological studies at Bethel University in St. Paul, Minnesota. He is the author, coauthor, or editor of a number of books, including Across the Spectrum. Eddy is the coeditor (with James K. Beilby) of six successful multiview volumes, including Understanding Spiritual Warfare: Four Views.

Rating: 4.25 stars of 5.

conrade

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This book has been provided courtesy of Baker Academic and Netgalley without requiring a positive review. All opinions offered above are mine unless otherwise stated or implied.