Non-Evangelical Systematic Theology and Theology Resources

[Dr. Nathan Parker]

I completed my PhD entrance interview with Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. The professors conducting the interview are wanting me to look into broadening my scope of Systematic Theology and Theology reading beyond mainline evangelical theologians (which has been the bulk of my reading).

 

Some specifics include: Catholic, Orthodox, Pannenberg, Barth (I do own Barth's Church Dogmatics), Rahner, Liberation Theology (just briefly touch on it), Moltmonn (probably misspelled that one), as well as other mainstream theologians outside of evangelicalism. Jewish or Messianic Jewish resources would interest me as well due to my heritage. 

 

Preferably resources in Accordance would be best. If I have to venture outside of Accordance, I can as well (whether another Bible study platform, eBook platform, or print).

 

I am still working to nail-down my research proposal for my PhD dissertation. Some areas in Systematic Theology that interest me are: Trinitarian Theology, Ecclesiology, and Eschatology, although Trinitarian Theology is quickly becoming an area of major interest the more I research on the subject.

 

Any insights would be much appreciated. I do own the Global Dictionary of Theology in Accordance so I may browse some of those articles to get a feel for them.

[Michael Hunt]

Others maybe able to help you on some of the other titles but for further information on Jürgen Moltmann checkout the following

 

https://www.giffordlectures.org/lecturers/jürgen-moltmann

[Alistair]

Accordance has a couple of modules on historical theology such as that by Allison, and I think by Oden.

 

The may help give you the wider background picture, especially as you say you haven't read widely beyond mainline evangelical systematic theologies.

 

I would see if David Ford's The modern theologians (3e) (2005) might be of help, or

Kennedy—Twentieth-century theologians–A new introduction to modern Christian thought (2010) or

 

Halverson & Cohen—A handbook of Christian theology–Definition essays on concepts and movements of thought in contemporary Protestantism (1960) but of course that is much older.

 

On the historical development see:

 

Justo Gonzalez—A history of Christian thought (revised edition) (3 vols.) (1994–5)

or the series by Jaroslav Pelikan (5 vols I think) , eg The Christian Tradition (vol. 1) The emergence of the Catholic tradition (100–600)

Placher—A history of Christian theology–An introduction (1983)

McGrath—Historical theology–An introduction to the history of Christian thought (2e)

Lohse—A short history of Christian doctrine (1985)

Cunliffe-Jones—A history of Christian doctrine (1980)

Bromiley—Historical theology–An introduction (1994)

 

These may also be of help:

 

John Parratt—An Introduction to Third World Theologies (2004)

Peter C. Phan—The Cambridge companion to the Trinity (2011)

Torrance—The trinitarian faith–The evangelical theology of the ancient Catholic church (1997)

Ormerod—Introducing contemporary theologies–The what and the who of theology today (1997)

Nichols—Light from the east–Authors and themes in Orthodox theology (1999)

 

And you should of course look at African and Asian theologies

Edited April 2, 2018 by Alistair

[ukfraser]

For orthodox, I have had to resort to hard copy and seem to have purchased a growing number of publications from this press and haven’t been disappointed (though these have been mainly around creeds including behr’s trilogy and church history).

 

https://www.svspress.com/categories/Browse-by-Subject/Theology/

Edited April 2, 2018 by ukfraser

[Alistair]

J. Rodman Williams has a three volume systematic theology from "from a charismatic perspective" and there used to be another similar one-volume work published by L.I.F.E. Bible College but I only ever saw one once and I don't have a copy myself.

 

Thomas Oden did a four volume Wesleyan 'theology' tied to John Wesley's works.

 

T&T Clark have a series of small volumes "Doing theology" including Baptist, Lutheran, Methodist, and Reformed.

 

Also check the Zondervan 'multiple views' series that Accordance offers. I think Eerdmans or another publisher has a similar series.

 

For general reference try

 

Lacoste—Encyclopedia of Christian theology (2005)

Cross—The Oxford dictionary of the Christian Church (1966)

Hart—The dictionary of historical theology (2000)

Hastings et al—The Oxford companion to Christian thought (2000)

Hillerbrand—The Encyclopedia of Protestantism (4 vols) (2004)

Cross & Livingstone—The Oxford dictionary of the Christian church (1997)

Prokurat et al—Historical dictionary of the Orthodox Church (1996)

Rahner—Encyclopaedia of theology–The concise sacramentum mundi (1986)

Thomson Gale Encyclopedia of religion (2e) (14 vols.)

 

and I should have included this one in my previous post

Marty & Peerman—A handbook of Christian theologians (1984)

Edited April 2, 2018 by Alistair

[Michael Hunt]

It also wouldn’t hurt to read the church fathers especially Tertullian, Athanasius and Augustine especially if you are interested in the development of trinitarian theology. They would also help satisfy the Catholic and Orthodox viewpoints suggested. Maybe checkout Ancient Christian Doctrine

 

https://www.accordancebible.com/store/details/?pid=Ancient+Doctrine

[Solly]

Jaroslav Pelikan's The Christian Tradition series (5 volumes) is richly documented and provides an overview of the development of doctrine, which includes discussion of theology in various periods of church history. Dense academic reading—I take it a paragraph at a time and digest the ideas as I mull over his wonderful phrasing.

 

—Joseph

[Dr. Nathan Parker]

Thanks everyone for the information! Much appreciated and I will look over these.