Christian Worship
Southwestern Journal of Theology
Volume 66, No. 1 - Fall 2023
Editor: Malcolm B. Yarnell III
Edited by Daniel L. Akin, David S. Dockery, and Nathan A. Finn. Brentwood, TN: B&H, 2023, xi+634 pp., $49.99.
A Handbook of Theology is an introductory work on theology from an evangelical (primarily Southern Baptist) view. It is primarily written for the Bible college or seminary student’s introductory theology courses. It is also beneficial for the pastor, church leader, or lay Christian needing to consult a solid overview of theology.
The editors chose some of the top theologians in their fields to contribute to the volume. Examples include Malcolm Yarnell’s essay on “The Trinity,” Craig Blaising’s contribution to “Last Things,” and Jeffery Bingham’s overview of “Patristic Theology.” The work is divided into six parts. Part 1 covers “Theological Foundations,” including topics such as “God’s Existence,” “Revelation,” The Role of Tradition,” and “Faith and Experience.” Part 2 surveys the various “Types of Theology,” including biblical, historical, philosophic, systematic, and historical theology. Part 3 is a historical tour through “Theology, History, and Geography,” covering the eras of “Patristic Theology” through “Modern Theology” and concluding with “Global Theology.” Part 4 is a survey of the major “Christian Doctrines,” including “The Trinity,” “The Person (and work) of Christ,” “Justification,” and “The Church.” Part 5 elaborates on “Theology and the Christian Life,” with topics including “Church Membership,” “Spiritual Formation and Discipleship,” and “Theology for Evangelism and Missions.” Part 6 tackles important issues in “Theology in Culture,” including “Religious Liberty,” “Racial Reconciliation,” and “Marriage and Sexuality.”
A Handbook of Theology offers a wealth of strengths. Each essay is concise and understandable for the lay Christian yet doctrinally solid from an evangelical and Southern Baptist view. Each scholar brings the best of their field knowledge to the table in their contributions. The work does not limit itself to being an overview of systematic theology, but in a similar manner to previous theological handbooks (such as Moody Handbook of Theology), the work includes discussions on other major types of theology and other useful theological discussions to introduce readers to the vast field of theology. The work also tackles current issues affecting the church such as a biblical understanding of marriage and sexuality (presented in both its own chapter and in the chapter on “Humanity”) and the sanctity of human life. The work presents readers with both a solid academic foundation in understanding theology and showing readers how theological belief affects one’s understanding of practical and current issues.
Introductory courses on theology should include A Handbook of Theology as one of the required textbooks for students to read and consult. It will be most useful in introductory systematic theology and Bible doctrine courses, although some of the essays will also be useful for introductory courses in other theological fields. The work is also useful for the busy pastor or church leader who needs a solid yet concise survey on theology. It should also be used in a church Sunday School or small group Bible study to train church members in a firm foundation of studying theology and Bible doctrines. If there is any “weakness” with the work, it is only that the reader would want to read more on each theological topic than what is presented in each essay, although each chapter ends with a “For Additional Study” section and additional articles one can consult to further research each theological topic.
Daniel Akin, David Dockery, and Nathan Finn, along with the contributors to this volume, have provided in A Handbook of Theology a work that will serve the church for years. Readers will be blessed with theological riches from this concise yet informative text.
