In Search of: Overview of Theology

I'm in search of a resource which will provide a good overview (and contrast) of the various schools of theology.

In other words, give me a comparison and contrast of Dispensational vs covenant vs whatever-else-you can think of.

I'm not interested per se in the disciplines of theology (Systematic vs biblical vs historical, etc.) unless they touch on the former.

Any good suggestions already in Logos or otherwise?

Incidentally I already own: There Really is a Difference! and I've placed my preorder for the recent A Complete Guide to Understanding the Dispensationalism Controversy

Find more posts tagged with

Comments

spitzerpl

One option is the Journal of Evangelical Theological Society (JETS). Often times there will be an article written and then a response from a different point of view.

Rich DeRuiter

I'm in search of a resource which will provide a good overview (and contrast) of the various schools of theology.

In other words, give me a comparison and contrast of Dispensational vs covenant vs whatever-else-you can think of.

I'm not interested per se in the disciplines of theology (Systematic vs biblical vs historical, etc.) unless they touch on the former.

Any good suggestions already in Logos or otherwise?

Incidentally I already own: There Really is a Difference! and I've placed my preorder for the recent A Complete Guide to Understanding the Dispensationalism Controversy

I've never seen one of these that wasn't slanted in some way toward a particular view point. If you find one, I'd like to see it.

Elliot Ritzema (Faithlife)

I can't think of a whole book at the moment, but if you have the Moody Handbook of Theology, you may want to take a look at the Dogmatic Theology section.

Kevin Becker

Your post makes me think of the "views" genre of books. Here are some examples in Logos.

http://www.logos.com/ebooks/details/REV4VIEWS
http://www.logos.com/products/details/4530

They typically only cover a specific issue rather than, say, the whole dispensational vs covenant theology debate. The strength of them is that they have chapters written from each perspective and then typically they interact with each other. I would run an amazon search for two, three, four, and five views titles.

Of course, the weakness of these books is that they aren't always the most in-depth. However, they make up for that with interaction and critique between positions.

TCBlack

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/156697#Comment_156697

One option is the Journal of Evangelical Theological Society (JETS).

Excellent suggestion Philip, I don't currently have Journal of the Evangelical Theological Society (42 Vols.) though I do have the Theological Journal Library 1-10. You may be right that the journals are the best bet for getting some even handed treatment; but I remain hopeful for a single resource...

I've never seen one of these that wasn't slanted in some way toward a particular view point. If you find one, I'd like to see it.

Sadly, I know, That's why I mentioned the two relevant sources I know I have though since those here may be aware of their bias (more than I am at the moment) and could offer some alternatives.

I can't think of a whole book at the moment, but if you have the Moody Handbook of Theology, you may want to take a look at the Dogmatic Theology section.

Thanks Elliot, I do have that resource I'll take a look at the section you suggest.

Your post makes me think of the "views" genre of books. Here are some examples in Logos.

These are the ones that got me thinking in this direction, including the Perspectives Series. I don't mind them being brief - actually that's what I'm hoping for. I have enough resources to dig deeper on the issues I'm considering but I like overviews before I dig. <smile>

Todd Phillips

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/156688#Comment_156688

I can't think of a whole book at the moment, but if you have the Moody Handbook of Theology, you may want to take a look at the Dogmatic Theology section.

That was my first thought,too:

PART 4:DOGMATIC THEOLOGY

32. Introduction to Dogmatic Theology

33. Calvinistic Theology

34. Arminian Theology

35. Covenant Theology

36. Dispensational Theology

37. Catholic Theology

It's fairly evenhanded. Though it should be remembered that the author and publisher lean dispensational.

spitzerpl

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/156719#Comment_156719

Excellent suggestion Philip, I don't currently have Journal of the Evangelical Theological Society (42 Vols.) though I do have the Theological Journal Library 1-10. You may be right that the journals are the best bet for getting some even handed treatment; but I remain hopeful for a single resource...

JETS is a part of the Theological journal Library, so you should have some of them.

I think this type of use is where the Reading lists really come in handy. while it would be good to have a single volume that is even handed one thing seems to always slant them one way or the other, authors like to have opinions and tell others about them (as if I don't). Reading lists dealing with the various theologies could be broken down into theological views. How exactly to break them down is a different story.

Rosie Perera

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/156883#Comment_156883

Another suggestion which would cover several of the more recent streams of theology would be 20th-Century Theology by Stan Grenz and Roger Olsen. It's not available in Logos (yet) but it should be. Table of Contents available here.

TCBlack

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/156883#Comment_156883

I think this type of use is where the Reading lists really come in handy.

I'll try to keep a running list of the resources I touch as I go through this - If I get anything significant i may have to take a crack at reading Martha's tutorial on them.

TCBlack

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/156883#Comment_156883

JETS is a part of the Theological journal Library, so you should have some of them.

Looks like Volumes 9-49. I wonder what happened to volumes 1-8 (that is, why they were not produced.)

Mike Childs

Obviously, every book is going to be slanted towards the view point of the author. So it would be good to read a comparison made by authors from various viewpoints. If you want a book that is totally objective, you will have to wait until heaven.

There are more books that lean Calvinist than Arminian. They are not hard to find. From the Armininian perspective, Mildred Wynkoop does a great job of comparing Calvinism and Arminianism in her book Foundations of Wesleyan Arminian Theology. It deals with the history of Calvinism and Arminianism and contrasts their differences very well. It is very readable, and is a good representative of the Wesleayan Arminian point of view.

In dealing with dispensationalism, there are lots of books out there defining and defending dispensationalism. Just read anything from DTS, for example. I don't mean this as a put down. They do a good job defending their point of view. One opposite point of view - among many - that I would want to consider is George Eldon Ladd. This is especially true when dealing with eschatology. HIs "Last Things" is available in Logos.

I do not know of any one resource that does a good job of presenting all points of view. After all, no one is totally objective, but me.

TCBlack

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/157039#Comment_157039

After all, no one is totally objective, but me.

Well then, why don't you write a book? LOL

Seriously though - I'm not looking for raw objectivity, just overviews. Most of what I have leans dispensationalist, I'm trying to get a fair hearing from both sides at the moment.

Steve Adams

Thomas,

have you tried something as simplistic as HW House's Charts on Christian Theology and then go from there? It will give you an overview of how each school of theology, from Lutheran, Roman Catholic, Reformed, Arminian, Dispensationalists, etc stand on key doctrines of the Christian Faith. It is very simplistic as it is simply done in chart form but you can then go from there.

nancy

Jerry M

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/157164#Comment_157164

Well then, why don't you write a book?

Thomas, you could write one too, and I'll write one and you can buy his and I'll buy yours etc.... Then we will all have more money to buy Logos resources!

TCBlack

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/157171#Comment_157171

Well then, why don't you write a book?

Thomas, you could write one too, and I'll write one and you can buy his and I'll buy yours etc.... Then we will all have more money to buy Logos resources!

I'm in!

[quote]It was a dark and stormy theology.....

Floyd Johnson

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/157203#Comment_157203

[quote]It was a dark and stormy theology.....

Hey, is this thread going to the dogs as well - it sounds like the start of the great American novel as written by the one great dog, SNOOPY.[:D]

Rosie Perera

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/157164#Comment_157164

Seriously though - I'm not looking for raw objectivity, just overviews. Most of what I have leans dispensationalist, I'm trying to get a fair hearing from both sides at the moment.

Hi Thomas, not trying to convert you, but I grew up with dispensationalist theology kind of assumed (in the air we breathed), at least as far as our eschatology was concerned, though most in my church had never really considered what exactly they believed about it or why, nor was the term "dispensationalist" ever used. I just learned that's what it was when I was exposed to other alternatives later. I'm impressed that you're wanting to read things from other perspectives and give them a fair hearing. The first introduction to covenant theology I read (which made me open my eyes and go "wow! this makes a whole lot more sense to me") was O. Palmer Robertson's The Christ of the Covenants. Excellent explanation, and interacts with other viewpoints -- charitably, but definitely from a covenant perspective. It's unfortunately not available in Logos format, but should be.

TCBlack

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/157244#Comment_157244

Thanks Rosie, I appreciate the suggestion I'll look it up.

While I'm dispensationalist by upbringing, I'm not afraid to look outside my window so to speak. I firmly believe that truth is still truth even if I happen to not believe it yet. :-)

There are several points of theology I've come full circle in (started at Point A, wandered through points B and C, etc before finally solidifying on A; and occasionally shifting altogether to point C )

In the words of classic rock band, "What a long strange trip it's been".

Bobby Terhune

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/157249#Comment_157249

Thomas,

A book that is on prepub that I have found to be very helpful is Gregory Boyd's "Across the Spectrum"

http://www.logos.com/products/prepub/details/6070

It covers most of the controversial points of doctrine from a variety of theological viewpoints in one volume.

TCBlack

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/157264#Comment_157264

Bobby,

That looks like a good one. It doesn't touch at all on dispensationalism v covenentalism but I've clicked the button nonetheless.