introducing

CHRISTIAN

DOCTRINE

third edition

Millard J. Erickson

edited by l. arnold hustad

BakerAcademic

a division of Baker Publishing Group

Grand Rapids, Michigan

© 1992, 2001, 2015 by Millard J. Erickson

Published by Baker Academic

a division of Baker Publishing Group

P.O. Box 6287, Grand Rapids, MI 49516-6287

www.bakeracademic.com

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means—for example, electronic, photocopy, recording—without the prior written permission of the publisher. The only exception is brief quotations in printed reviews.

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Erickson, Millard J.

Introducing Christian doctrine / Millard J. Erickson; L. Arnold Hustad, ed. —

Third Edition.

pages cm

Includes bibliographical references and index.

ISBN 978-0-8010-4919-4 (cloth)

1. Theology, Doctrinal. I. Hustad, L. Arnold, editor. II. Title.

BT75.3.E73 2015

230—dc23

2015003286

Unless otherwise indicated, Scripture quotations are from the Holy Bible, New International Version®. NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide. www.zondervan.com

Scripture quotations labeled KJV are from the King James Version of the Bible.

Scripture quotations labeled NIV 1984 are from the 1984 edition of the NIV.

Scripture quotations labeled NRSV are from the New Revised Standard Version of the Bible, copyright © 1989, by the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Scripture quotations labeled RSV are from the Revised Standard Version of the Bible, copyright 1952 [2nd edition, 1971] by the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

In memory of

Siri Mahal Erickson Inoferio

January 24–October 14, 1991

“Jesus said, ‘Let the little children come to me,

and do not hinder them,

for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.’ ”

(Matthew 19:14)

Contents

Preface

Part 1 Introduction

1. What Is Theology?

The Nature of Theology

The Method of Theology

2. Contextualizing the Christian Message

The Contemporary Context of Theology

Approaches to Contextualizing the Christian Message

The Permanent Element in Christianity

The Nature of Contextualization

The Criteria of Permanence in Doctrine

Part 2 Revelation

3. God’s Universal Revelation

The Nature of Revelation

The Modes of General Revelation

Biblical Passages Dealing with General Revelation

Differing Assessments of the Value of General Revelation

General Revelation and Human Responsibility

Implications of General Revelation

4. God’s Particular Revelation

The Definition and Necessity of Special Revelation

The Style of Special Revelation

The Modes of Special Revelation

Special Revelation: Propositional or Personal?

Propositions ...