List price: $29.99 (that's 30% off!)
Used price: $24.99
Collectible price: $11.99
Highly recommended.
Aside from its use in seminaries, I think this volume is excellent for clerical work such as confirmation classes, Bible study and even preaching. If a minister wants to preach through major Christian doctrines, he can quite easily edit portions of Erickson. The only caveat is that Erickson is an evangelical theologian and his evangelical perspective is evidenced throughout the work. The weakest section of the book lies in his discussion of the sacraments, which he typically refers to as "ordinances". The sections on God and Jesus Christ are superlative.
List price: $12.99 (that's 20% off!)
Used price: $9.53
Buy one from zShops for: $9.17
The book is less than 100 pages, and in it, Erickson seeks to tackle three main questions - is the Trinity biblical, is it rationally coherent, and is it at all relevant to anything. While there have certainly been more exhaustive treatises written which address the first two questions, I thought that Erickson did a good job of analyzing them at a top level while still being pretty thorough. His analysis of deviations from the orthodox view of the Trinity was especially good for purposes of making it clear to the reader that the Trinity is an exacting doctrine that requires both exacting language and exacting thought in order to be true to the Bible.
Erickson's attempt at sorting through the rationality of the 'Three in One' aspect of the Trinity was also very interesting, as was his analysis of Trinitarian prayer. In particular, I appreciated his analysis of the functional subordination aspect of the Trinity that is too often neglected in other studies of the Trinity, as well as his proper focus on the Holy Spirit which is likewise treated almost as an afterthought in many studies of the Trinity.
Overall, I think this is an outstanding beginner level book that not only takes on basic questions with easy to follow answers, but also digs a bit to take on more difficult questions both Biblically and philosophically. An outstanding resource for one who wants to become firmly rooted in the orthodox doctrine of the Trinity.
Used price: $0.80
Collectible price: $3.98
Buy one from zShops for: $3.40
The book covers a great deal of material including overviews of the traditional viewpoints of the millenium and the timing of the rapture. It includes basic arguments from each position and the persons who are the spokesmen for those positions. One of the prominent features is that evaluations are given of both positive and negative aspects of each position which is a big plus. While the arguments do not go into the greatest detail, they are not unduly brief so as to be unuseful. The scholar as well as the layman will find the book inviting.
Although the book is a newer addition and covers the recent trends in dispensationalism for example, it does not have information about the prewrath rapture position, which is becoming a major theory. It does however cover some of the less popular, or "mediating" positions such as the partial rapture view and the imminent posttribulational view.
This is a very informative and well written book. The author is quite fair to all positions and never engages in personal attacks. The book was written at the request of seminary students for an objective reference to the different eschatological options they would have when they would someday minister. Written by a scholar with the heart of a minister, their request has been well served in this book.
Used price: $21.95
The incarnation and the resurrection of Christ are covered in great detail as well. Moreover, Erickson has a chapter that deals with the incarnation and the problem of evil. This is one of the most detailed Christological studies I have ever read. Erickson practically leaves no stone unturned in his research. What is more, Erickson documents his sources and research very well.
The book itself is for the layman and scholar alike since Erickson has a way of writing that reaches the beginner without losing the scholar (and vice versa). I highly recommend this volume for those who want to do a serious study of Christ, as well as for those who are simply wanting to gain a better grasp of who Christ is.
Used price: $6.50
The book is divided into four sections: Understanding the Issues, Gathering the Doctrinal Contnet, Delivering Doctrine in Sermonic Form, and Getting it Done.
I found the third section, Delivering Doctrine in Sermonic Form, to be the most helpful. The authors discuss four preaching styles: Expository, Topical, Narrative and Dramatic. In this section they address changes in our culture and how different sermon styles meet the needs of different hearers. Most preachers only use the first two styles, but the later two are equally valid and important. The authors give some biblical basis for these styles. I have ventured into the narrative sermon, but have yet to work with the dramatic style.
The final section on Getting it Done has some great info on keeping track of the sermons you've preached in order to make sure you're not ignoring some doctrines and focusing too heavily on others. It's a great help the authors provide in this section.
Anyway, variety is the spice of life. Variety in sermon delivery styles will help to spice up the worship service and keep your people interested - wondering what you'll be doing this week. Anticipation - it's a good thing.
So, if your pastor's preaching needs a little spicing up, get him a copy of this book. Tell him it's a hint. I think he'll enjoy the book, though maybe not the hint.
List price: $17.00 (that's 30% off!)
Used price: $11.50
Buy one from zShops for: $11.22
The book first details some of the main aspects of the premodern view, the view that the 'postmodernists' are spending their efforts to refute, or at lest blur many of the distinctions made by Plato and his type (appearance-reality made -found etc.).
Following the history of western thought to the modern period (the next chapter of the book) the major thoughts of Descartes, Kant and Newton are discussed. The historical periods prior to the 'postmodern' take up about the first 100 pages and give anyone unfamiliar a good understanding of what is about to fall apart or be fuzzed up by the four horsemen that come on the scene next.
Actually, the philosophical views held by Rorty and company where expounded prior to their coming - the chapter dealing with these men (the predecessors) is called 'twentieth-century transitions to postmodernism'. The cast of characters includes Heidegger, Wittgenstein, Gadamer and Kuhn. The book is as complete as one would hope and deals with other philosophers I failed to mention here -- but the main focus of the book is on the four most recent exponents of 'postmodernism' . Allot of the book, the first half or more, is solely descriptive with a critique coming in the latter sections.
I would recommend this book to anyone looking for a good intro. into the thoughts of Rorty Derrida, Fish and Foulcaut (postmodernism)-- although the book ends up being critical of much of what these men said it is a fair treatment.
Used price: $12.90
For the information of one reviewer who said that Erickson's book Lacked the intellectual rigor of a Barth or Rahner, I would reply that this is an intro-level text at seminary , not a doctoral text (I went to one seminary bookstore to look around and conversed with other PhD students to find this out). In fact, Erickson's willingness to interact with Barth on numerous occasions is praiseworthy. Although Erickson is said to be Calvinistic in his approach, there will be times that he annoys Calvinists (See Wayne Grudem for a slight difference in, for example, "Does Regeneration precede faith?"). To get the most out of this text, read another systematic theology at the same time to compare and contrast.
Final Analysis:
THis is a good work, especially for young evangelicals as myself. It is a work that will get one excited about systematic theology.
List price: $13.00 (that's 20% off!)
Used price: $4.94
Collectible price: $10.59
Buy one from zShops for: $4.98
Erickson is a prolific author and impressive scholar. He is currently a professor at Western Seminary in Portland, Oregon and Baylor University. His credentials are apparently unimpeachable. And his work in this book reflects that, with a couple of minor exceptions if one is a beginning student.
"Contemporary Options..." is a wonderful study that delineates the varying modern understandings about the last days: Pre-Millennialism, Post-Millennialism, and A-Millennialism. A chapter is spent describing each of these positions: Overview, History, Tenets, and Evaluation. A chapter is also devoted to each view of when the so-called "rapture" of the church will occur (! Pre- and Post- Tribulationalism)! Though he has his OWN view about which of these is the proper view, Erickson shows himself capable of allowing the reader to decide...he does not dogmatize OR indoctrinate. Only in his "p.s." at the end of the book does he mention his personal position.
A predominate view of the past 150 years, dispensationalism (a premillennial view) is given a good treatment as well. Erickson devotes a chapter to this widely held view of biblical interpretation. Also worthy of note is how the book begins: with a quick couple of chapters of how some others have interpreted eschatological material: to wit, Albert Schweitzer (so-called "Consistent" Eschatology), Charles Dodd (so-called "Realized"), Rudolf Bultmann ("Existential") and Jurgen Moltmann ("Hope").
The primary problem with the book (or perhaps with this reader!) is the challenge of understanding all that Erickson is saying in regard to the int! erpretation of some particular Greek phrases and tenses. P! ortions of the book seem to assume familiarity with the ancient language that most of us probably don't have. Despite this, however, the "gist" of the idea is understandable.
Also a minor disappointment was that Erickson does not touch too much upon the preterist or historical interpretation of prophecy, though they ARE mentioned. A complete study of prophecy or eschatology should involve a review of these positions. But again, don't let this keep you from reading the text. The book is outstanding in reviewing the modern positions described above.
All in all, Erickson does a TREMENDOUS job explaining for the layman or student these competing ideas. And he ends with the reminder that as fascinating as eschatology is, we need not allow it to divide Christianity!
List price: $30.00 (that's 30% off!)
Used price: $8.21
Collectible price: $13.72
Buy one from zShops for: $9.89
The adversarial stance this book takes at its outset is also in poor form. Working off of the assumption that "postmodernism" is antithetical to (what Erickson believes is) Christianity, Erickson tries to show through a savaging of several other author's works why pomo is from the devil. But I find no real discussion of why Erickson assumes pomo to be so awful. I find great Christianity in the work of Grenz, for example, the kind of faith I would like to have myself. Erickson's reasons for being so adversarial is clear (his prejudices and presuppositions), but I still wonder how he could come to most of his conclusions.
The arrogance and blindness of the positions taken by this author in this book is breathtaking. Erickson has never once, it seems, considered that all his assumptions about pomo, biblical interpretation, historical context, and such are not only challenged, but fringe-oriented and unsuportable! I am quite suprised that Erickson's subjects in this book haven't sued him for libel!
Tha main problem with this book, though, apart from the shallow scholarship it evidences and the blinders it asks the reader to put on, is the fact that it is un-Christian, in the most profound sense of that word. Why would Ericson have written this book, as opposed to another? And why his other book of character assassinations, "The Evanglical Left"? Why did he feel it necessary to attack these men in this way? I learn nothing about these men's works that I did not already know, but I learn quite a bit about the kind of faith Erickson would like to see. I am not at all sure it is mine.
We are using this text for the first time in our private Christian high school's junior and senior Bible classes. Some students appear to be a little lost, but many are welcoming the challenge to clearer thinking. The book is not "Theology Light," as another reviewer seemed to suggest, so please don't approach it as "easy." Good systematic theology takes lots of work, plenty of wrestling with scripture, and many restless nights. But I like the fact that this text is a softer approach (without a complete "dumbing down" of the material) for first-time theology students. (I'd be happy to let anyone know the results by the end of 2002 when we will complete this text.) Also, I like about Erickson's attitude is that, while he certainly has presuppositions, he attempts to fairly lay out the possibilities on issues that certainly divide Christians into separate camps. He gives his opinion, but he doesn't treat it as if anyone who disagrees is a heretic. All in all, Erickson's work gets a thumbs up for those who want an overview on the basic teachings of Christianity.