Historical Theology for the Church

InHistorical Theology for the Church, editors Jason Duesing and Nathan Finn bring together top contributors to survey key doctrinal developments in every era of church history. They not only trace the development of various doctrines within historical congregations; they also provide a resource for contemporary congregations. Steered by the conviction that historical theology serves the church both local and global, each chapter concludes with an application section that clarifies the connection between the historical doctrine being covered and the Christian church today.  Review?The church loses a healthy connection to her past at great peril for her future. This book is a superb remedy to this danger.Historical Theology for the Church is both informative and well written. It proves theology can be instructive and interesting at the same time. I like this work. I will be quick to commend this book for scholar and layperson alike.?-Daniel L. Akin, president, Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary   ?Drs. Jason Duesing and Nathan Finn have done the church a remarkable service by assemblingHistorical Theology for the Church. They, together with fourteen other top-tier contributors, give the reader an informative overview of the development of essential Christian doctrines throughout the history of church. All who love theology, church history, and the church itself will want this book and benefit from it. I?m thankful for this volume and hopeful that it gets a broad readership.?-Jason K. Allen, president, Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary   ?Jaroslav Pelikan once said that tradition is the living faith of the dead. That being so, we need to know the theology of the dead if the church is to preserve the living faith handed down through the centuries. InHistorical Theology for the Church, Duesing and Finn have provided a helpful doorway into our great tradition. This volume is full of wisdom in how to apply the riches of church history to our modern context. I hope this book will awaken many in the church to the life-giving study of historical theology.?-Brian J. Arnold, president, Phoenix Seminary   ?In modern Christianity?s rush to reject traditions as unhelpful ties to the past, the church risks surrendering the past altogether. Rather than recognizing that the ?faith once for all handed down to the saints? comes to us by way of 2000 years of church history, today?s believers find themselves trying to reinvent the theological wheel over and over again without the benefit of the experience and tools of those who?ve gone before. Thus, after two millennia many Christians continue to fight age-old battles or deprive themselves of the soul-satisfying fruit of their predecessors? labors. This book makes great strides to correct these woeful errors. Duesing, Finn, and all the rest give the reader a thorough yet winsome look at the development of key ideas through the sands of time, handing them down to today?s believer in a manner that is readable and relevant.Historical Theology for the Church breathes life once again into the past and revives it for a new generation.?-Peter Beck, professor of Christian studies and Ott Chair of Theology, Charleston Southern University   ?Historical Theology for the Church is rooted in Scripture yet aware of tradition; encompasses the church universal while providing application for the church local; is evangelical in its orientation and evangelistic in its presentation; and is academically sound with an edifying tone. Each chapter contains substantive historical overviews, significant case studies, and salient church practices, thus providing the reader with a unique resource detailing what the church has believed, why the church has believed, and what the church should believe.?-Anthony Chute, professor of church history and associate dean of the school of Christian ministries, California Baptist University    ?Historical Theology for