April 22, 2010

Book Review: The Great Jesus Debates

If you have ever wanted a clearer understanding of how our orthodox positions on the person and work of Christ were formed and cemented, The Great Jesus Debates: 4 Early Church Battles About the Person and Work of Jesus is the book for you. Douglas W. Johnson has done the layman and Christian worker alike a great service in spelling out--in as simple terms as possible, the great historical conflicts that served to solidify orthodoxy in the Church.

After a somewhat lengthy introduction in which he lays the historical and theological framework for the debate, Johnson divides his book into four chapters, each one having to do with one of the great theological conflicts: The Gnostic and Marcionite Controversies, The Trinitarian Controversy, The Christological Controversy, and The Controversy Over Grace. Each of these sections is treated in an easy-to-read manner, and from an orthodox perspective.

The Great Jesus Debates: 4 Early Church Battles About the Person and Work of Jesus was a great help to me as I sought to firm up my knowledge of early Church history. If the subject is of any interest to you, this is a great book to have in your library.

Talk back to the missionary: What is your favorite period or personality of Church history? Go all historical in the comments section.

Posted by Andrew on April 22, 2010 5:41 PM.