Description
Five Views on the Gospel presents five different perspectives on the question "What is the gospel?" Presenting a variety of contemporary and tradition-based perspectives, each contributor answers key questions about the nature of the gospel. Questions contributors address include:
- What is the gospel?
- What is the context for understanding the New Testament teaching about the gospel?
- What are the primary biblical texts that you believe express the gospel and how do you understand them?
- What are people called to do with the gospel and what are the benefits promised by the gospel?
- How can the definition and proclamation of the gospel be contextualized and made relevant today?
- What example of an inadequate gospel and a false gospel can you offer?
- What does it mean to live a life worthy of the gospel?
The CounterPoints format provides a unique opportunity for each contributor to set forth their own understanding of the gospel, to interact with competing perspectives, and for the editors to sum up points of agreement and disagreement and a path forward in the debate.
Positions and Contributors include:
- The Reformation Gospel (Michael Horton)
- The King Jesus Gospel (Scot McKnight)
- The Wesleyan Gospel (David A. deSilva)
- The Pentecostal Gospel (Julie C. Ma)
- A Liberation Theology Gospel (Shively T. J. Smith)
The Counterpoints series presents a comparison and critique of scholarly views on topics important to Christians that are both fair-minded and respectful of the biblical text. Each volume is a one-stop reference that allows readers to evaluate the different positions on a specific issue and form their own, educated opinion.
About the Authors
Michael S. Horton (PhD) is the J. Gresham Machen Professor of Systematic Theology and Apologetics at Westminster Seminary California, founder and editor-in-chief of Sola Media, and host of the White Horse Inn, a weekly roundtable podcast on theology and culture. He is the author of more than thirty books, including Justification: Volumes 1 and 2 in Zondervan Academic’s New Studies in Dogmatics and The Christian Faith: A Systematic Theology for Pilgrims on the Way.
Scot McKnight (PhD, Nottingham) has been a Professor of New Testament for more than four decades. He is the author of more than ninety books, including the award-winning The Jesus Creed as well as The King Jesus Gospel, A Fellowship of Differents, One.Life, The Blue Parakeet, Revelation for the Rest of Us, and Kingdom Conspiracy.
Table of Contents
Introduction: What is the Gospel? Michael F. Bird
- The King Jesus Gospel | Scot McKnight
- The Reformation Gospel | Michael Horton
- The Wesleyan Gospel | David A. DeSilva
- The Pentecostal Gospel | Julie Ma
- A Liberation Gospel View | Shively T.J. Smith
Conclusion | Jason Maston
PRAISE FOR FIVE VIEWS ON THE GOSPEL
“I found myself agreeing with much in each essay and hoping that such dialogue can help us synthesize the best insights of each, while keeping Jesus’s identity and work at the center.”
—CRAIG S. KEENER., Asbury Theological Seminary
“This book is warmly recommended for pastors, students, and scholars alike as they seek to better understand and explain
the biblical gospel.”
—BRANDON D. SMITH, Oklahoma Baptist University
“This volume is a wonderful contribution to the discussion and will be a valuable resource,
not only for theologians and pastors but also for those of us who want to see lives powerfully transformed by the 'gospel.'”
—MICHAEL LICONA, Houston Christian University
"An opportunity for clarification, refinement, and for readers to ponder the width, height, and depth of the glory of the good news of the Messiah. This is one of my favorite volumes in Zondervan’s Counterpoints series, and I highly recommend it to anyone interested in the gospel and its effects.”
—NIJAY K. GUPTA, Northern Seminary
“This valuable resource brings together five articulations of the gospel, each with different yet mostly complementary framings and emphases. It challenges us to pay attention to aspects of the gospel that are found in Scripture but may not have as prominent a place in our own formulations and traditions.”
—TIM MACBRIDE, Morling College, Australia
“Accessible conversation about the most important question in the world: What is the gospel of Jesus Christ?”
—JARVIS J. WILLIAMS, The Southern
Baptist Theological Seminary
“Engaging with biblical evidence and with each other, each contributor demonstrates how sin, salvation, the centrality of Christ, and discipleship are enacted within their tradition. A gospel feast for thought.”
—JEAN K. LUAH, Singapore Bible College
“Possibly something we can all learn from this book is that the gospel is as deep and rich as it is simple and straightforward. Because the gospel is central to what Jesus and the apostles preached, this discussion is worth having, and this book does an admirable job of overviewing”
—PATRICK SCHREINER, Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary
“This book is a theological treasure, offering deep, well-articulated perspectives on the gospel from a diverse range of voices.”
—DAVID DONNAN, Global Methodist Elder;
Host, The David Donnan Podcast
