This series offers a compelling platform for exploring diverse perspectives on critical Christian issues. Each volume presents contrasting viewpoints, fostering a deeper understanding of debates within church life and biblical theology. Readers are encouraged to critically engage with a spectrum of arguments. It serves as an invaluable resource for those seeking nuanced insights and a balanced exploration of faith.
Recent years have seen much controversy around the apostle Paul, his religious and social context, and its effects on his theology. In the helpful Counterpoints format---Four Views on the Apostle Paul, four leading scholars present their views on the best framework for describing Paul's theological perspective, including a Reformed View, a Catholi
This book guides students, pastors, and lay learners to consider and evaluate various ways of understanding God's involvement in the world, especially in relation to views on predestination and the extent of the atonement. Four different scholars present their positions in point-counterpoint style, and the editor's introduction and conclusion fram
Do Christians, Muslims, and Jews worship the same God? More foundationally, why does it even matter? In this Counterpoints volume, edited by Ronnie P. Campbell, Jr., and Christopher Gnanakan, five top-notch scholars present the main perspectives on whether the God of Christianity, Judaism, and Islam is one and the same.
The book explores four major church governance models: Episcopalianism, Presbyterianism, Single-Elder Congregationalism, and Plural-Elder Congregationalism, each presented by a respected advocate. The format encourages a balanced discussion, as each perspective is critiqued by others, followed by responses from the original proponents. This interactive approach helps readers understand the biblical basis for each model, consider the strengths and weaknesses, and ultimately draw their own informed conclusions about church governance.
Of the most common approaches to apologetics, which is most effective? The goal of apologetics is to persuasively defend Christianity against charges of falsehood, inconsistency, or credulity. It's an intellectual discipline that serves to bolster the faith of Christian believers and to aid the task of evangelism, but are some methods more effective than others? Five Views on Apologetics examines the "how-to" of apologetics, putting five prominent techniques under the Offering a forum for presentation, critique, and defense, this book allows the contributors for the different viewpoints to respond to the others. Your own informed conclusions can then guide you as you meet the questions of a needy world with the claims of the gospel. 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.
This is a presentation of and interaction among the three main views on the end times held by evangelicals: Premillennial, postmillennial, and amillennial.
Four different ways Christians understand the Lord's Supper---Baptist view (memorialism), Reformed (spiritual presence), Lutheran (consubstantiation), and Roman Catholic (transubstantiation)---are fairly represented and debated to provide readers with an opportunity to draw their own conclusion on this important Christian institution.
Four Views on Creation, Evolution, and Intelligent Design presents the current 'state of the conversation' about origins among evangelicals representing four key positions: Young Earth Creationism, Old Earth (Progressive) Creationism, Evolutionary Creation, and Intelligent Design.
Representatives of five major Protestant perspectives join in this book to present their views on sanctification.
A lively discussion in which six authors interact with each other on whether Messianic congregations are necessary or whether Jewish believers should instead be incorporated into the Gentile church. schovat popis
The exploration of four main evangelical positions on miraculous gifts provides a comprehensive analysis of differing theological perspectives. Each viewpoint is examined in detail, highlighting the scriptural basis and implications for contemporary faith practices. The author aims to foster understanding and dialogue among believers, encouraging readers to reflect on their own beliefs regarding the continuation or cessation of miraculous gifts in the modern church.
Exploring the debate over eternal security, this volume presents four distinct theological perspectives: classical Calvinist, moderate Calvinist, reformed Arminian, and Wesleyan Arminian. Each contributor articulates their view on whether salvation can be lost, followed by critiques and defenses from other scholars. This respectful exchange allows readers to evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of each position. As part of the Counterpoints series, it provides a scholarly platform for understanding complex issues in Christian theology.
For whom did Christ die? Who may be saved? are questions of perennial interest and importance for the Christian faith. In a familiar Counterpoints format, this book explores the question of the extent of Christ's atonement, going beyond simple Reformed vs. non-Reformed understandings. This volume elevates the conversation to a broader plane, including contributors who represent the breadth of Christian tradition: Eastern Orthodox: Andrew Louth Roman Catholic: Matthew Levering Traditional Reformed: Michael Horton Wesleyan: Fred Sanders Barthian Universalism: Tom Greggs This book serves not only as a single-volume resource for engaging the views on the extent of the atonement but also as a catalyst for understanding and advancing a balanced approach to this core Christian doctrine. The Counterpoints series provides a forum for comparison and critique of different views on issues important to Christians. Counterpoints books address two categories: Church Life and Bible and Theology. Complete your library with other books in the Counterpoints series.
Four Views on the Historical Adam features four main views on the historicity of Adam. Each contributor presents their positions, responds to each other's arguments, and seeks to clearly delineate the biblical and theological issues at stake. Concluding reflections explore the implications of the views for everyday believers and congregations.
Homosexuality is one of the most hotly debated topics in the evangelical church today. In Two Views on Homosexuality, the Bible, and the Church four contributors, two defending a traditional view and two defending an affirming view, address not only biblical and theological questions, but also the pressing pastoral questions for the church.
This book articulates various evangelical views regarding the church's mission and provides a healthy, vigorous, and gracious debate on this controversial topic. In a helpful Counterpoints format, this volume demonstrates the unique theological frameworks, doctrinal convictions, and missiological conclusions that inform the different views.
Gain an understanding of baptism from four main traditional perspectives. Of all the sacraments, the practice of baptism is often the most disputed. Christians hold different views of its exact significance, who should receive baptism and how old they need to be, the practice of rebaptism, and baptism as a requirement for church membership. In Understanding Four Views on Baptism , four historic views on baptism are considered in depth: Each view is presented by its proponent, then critiqued and defended in dialogue with the book's other contributors. Here is an ideal setting in which you can consider the strengths and weaknesses of each stance and arrive at your own informed conclusion. 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.
Evangelical Christianity has seen a resurgence of interest in eternal judgment. In response, this second edition of Four Views of Hell featuring all new contributors, delivers a thorough presentation of the opposing voices that speak to the current debate.
Four Views on the Book of Revelation are presented, critiqued, and defended: preterist, idealist, and the classical dispensationalist and progressive dispensationalist forms of the futurist approach.
Through a discussion of Biblical texts, this book presents four perspectives on the role of works at the final judgment including: Robert N. Wilkin: Works will determine rewards but not salvation: At the Judgment Seat of Christ each believer will be judged by Christ to determine his eternal rewards, but he remains eternally secure even if the judgment reveals he failed to persevere in good works (or in faith). Thomas R. Schreiner: Works will provide evidence that one actually has been saved: At the final judgment works provide the necessary condition, though not the ground for final salvation, in that they provide evidence as to whether one has actually trusted in Jesus Christ. James D. G. Dunn: Works will provide the criterion by which Christ will determine eternal destiny of his people: Since Paul, Jesus, and the New Testament writers hold together 'justification by faith and not by works' with 'judgment according to works', we should not fall into the trap of playing one off against the other or blend them in a way that diminishes the force of each. Michael P. Barber: Works will merit eternal life: At the final judgment, good works will be rewarded with eternal salvation. However, these good works will be meritorious not apart from Christ but precisely because of the union of the believer with him.
This book in the Counterpoints: Exploring Theology series introduces three approaches presently employed in the study of the uses of the Old Testament in the New Testament, especially in those instances where the New Testament authors discern the fulfillment of a prophetic element in the Old Testament text. The foundational issue concerns the rela
This book explores five major approaches to the relationship between the law and the Gospel, each author presenting his particular perspective on the issue and responding to the other four.
This revised and strengthened edition presents two essays representing the egalitarian and the complementarian/hierarchical views of women and ministry.