Basics of Christian Theology- Traditional & Contemporary

The book attempts to bring the understanding of theology from different aspects and its growth from the beginning to the present day context. The grounding of the research is more or less based on the Serampore syllabus for the better understanding of Christian theology. This book tries to survey the traditional as well as contemporary understanding of theology and brings its relevance for contextual theological developments. It, inter-alia, is an outcome of much discussions, enormous reading, and teaching in the classes.

At the first instance, the book covers different terminological clarifications and then it elaborates on the different streams of Christian theology. It exhibits the basic sources of theology on which the Christian theology has developed and is actively developing in the areas still needed. This book further tries to deal with the historical development of Christian theology where the emphasis has been on the early teachers of: faith (Church Fathers), medieval thinking, enlightenment; and 19th century liberal discussions. The book also deals with the contemporary developments in Christian theology where the discussion on Neo- Orthodoxy, Existentialism is brought forth.

This study on Christian theology, in a simple language, is not only meant for theological students but also for lay- persons, a very great deal of what they need to know for being able to keep themselves up-to-date with the current theological trends all over the world.

Rev. Amit Thomas is an ordained minister of Evangelical Church of India who hails from Varanasi, North India. He began his theological journey from New Theological College (NTC), Dehradun by completing Bachelor of Theology in 1996. He later went to do the Bachelor of Divinity from Union Biblical Seminary (UBS), Pune in 2001. Then, he obtained his Master of Theology (Christian Theology) in 2007 from Senate of Serampore College (University). Also, as part of his secular education, he did his Master of Arts (History) from Kashi Vidhya Peeth, Varanasi.

He has been teaching in Allahabad Bible Seminary, Allahabad since 2001 in the Department of Christian Theology as Assistant Professor. Apart from his numerous articles which have been published in different journals, his one acclaimed book titled Christ in Multidimensional Context also is an integrated presentation of articles. He is blessed with two sons Anant and Arman and living happily with his wife Ashita.

Revd. Amit Thomas, an experienced teacher of Christian Theology, has put many Indian and South Asian students of Theology in his debt by writing this book which condenses the best of current scholarship in the field of two important topics: First, the preliminary question that all Christian Theology must begin with, What is Theology and What are the Sources of Christian Theology?; Secondly, this is followed by a good summary of the Historical development of Christian Theology right from New Testament times until the current examples of Christian contextual theologies articulated all around the world.

A thorough reading of the book will help the interested readers to gain many new insights as to how the Christian faith, based upon the Christ-Event (the life, teachings, death and resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ), has grown more mature as it has spread around the world from its beginning in current day Palestine and Israel two thousand years ago. We are able to see how new meanings of the Christ-Event have become possible as the Good News, or the Gospel, has been meditated upon by diverse people living in different contexts all around the world. These have enriched our understanding of what God intended to achieve in sending His Son into the world taking human flesh, and our personal faith is challenged and possibly made more relevant by incorporating these new insights.

Such books are sorely needed to be written and printed in India as most of the books that the Revd. Amit Thomas has quoted are only found in bigger theological libraries and, being published abroad, are very costly to purchase and difficult to obtain. Some, of course, are now out of print. Here in this book, not only theological students, but even the interested lay-person, will find in simple language, a very great deal of what they need to know to be able to keep themselves up-to-date with the current theological trends all over the world.

The study of Christian theology is an endeavor to systematically analyze the origin and development of Christian theology as an important aspect of Christian faith. The study of Christian theology helps to see many facts and discussions which down through the church history had become a hallmark of Christian church as well as for Christian faith.

In this book, an attempt has been made to discuss the development of theological thinking right from the age of the early church; primarily talking about the sources of theology on which the Christian theology has developed and still actively developing in the needful areas. This book also tries to deal with historical development of Christian theology where the emphasis has been on the early teachers of: faith (Church Fathers), medieval thinking, enlightenment, and 19th century liberal discussions. The Book also deals with the contemporary developments in Christian theology where the discussion on Neo-Orthodoxy, Existentialism is brought forth.

There has been strong focus on the ecumenical and contextual theological developments such as Dalit, Feminist, Minjung, Water Buffalo and Eco-theology. Contextual realities are considered resources of theology together with Christian sources of Scripture and Traditions. The aim of contextual theologies is to see God's act in the life of poor and struggling people which enables to change their situation in accordance with the vision of the gospel of justice and freedom bringing them to fuller life. These developments show that theology is active and done in a given context which helps in shaping of theological perception of the people.

**Contents and Sample Pages**