Product Details
- Cover Type:
- 230 Pages
- Publisher: Baker Book House
- Publication Date: December 2012
- ISBN: FBEILBJAUNDERSTANDINGSPIRITU9780801039362
Understanding Spiritual Warfare: Four Views
The topic of spiritual warfare is an issue of ongoing interest in a number of sectors of the contemporary church. In most non-Western ecclesiastical contexts, the reality and importance of spiritual warfare is a given. Yet in the contemporary Western church, it remains a topic of curiosity and discussion.
Recognizing the significance of spiritual warfare for today's church, this multi-view work brings together leading theologians and ministry leaders to present major positions on the subject in dialogical fashion--all authors present their views and then respond to each of the other views.
Contributors include:
- Walter Wink with Gareth Higgins and Michael Hardin
- David Powlison
- Gregory Boyd
- C. Peter Wagner and Rebecca Greenwood
Each contributor interacts with five questions:
- What is the nature of Satan and the demonic?
- What role does spiritual warfare serve in the Bible and how central is it to the biblical narrative?
- How should Christians conceive of and practice spiritual warfare?
- Can individual human beings be "demonized"? If so, how does this happen and how is it to be dealt with? Can a Christian be demonized?
- Do "territorial spirits" exist? If so, are we called directly to engage them in "strategic level" spiritual warfare?
This volume provides a balanced, irenic approach to a much-discussed and often controversial topic. Offering a model of critical thinking and respectful dialogue, it highlights the differences between contributors, discusses a full range of important topics on the subject, and deploys biblical as well as theological arguments.
About the Editors
James K. Beilby (PhD, Marquette University) is professor of systematic and philosophical theology at Bethel University in St. Paul, Minnesota. He has coedited several multiple-views books (with Paul Eddy), most recently The Historical Jesus: Five Views and Justification: Five Views. He is also the author of Epistemology as Theology and Thinking about Christian Apologetics.
Paul Rhodes Eddy (PhD, Marquette University) is professor of biblical and theological studies at Bethel University in St. Paul, Minnesota. He has coedited several multiple-views books (with James Beilby) and has authored and coauthored a number of other books, including John Hick's Pluralist Philosophy of World Religions; The Jesus Legend; and Across the Spectrum 2nd edition.
Endorsements (${ productEndorsements.length })
“A topic as controversial and divisive as spiritual warfare has long needed a volume like this. Whether or not one wholly embraces any one of the four views presented here (I don't), hardly a text is left unexamined or a question unanswered. The church cannot afford to live in ignorance of such a vital subject, and this excellent treatment goes a long way in bringing us the knowledge we need. Highly recommended!”
Sam Storms
Lead Pastor for Preaching and Vision, Bridgeway Church, Oklahoma City
“Finally we have a theological, biblical, and multidisciplinary assessment of spiritual warfare, a topic which continues to divide and inspire many Christians. Here is a resource that helps put the dominant hermeneutical and spiritual orientations in perspective. The choice of topic and contributors is bold and innovative and the editors' introduction is brilliant. Talk about a dynamic dialogue! Highly recommended.”
VeliMatti Krkkinen
Professor of Systematic Theology, Fuller Theological Seminary; Docent of Ecumenics, University of Helsinki, Finland
“This is a four-views book at its best, a satisfying engagement between the advocates of four very different approaches to spiritual warfare. Each of the representatives has been influential in a particular segment of Christianity, and here is the chance to see them in a respectful-but-sharp dialogue about the key texts and the critical issues.”
Clinton E. Arnold
Dean and Professor of New Testament, Talbot School of Theology, Biola University
“Spiritual warfare--shouldn't all Christians be engaged in it? And if it is indeed warfare, doesn't that mean there's a lot at stake? Or are some versions of spiritual warfare a paganization of the Christian gospel? There are many 'four views' books on the market, but this one on spiritual warfare is one of the few that ably addresses important issues of global Christian theological and practical concern. No seminary education is complete without it.”
Amos Yong
J. Rodman Williams Professor of Theology, Regent University School of Divinity
“This illuminating book helps readers sort through the plethora of approaches to spiritual warfare. Positions exist in addition to the four explored here, but the range offered is informative and will help the reader sort through why he or she agrees or disagrees on various points. Anyone who wants to understand and hear the case for various positions should start here.”
Craig Keener
Professor of New Testament, Asbury Theological Seminary
Product Description
The topic of spiritual warfare is an issue of ongoing interest in a number of sectors of the contemporary church. In most non-Western ecclesiastical contexts, the reality and importance of spiritual warfare is a given. Yet in the contemporary Western church, it remains a topic of curiosity and discussion.
Recognizing the significance of spiritual warfare for today's church, this multi-view work brings together leading theologians and ministry leaders to present major positions on the subject in dialogical fashion--all authors present their views and then respond to each of the other views.
Contributors include:
- Walter Wink with Gareth Higgins and Michael Hardin
- David Powlison
- Gregory Boyd
- C. Peter Wagner and Rebecca Greenwood
Each contributor interacts with five questions:
- What is the nature of Satan and the demonic?
- What role does spiritual warfare serve in the Bible and how central is it to the biblical narrative?
- How should Christians conceive of and practice spiritual warfare?
- Can individual human beings be "demonized"? If so, how does this happen and how is it to be dealt with? Can a Christian be demonized?
- Do "territorial spirits" exist? If so, are we called directly to engage them in "strategic level" spiritual warfare?
This volume provides a balanced, irenic approach to a much-discussed and often controversial topic. Offering a model of critical thinking and respectful dialogue, it highlights the differences between contributors, discusses a full range of important topics on the subject, and deploys biblical as well as theological arguments.
About the Editors
James K. Beilby (PhD, Marquette University) is professor of systematic and philosophical theology at Bethel University in St. Paul, Minnesota. He has coedited several multiple-views books (with Paul Eddy), most recently The Historical Jesus: Five Views and Justification: Five Views. He is also the author of Epistemology as Theology and Thinking about Christian Apologetics.
Paul Rhodes Eddy (PhD, Marquette University) is professor of biblical and theological studies at Bethel University in St. Paul, Minnesota. He has coedited several multiple-views books (with James Beilby) and has authored and coauthored a number of other books, including John Hick's Pluralist Philosophy of World Religions; The Jesus Legend; and Across the Spectrum 2nd edition.
About The Author
Product Details
- Cover Type:
- 230 Pages
- Publisher: Baker Book House
- Publication Date: December 2012
- ISBN: FBEILBJAUNDERSTANDINGSPIRITU9780801039362