Bible Doctrine, Second Edition: Essential Teachings of the Christian Faith

Explore Answers to Life's Most Important Theological Questions. Over 175,000 Copies Sold!

How do we know the Bible is God's Word? What is sin and where did it come from? How is Jesus fully God and fully man? What are spiritual gifts? When and how will Christ return?

If you've asked questions like these, then systematic theology is no abstract term. It's an approach to finding answers every Christian needs to know. The second edition of Bible Doctrine takes a widely used upper-level textbook on systematic theology and makes it accessible. Abridged from the second edition of Wayne Grudem's award-winning Systematic Theology, Bible Doctrine covers the same essentials of the faith, giving you a firm grasp on seven key topics:

• The Doctrine of the Word of God
• The Doctrine of God
• The Doctrine of Man
• The Doctrine of Christ
• The Doctrine of the Application of Redemption
• The Doctrine of the Church
• The Doctrine of the Future.

You don't need to have had several years of Bible college or seminary training to reap the benefits of Bible Doctrine. It's easy to understand and packed with biblical answers to your most pressing theological questions.

This new edition is 144 pages longer than the first edition and now includes:

• New, thoughtful critiques of open theism, the new perspective on Paul, Molinism (or "middle knowledge"), "Free Grace" theology, and the preterist view of Christ's second coming
• Completely revised, stronger chapter on the clarity of Scripture
• Completely revised, stronger chapter on creation and evolution. New discussion of how biblical inerrancy applies to some specific "problem verses" in the Gospels
• Additional material respectfully explaining evangelical Protestant differences with Roman Catholicism (with extensive interaction with the Catechism of the Roman Catholic Church), Protestant liberalism, and Mormonism
• Completely updated bibliographies
• All Scripture quotations updated from RSV to ESV
• An explanation of why monogenes in John 3:16 and elsewhere should be translated as "only begotten" rather than merely "only"
• An extensive discussion on the eternal submission of the Son to the Father
• A discussion of recent criticisms of the penal substitutionary view of the atonement
• Numerous other updates and corrections that have be prompted by letters and emails from people around the world and by interaction with the students Wayne has taught over the last 26 years both at Trinity Evangelical Divinity School and at Phoenix Seminary

Wayne Grudem is distinguished research professor of Theology and Biblical Studies at Phoenix Seminary in Phoenix, Arizona. He holds degrees from Harvard (AB), Westminster Theological Seminary (MDiv, DD), and Cambridge (PhD). He is the author of more than 30 books including the bestselling Systematic Theology.

Alexander Grudem (MA, Theological Studies, Regent College) teaches at Veritas Academy in Phoenix, Arizona. He is a member of the vestry at Christ Church-Anglican of Phoenix.