Christian Doctrine, Revised Edition

I have used this with many local church groups and find it understandable, grace-full, and clear! It can be opened at any chapter and understood without reading the previous chapters. It is worth the money!

Shirley Guthrie was an excellent professor and his book is wonderful at giving the basics of reformed theology. As he put it this is a good Sunday school text.

I came across the book in 2002, when I was about to leave my seminary. I was studying at an conservative-evangelical seminary in East Java province. To speak frankly, my teachers never introduced me to this volume. But I found it outstanding! Shirley Guthrie, in my view, succeeds in articulating the Reformed faith for today's Christianity. I seldom find conservative systematic volumes have weighty points on the doctrine of trinity and creation in clear reasoning. With the revival of Calvin's focal points on those areas (and the connexion between the two), represented by Reformed theologians like Barth, Moltmann, Colin Gunton (the latter of which I pay my deep admiration), Guthrie strongly condensed the much more complicated discourse into the current straight-to-matter-volume. Forgotten by many theologians, that the one-ness of God, according to Guthrie, means worshipping the one-true God whom the Scripture proclaims, and not the "-ism"s (77); thus he doesn't indermine the one-ness to philosophical speculations--God being one in his 'ontos'; henceforth he paves the way the prominence of trinitarian theologian. So interesting while discussing the Holy Spirit, he has spaces on Christian spirituality as "looking outside, this worldly and recognizing the ordinary work of the Holy Spirit." (298-302), and no doubt that this is a staunch Reformed spirituality. I therefore have different opinion with my friend, Ongkowidjojo, though both of us are from the "same" root of Indonesian evangelicalism (yes, different schools). Guthrie IS a Reformed theologian in Calvinist wing though he has moved away from the Old Princeton school. For readers--pastors and lay people--please don't have reservation to pick this GREAT volume. Are you seeking a compact volume to nurture your mind, enrich your spirituality and grip your faith on solid foundation? This is ONE to choose.

If your faith background was strict and dogmatic and you left because it was so narrow minded, then this is the book to help you find your faith once more. One of the best quotes from the book is, "An honest doubter is closer to the truth than a superficial or dishonest believer." Dr. Guthrie talks about the basic Christian Beliefs and reviews the pros and cons of each area-- so that you can decide what you believe. He does not hand out "pat" answers-- nor does he give "politically correct" answers. He does give Bible references throughout for further reflection. His work is refreshing and most helpful.

Guthrie's "Christian Doctrine" is an excellent introduction to Presbyterian/Reformed theology. A student of Karl Barth's, Guthrie's style, clarity, and structure enable this revised version of his Covenant Life Curriculum doctrinal offering to be appropriated by laity and clergy alike. The updated version is inclusive of theological voices that have joined the ongoing debate in the last thirty years. At the end of each chapter questions are provided to enable group study. This is a wonderful study for serious small group or Sunday school class work. A must have for any serious layperson in the Presbyterian/Reformed family.