BOOK REVIEW

The SCM Press A-Z of Evangelical Theology, Roger E. Olson, London:SCM, 2005, 336 pp

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1. Introduction
2. Content
3. Usefulness for the Latin American pastor or seminary student
4. Strengths
5. Weaknesses

1. Introduction

Depending on the country, the word “evangelical” has different connotations. In some places it means Protestant, in others the belief in the infallibility of the Bible, and in others, evangelist.

The word “evangelical” has different connotations to where we are in the world. Sometimes it means protestant, and evangelical churches are protestant ones. Elsewhere it describes principally a belief in the infallibility of the Bible and a rejection of destructive criticism. Finally, the word can simply have the connotation of “evangelist”.

This publication deals with the varied theology of the evangelical world and in particular as it exists in North America. It describes the movement’s history, its principal thinkers, personalities and organizations; its traditional doctrines and the points of debate within its membership over these doctrines.

2. Content

The history of the movement in North America has various roots involving the British European reformation and British puritan movement. It also has its connections with pietism (17 th century), and in the revival preaching of men such as John Wesley and George Whitefield (18 th century).

In the 19 th century there was a period of a more orthodox evangelicalism with the development of Princeton Theological Seminary. This is orthodoxy not in the sense of the Orthodox Church but in terms of the reformation theology of Calvin. The movement was also associated with the birth of Pentecostalism owing to its connection with pietism and the holiness movement.

Between 1910 and 1915 it responded to the critical liberal views of the Bible with the publication of 10 booklets called “The Fundamentals” which expounded through a number of articles a confidence in the Scriptures. This indicates that initially the word “fundamentalism” indicated simply a trust in the inspiration and infallibility of the Bible. It was later that it took on a more pejorative sense of unreasoning extremism.

After The Fundamentals and until now various tensions within the movement have arisen Debates occured between those who regarded themselves as genuine fundamentalists, and those who regarded themselves as holding to a more balanced evangelicalism. Within the camp of evangelicalism differences have arisen about the extent of the inspiration of the Bible, the role of the church in society and the doctrine of how God determines the future.

Olson describes the history of 17 diverse evangelical movements. For example, the Billy Graham organization, dispensationalism, the IVP publishing house, Puritanism, Pentecostalism and the World Evangelical Alliance.

There is a description of the lives and ministries of 16 influential evangelicals, such as, Francis Shaeffer, Charles Finney, C.S.Lewis and B.B.Warfield. The base of the selection was that it should not include those who are still alive. This means that some of the best known figures, such as Luis Palau and John Stott, are exluded.

There is a summary of 65 traditional evangelical doctrines. Typically this includes the covenant, creation, hell, justification, the gospel and the trinity. Olson does not include the Biblical basis for these doctrines, but rather indicates evangelical thinking on them and where there are points of debate. So, for example, when dealing with justification, the controversy over the New Perspective on Paul’s theology is included but not his treatment of the doctrine in Romans and Galatians. Or when dealing with hell, he makes reference to the debate over annihilation but does not examine the biblical data.

The last section of the book deals with 14 doctrines where there is debate amongst evangelicals themselves. These include the traditional debates between Calvinists and Arminians, about creation or evolution, and over the baptism of the Holy Spirit. There are also new areas of controversy dealing with epistemology and how a person comes to believe – is it by evidences in the world or by reason; the question of homosexuality; the role of the woman in the church; and the doctrine of the foreknowledge of God – has he determined the future or does he depend upon what our actions are?

3. Usefulness for the Latin American pastor or seminary student

Although the publication focuses on English speakers in North America, this form of evangelicalism is felt in Latin America. Many missions to Latin America are made up of evangelicals from North America. .For this reason it is important appreciate the movement’s roots and main doctrines.

The section of the book dealing with debates amongst evangelicals themselves enables an understanding of the tensions in missions and church founded by such bodies. At times tensions in the churches are imported by the foreign missionaries. It is a pity that there is nothing on the prosperity gospel, nor on the place of politics in the church, nor on liberation theology.

4. Strengths

1. In a comprehensive way the publication shows the modern North American evangelical movement. Here are its doctrines, influential leaders, history and debates.

2. The section entitled “Issues in Evangelical Theology” is important because it enables the reader to understand the development of evangelicalism and its effect in Latin America.

3. The author’s style is reasonably easy to follow although he is having to summarize complex doctrinal discussions.

5. Weaknesses

1. It is necessary to go to a Bible or Theological Dictionary to appreciate the Scriptural base for the doctrines explained.

2. It is a pity that the author did not extend the section on issues amongst evangelicals to include other obvious areas such as the prosperity gospel and politics in the church.

3. All the work is by one author, so as a kind of dictionary the publication lacks the wealth of knowledge from having various specialist writers.