Ebook: Encyclopedia of Christian Theology Vol. 1

The Encyclopedia of Christian Theology is an English translation of the Dictionnaire critique de theologie (PUF, 1998) with some additions and modifications to the French original. A densely academic work, its nearly 500 entries on doctrines, events, theories, schools of thought, and individuals are alphabetically arranged and conclude with excellent supplemental bibliographies and see references. The editor opted against many shorter, dictionary-like entries in favor of fewer, lengthier essays. Consequently, use of the detailed index is necessary. For example, there is no separate entry for the medieval thinker William of Ockham. Rather, he is included in the essay Nominalism and several others.
Theology is here narrowly defined for purposes of what topics to include. "Attention is concentrated on such matters as Trinitarian theology, Christology, the Incarnation, the Redemption," etc. This is evidenced in lengthy entries for Christ/Christology, God, Holy Spirit, and incarnation. Other core issues for Christian theology include Faith, Hope, Love, and peace. Entries are very good at tracing differences among Roman Catholic, Protestant, Anglican, Lutheran, and Orthodox thought, thereby providing the reader with a variety of Christian responses to theological issues even though the work as a whole is rooted in the Roman Catholic tradition. Its importance notwithstanding, Christian teaching about many social issues is not covered for the most part, although the entries for Abortion, Property, and race provide interesting glimpses. Entries often conclude with "a speculative section . . . pointing to tasks remaining to be accomplished and directions in which theological discussion appears to be moving." Many readers may be unused to finding such reflection in an encyclopedia or may find an encyclopedia an altogether inappropriate venue for it.

Although the Encyclopedia of Christian Theology does a great service in making a fine work of scholarship available to the Anglophone world, the excellent supplemental bibliographies are generally to very specialized works, the majority in languages other than English. Moreover, the critical approach to the subject matter is continental in general, French in particular. With these caveats in mind, the work is highly recommended for large academic and theological libraries.