The Encyclopedia of Christianity, Volume 1 (A-D)

by Erwin Fahlbusch, Jan Milic Lochman, John Mbiti, Jaroslav Pelikan, Lukas Vischer

Overview

Volume 1 (A-D) contains 465 articles featuring

• articles on all but the smallest countries of the world, including the former communist nations that have gained independence since 1989;
• the latest statistical information from David B. Barrett on the religious affiliation and ecclesiastical breakdown of each country and continent;
• articles on doctrines, denominations, and social and ethical issues in relation to the churches;
• biographical articles on prominent figures through church history.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780802879998
Publisher:	Eerdmans, William B. Publishing Company
Publication date:	01/25/2021
Series:	The Encyclopedia of Christianity (Ec)
Pages:	933
Product dimensions:	7.44(w) x 9.69(h) x 1.84(d)

About the Author

Erwin Fahlbusch (d. 2007) was professor of theology at theUniversity of Frankfurt.


(1922-2004) Jan Milic Lochman was Rector of the University of Basel.


John Mbiti is John A. Mackay Professor of WorldChristianity at Princeton Theological Seminary.


(1923–2006) Jaroslav Pelikan was Sterling Professor of History Emeritus at Yale University. He is the author of more than thirty books, including Jesus Through the Centuries. He has received the Jefferson Award of the National Endowment for the Humanities


Lukas Vischer (1926–2008) was a Swiss Reformedtheologian noted for his ecumenical efforts in both theWorld Council of Churches and the World Alliance ofReformed Churches. He was professor emeritus of ecumenicaltheology at Evangelical Reformed Theological Faculty ofBerne, Switzerland.

Table of Contents

"A sampling of contributors and articles in Volume 1:

James Barr Biblical Theology
Hans Dieter Betz Corinthians, Epistles to the
Edith L. Blumhofer Assemblies of God
Geoffrey W. Bromiley Cranmer, Thomas
James H. Cone Black Theology
Edwin S. Gaustad Baptists, Christian Church; Churches of Christ; Churches of God
Clifford Green Bonhoeffer, Dietrich
Paulos Mar Gregorios Coptic Orthodox Church
Norman A. Hjelm Christian Communication; Christian Publishing
Anastasios Kallis Anaphora; Christology
Bruce M. Metzger Bible Manuscripts and Editions
Ekkehard Mühlenberg Apologists; Christology; Docetism
Dietrich Ritschl Apostasy; Authority; Christology
Peter Stuhlmacher Atonement
Eugene TeSelle Augustine

Editorial Reviews

"This monumental work based on the German Evangelisches Kirchenlexikon features many enhancements and additions of special value to English speaking users.... When the five-volume set is complete it will form a fresh and comprehensive reference package on Christianity past and present. The work combines quality scholarship with accessibility for the ordinary user."

Anglican Journal (Canada)

Articles cover a wide range of topics that will interest those studying Christianity, comparative religion, theology, and ethics.... Particularly helpful are articles on social movements (such as the civil rights movement): These, along with the statistical and cultural information, provide a cultural-critical emphasis instead of only disembodied ideas. The articles also cut across all branches of Christianity. Cross-references are easy to use, and the English translation is excellent. Should interest anyone who wants to emphasize both history and comparative religion when studying Christianity.

Religious Studies Review

Eerdmans and Brill have teamed up to produce a timely and ambitious Encyclopedia of Christianity (EC) that brings together theology and the social sciences in a fresh and accessible format.... The 1,700 articles of the EC will be a treasure trove of information on Christian thought and the current Christian sociocultural context in Protestant perspective. It is useful for beginning scholars, laity, non-Christians, as well as scholars.

Theology Today

Broad, comprehensive, scholarly.... Current demographic data on Christianity are provided for each country—an outstanding feature.... When complete, this should be the standard reference on Christianity for academic and public libraries.

Choice

The much-lauded Evangelisches Kirchenlexikon (3d ed.) is being published in a five-volume expanded English translation expected to be completed over the next five years. The German editors have worked with the editors of the English edition to add significant content for American and British audiences, and this first volume sets the standard for reference works of this kind. While starting from a Protestant foundation, the encyclopedia is remarkably free of bias and covers all branches of Christianity with sufficient depth. The articles capture nuances while maintaining clarity. The work also covers every country of the world in country-specific and regional articles, other major religions, new religious movements, and Christian denominations and sects. The work is meticulously organized, with clear cross references to related articles. Because Christianity interacts with sociology, psychology, ethics, and politics, such articles as "Anxiety," "Birth Control," "Colonialism," and "Conservatism" also appear. The scope, scholarship, and clarity of the work should make it the modern replacement for such classic reference works as The New Schaff-Herzog Encyclopedia of Religious Knowledge (1908) and the Twentieth Century Encyclopedia of Religious Knowledge: An Extension of the New Schaff-Herzog Encyclopedia of Religious Knowledge (1955), which focused on Protestantism and frequently exhibited a polemical edge. One minor caveat is that the new encyclopedia's German origin and the translation's intended American-British audience result in some articles dealing only with Germany, England, and the United States. Eessential; this is possibly the best encyclopedic reference on Christianity.--William P. Collins, Library of Congress

Library Journal

The five German volumes of were published between 1986 and 1997 by Vandenhoeck and Ruprecht, G<:o>ttingen, and are being translated into English at the projected rate of one per year. The translations seek to further the original goal of providing a reference to Christianity that is both deep and broad, but include new articles, additions to articles, and updated entry-specific bibliographies for English readers. The coverage is world wide, with articles written from perspectives of many countries and cultures, and encompasses the entire history of Christianity from its beginnings through the 20th century. Perhaps an index is provided for the entire set. Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)

Booknews