A Theology in Outline: Can These Bones Live? began with an undergraduate course taught by Robert W. Jenson at Princeton University in the spring of 2008. Based on a series of twenty-three course lectures, it offers a concise and accessible overview of Christian theology while retaining the atmosphere of Jenson's classroom. Much as does Jenson's Systematic Theology, A Theology in Outline treats a standard sequence of doctrines in Christian theology--God, Trinity, creation, humanity, sin, salvation, church, among others. However, its organizing principle and leitmotiv are less traditional. Reflecting his recent interest in theological interpretation of scripture, Jenson frames the whole of Christian theology as a response to the question posed to the prophet Ezekiel: "Son of man, can these bones live?" For Jenson, to ask this question is to ask whether Christian theology itself is a pile of dead bones. Can the story that God lives with his people be told today? From first to last the chapters of this book proceed under the impelling pressure of this question. They thus comprise a single sequence of illustrative conversations for the purpose of introducing beginners to Christian theology.

The Bible is not a system of theological propositions but a series of witnesses to God's redemptive acts in response to need. Recurring motifs, such as the exodus, covenant or messianic king have emerged in response to need and been adapted in different situations of need. This process culminates in the Christ-event.

This splendid introductory textbook for Christian theology presents two essays by leading scholars on each of the major theological questions. William Placher provides an excellent discussion of the history and current state of each doctrine while the essays explore the key elements and contemporary issues relating to these important theological concepts.

In this book Wilfried Hrle so distills Protestant Christian teaching as to bring fresh insight both to new students and to experienced readers of systematic theology. Outline of Christian Doctrine, however, is not merely a translation of Hrle's classic German text: Nicholas Sagovsky has also entirely adapted the original work to the needs and resources of English-speaking readers. Biblically rooted, contextually sensitive, alert to philosophical issues, and relevant with respect to debates about the world as we know it today, Hrle's Outline of Christian Doctrine: An Evangelical Dogmatics is an ideal contemporary theology book for both class use and individual study.