Campbell-Jack, W.C. and Gavin J. McGrath, eds. New Dictionary of Christian Apologetics (Downers Grove, IL: Intervarsity Press, 2006), 779 pages.
The first thing that should strike the readers of this one-volume Dictionary resource is the breadth of denominational representation and theological representation that the contributors to the volume afford it. Editors C. Campbell-Jack and Gavin McGrath have amassed a truly broad array of perspectives to address the issues regarding contemporary apologetics. In so doing, they have enabled denominationally and theologically distinctive perspectives to be addressed by a theologian from that particular denomination or theological position, which allows the topic(s) to be discussed from an insider perspective, and not an outsider perspective. Pneuma Review readers will find this extremely important in the coverage of topics dear to the collective heart of the Pentecostal/Charismatic movement (e.g., the entry on the role of the Holy Spirit in Apologetics was written by G. A. Cole from Trinity Evangelical Divinity School; the article on Pentecostal and Charismatic Christianity was written W. K. Kay, director of the Centre for Pentecostal and Charismatic Studies, University of Wales). As far as one-volume Dictionary’s and Encyclopedia’s go, this volume produced by IVP ranks within the upper 5%. This is a must-have resource for students, pastors, Sunday School teachers and laypersons. In reality, moreover, it is a must-have resource for any Christian who wishes to understand his/her Christian faith more fully, as well as for those who wish to develop a rational explanation of the Christian faith in the context of today’s complex and ever-changing world. This Dictionary is filled-to-the-brim, so to speak, with hundreds of articles that cover the key topics, historic figures and contemporary issues relating to the items of importance within Christian apologetics. The dictionary is divided into two parts: Part One offers a series of introductory essays that set the framework for the dictionary (six essays examining the importance of apologetics in light of theological, historical and cultural concerns), and Part Two builds on these six essays to present specific and pointed articles on individuals, ideas, and institutions that are critical for appropriate conceptioning of the Christian worldview today. If one doubts the necessity and importance of engaging Christian apologetics today, after reading through the six introductory articles, one will find it to be true that not only is Christian apologetics important today, but also is it one of – if not the – most important areas of Christian discourse today. All of the essays and articles are written by leading Christian philosophers and theologians. Together, the articles and essays within this volume present an accurate and orthodox response to issues facing Christianity today, and as such this one-volume Dictionary is an indispensable resource for Christians living in today’s pluralistic age. Moreover, this one-volume Dictionary does a startlingly good job of balancing between accessibility and depth of information, providing at all times a handy bibliography in which to pursue the conversation further, if desired. A must-have book indeed.
Bradford McCall