Reforming the Christian Faith: Theological Interpretation After the Protestant Reformation

Central to the mission of the church with each passing generation is the elucidation of the gospel of Christ which is the heart of the Christian message. Witness to Gods saving word in Scripture comes in response to discussions and debates arising over the course of church history. Our study highlights some of the unity and disunity found within the Reformed tradition Reformation and modern. Beginning with the subject of the development of doctrine over the course of church history we take up the foundational issue of biblical hermeneutics (the question of how we are to interpret the Bible). The year 2017 marks the Protestant Churchs 500th anniversary (October 31). We consider secondly Protestantisms two leading theological principles--the formal (the doctrine of Scripture) and the material (the doctrine of justification by faith alone). In the final section we critique departures from the teaching of historic federalism found within contemporary Reformed orthodoxy which strikes at the very heart of what it means to be Reformed in theology. Crucial in this long-standing and ongoing dispute is the interpretation of the Mosaic Covenant as in some sense a republication of the original Covenant of Works with Adam at creation. Covenant and justification are the focal doctrines under study. In Reforming the Christian Faith Mark Karlberg continues his clarion calls for a consistent covenant theology and adherence to the core reformation doctrine of justification by faith alone. By perceptive analysis of current developments in the convoluted discussions and concerning decisions occurring in conservative reformed institutions he reveals contemporary confusion on the relation between works and grace that combined with political maneuvers in academic and ecclesiastical circles undermines the churchs credibility and witness. --Meredith M. Kline Ranked Adjunct Assistant Professor of Oriental Languages Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary The readers of Karlbergs Reforming the Christian Faith may not agree with his critical stance against contemporary evangelical and reformed scholars who deny or ignore the Protestant evangelical distinction between law and gospel. Nevertheless the readers will greatly benefit from and appreciate the rich implication and substance of his new book. This book is timely as we celebrate the 500th anniversary of the Protestant Reformation in Europe. I highly recommend Dr. Karlbergs book to the next generation of seminarians pastors scholars and missionaries in the Global Mission Field whose desire is to preach and teach the good news of the gospel before the second coming of Jesus Christ. -- Jeong Koo Jeon Professor of Biblical and Systematic Theology Faith Theological Seminary Mark W. Karlberg a leading defender of historic Reformed federalism has previously taught at Chesapeake Theological Seminary and the Seminary of the Reformed Episcopal Church. He obtained three theological degrees from Westminster Theological Seminary in Philadelphia including a doctor in Reformation/Post-Reformation studies. Reforming the Christian Faith is the fifth and final book in the series on covenant theology Reformation and modern published by Wipf and Stock.