Everyday Christians need practical and accessible theology. In this handbook first published in 1890, Charles Octavius Boothe simply and beautifully lays out the basics of theology for common people. "Before the charge 'know thyself,'" Boothe wrote, "ought to come the far greater charge, 'know thy God.'" He brought the heights of academic theology down to everyday language, and he helps us do the same today. Plain Theology for Plain People shows that evangelicalism needs the wisdom and experience of African American Christians. Walter R. Strickland II reintroduces this forgotten masterpiece for today. Lexham Classics are beautifully typeset new editions of classic works. Each book has been carefully transcribed from the original texts, ensuring an accurate representation of the writing as the author intended it to be read.

2020 Facsimile of the 1890 First Edition. "Charles Octavius Boothe was born a slave in Alabama in 1845. He learned the alphabet as a preschooler from letters stamped on a tin plate. Working as a clerk in a lawyer's office while still in his teens, he read widely and deeply. He went on to become pastor of First Colored Baptist Church in Meridian, Miss., and founding pastor of Dexter Avenue Baptist Church in Montgomery, Ala. Many of his church members were sharecroppers or common laborers with little formal education. Boothe believed all Christians needed a solid theological foundation on which to build their understanding of God and his plan for their lives. 'The doctrines of our holy religion need to be studied in order, according to some definite system; but simplicity should prevail--simplicity of arrangement and simplicity of language, ' he said. So, he wrote a theological handbook for common Christians, Plain Theology for Plain People, first published in 1890....Boothe follows the admonition of one hymn writer who urged, 'Make the message clear and plain.' The author's theological overview is straightforward but not simplistic, concise but not condescending. He cites Scripture to support every assertion he makes. Sad to say, the "plain" language of the late 19th century may seem lofty and elevated to 21st century readers accustomed to tweets and sound bites. Even so, whether readers want to gain a perspective on theology as seen from the viewpoint of disadvantaged and marginalized people, or whether they simply seek a solidly biblical and Christ-centered introduction to systematic theology, Plain Theology for Plain People is a treasure." Baptist Standard, March 9th, 2018. Eventually retiring from his work in the 1900s, Boothe died in 1924 in Detroit, Michigan.

In Plain Theology for Plain People, first published in 1890, Charles Octavius Boothe simply and beautifully lays out the basics of theology for common people. Walter R. Strickland II reintroduces this forgotten masterpiece for today.

A Plain Account of Christian Perfection by John Wesley is about the theory of perfection according to Christian theology. Excerpt: "1. WHAT I purpose in the following pages is, to give a plain and distinct account of the steps by which I was led, during the course of many years, to embrace the doctrine of Christian Perfection. This I owe to the serious part of mankind; those who desire to know all the truth as it is in Jesus. And these only are concerned with questions of this kind. To these I would nakedly declare the thing as it is, endeavoring all along to show, from one period to another, both what I thought, and why I thought so."

“This book bubbles up out of the heart of a man who has been on pilgrimage in Central Asia’s heartland. He has walked the dusty caravan trails he writes about in this perceptive and challenging book . . . . I’ve walked beside him as together we’ve sought to see Christ plant His church among an unreached Central Asian people group . . . . Gene will challenge you to radically rethink what we mean . . . when we speak of indigenous churches.” –John Lee (pseudonym), Missionary, Central Asia

A unique resource for the study of John Calvin's theology, its reception, and insights for today.

Many sincere, Bible-believing Christians are Calvinists only by default. Thinking that the only choice is between Calvinism (with its presumed doctrine of eternal security) and Arminianism (with its teaching that salvation can be lost), and confident of Christ's promise to keep eternally those who believe in Him, they therefore consider themselves to be Calvinists. It takes only a few simple questions to discover that most Christians are largely unaware of what John Calvin and his early followers of the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries actually believed and practiced. Nor do they fully understand what most of today's leading Calvinists believe. Although there are disputed variations of the Calvinist doctrine, among its chief proponents (whom we quote extensively in context) there is general agreement on certain core beliefs. Many evangelicals who think they are Calvinists will be surprised to learn of Calvin's belief in salvation through infant baptism and of his grossly un-Christian behavior, at times, as the "Protestant Pope" of Geneva, Switzerland. Most shocking of all, however, is Calvinism's misrepresentation of God, who "is love." It is our prayer that this volume will enable readers to examine more carefully the vital issues involved and to follow God's holy Word­--not man's teachings. "The first edition of this book was greeted by fervent opposition and criticism from Calvinists. In this enlarged and revised edition I have endeavored to respond to the critics." --Dave Hunt

Christianity is more than a system of beliefs or even an experience—it's a completely new life. In this fresh new look at the essentials of the Christian walk, Bruce Bickel and Stan Jantz offer practical wisdom and penetrating insights into such foundational topics as... The Bible—why to read it and how to understand it Prayer—how to have an authentic conversation with God The Holy Spirit—how to experience God's power and presence every day Readers will find the encouragement they need to continue making steady progress in their spiritual lives. Chapter summaries, reading lists for further study, and questions for reflection and discussion make this a perfect tool for personal or group use.

Zusammenfassung: This classic little book for new and experienced theologians alike offers wise counsel on the difficulties-- and vital importance-- of maintaining one's spiritual health in the course of academic theological study. Since the book's first appearance in English translation in 1962, thousands of beginning theological students have had the opportunity to eavesdrop, as it were, on the opening lecture of a theological seminar by one of the twentieth century's leading Christian thinkers, Helmut Thielicke. More experienced pastors and theologians have also returned to it again and again for the valuable insights that Thielicke brings to bear on their vocation. (Publisher)