A. T. Hanson – författare

This book has been prompted by the dishonesty of much contemporary treatment of the Bible. It is not a 'debunking' of the Bible, but an attempt to show what qualities and what preliminary assumptions are needed for the Bible to be genuinely understood and interpreted. Honest scholarship and honest interpretations must acknowledge that a revolution has taken place in the understanding of the Bible during the last two hundred years and that to try to deny or play down or disguise the results of this revolution is to be faithful neither to God nor to ourselves. With that conviction, and with their customary panache, the authors then go on to look at the facts about the Bible; the New Testament interpretation of scripture; the interpretation of the Bible in the early church; historical criticism; fundamentalism; and prophecy. 'They analyse the books of the Bible, examine the canon and the Bible as norm and as the church's book, consider the role of faith and conclude with a chapter 'In Praise of the Bible'. Here, in the last book together, the Professors Hanson are indeed on top of their form.

This book does precisely what its title indicates. It discusses and makes as clear as possible what, in the authors' view, the church is, what are its limits, what should be its doctrine, what is the status of its ministry and the nature of its sacraments, and how in the present state of disunion, confusion and uncertainty we can conceive that the church of Jesus Christ exists. In other words, it offers a theology of the church.It is addressed primarily to Anglicans, who have every reason to be confused and uncertain. The fact that we live in a period when ecumenical co-operation and dialogue are being practised as never before in the history of Christianity makes the need for clarity here all the more important. However, it does not deal with the many ethical, social, political and even economic issues and choices which face the church, nor is it a blueprint for the future.Many problems are caused by lack of adequate theological reflection. This book provides primarily that and by focussing on what is called ecclesiology, it will provide clergy and laity alike with a basis on which plans can be made for the future.