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Michael Horton's highly anticipated The Christian Faith represents his magnum opus and will be viewed as one of---if not the---most important systematic theologies since Louis Berkhof wrote his in 1932. A prolific, award-winning author and theologian, Professor Horton views this volume as 'doctrine that can be preached, experienced, and lived, as well as understood, clarified, and articulated.' It is written for a growing cast of pilgrims making their way together and will be especially welcomed by professors, pastors, students, and armchair theologians. Features of this volume include: (1) a brief synopsis of biblical passages that inform a particular doctrine; (2) surveys of past and current theologies with contemporary emphasis on exegetical, philosophical, practical, and theological questions; (3) substantial interaction with various Christian movements within the Protestant, Catholic and Orthodoxy traditions, as well as the hermeneutical issues raised by postmodernity; and (4) charts, sidebars, questions for discussion, and an extensive bibliography, divided into different entry levels and topics.

Michael S. Horton (PhD, University of Coventry and Wycliffe Hall, Oxford) is the J. Gresham Machen Professor of Systematic Theology and Apologetics at Westminster Seminary California. He is the president of White Horse Media, for which he co-hosts the White Horse Inn, a nationally syndicated, weekly radio talk show exploring issues of Reformation theology in American Christianity. The editor-in-chief of Modern Reformation magazine, Horton is the author of more than 20 publications. His book The Christian Faith was awarded the 2012 Christianity Today Book Award for Theology and Ethics. SPANISH BIO: Michael S. Horton ensena teologia y apologetica en el Seminario Westminster en Escondido, California, donde vive con su esposa Lisa y sus cuatro hijos. Es un prolifico autor, anfitrion de un programa de radio y editor de la revista Modern Reformation.

In this impressive volume Michael Horton takes the movement of confessing evangelicals to a new level. He remints and rethinks the greatness of seventeenth-century Reformed theology and makes it accessible for readers today.
-George Hunsinger, Princeton Theological Seminary

This is a work of outstanding theological and spiritual cogency and will command wide attention.
-John Webster, King's College, University of Aberdeen

Horton’s Christian Faith has the great merit of never letting the reader forget that doctrine is for disciples who want to walk the way of Jesus Christ. . . . take up this book, read, and walk!
-Kevin J. Vanhoozer, Wheaton College and Graduate School

This is a remarkable volume: lucid, insightful, learned, and faithful, The Christian Faith is that rare book that substantially contributes to and helpfully introduces Christian theology.
-Kevin W. Hector, The University of Chicago Divinity School

A remarkable accomplishment—the most significant single-volume systematic theology to be written in decades!
-J. Todd Billings, Western Theological Seminary

Protestant orthodoxy is alive and active. Horton's precision is sure to initiate a new series of theological refinement in light of new global realities.
-Anthony B. Bradley, The King's College

This book is one of the most significant voices to be heard in framing a systematic theology for this generation of the Reformed movement.
-Bryan Chapell, Covenant Theological Seminary

A crisp, clear, and forceful new theology that is at once biblical and reverent, historical and contemporary, learned but accessible.
-David F. Wells, Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary

A remarkable work. Horton’s approach to systematic theology is fresh and critically needed in our time.
-R.C. Sproul, Saint Andrew’s Chapel

“No one writes as carefully, cogently, and thoughtfully in the grand tradition of Protestant systematic theology as does Michael Horton.
-Richard Lints, Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary

Matthew (CBD Academic): Beginning in 2002 you published a series of books with WJK on four central theological topics including Eschatology, Soteriology, Ecclesiology, and Christology. How does The Christian Faith differ from these books? How can they be used in conjunction with one another?

Horton: Those books really helped me do a lot of the research that formed the background for writing this volume. They're sort of in the "studies in dogmatics" genre, where you get to focus on doctrinal issues that you're already interested in exploring. You can really drill down on some issues and ignore others. A systematic theology, I've learned, is pretty different. You can't dwell on hobby-horses. You can't think out-loud.

After all, you are trying to summarize "the faith once and for all delivered to the saints," insofar as any of us can do that. And all of us who are called to the ministry as pastors and teachers are called to do that regularly.

I had great editors at Zondervan who made sure there was no repetition from these earlier works. So it really is a new book, including new research, from the ground up. These other books can still serve as "for further reading" resources on various topics and I footnote those spots along the way.

Matthew: If there was one thing you could say to pastors about the need for good theology, what would it be?

Horton: We're soul doctors. Not only do medical doctors dedicate years to formal instruction, they are regularly engaged in seminars, conferences, and training programs for continuing education. We all want doctors who not only have good bedside manner and can manage a staff; we look for expertise in the healing field.

Similarly, bad theology can be deadly. According to the latest Pew study, evangelical Christians trailed atheists and Mormons in understanding basics of the Bible and Christian doctrine as well as other religions. Something is wrong, and part of that is the false choice that many assume when it comes to doctrine and life, creeds and deeds, knowing and doing.

If theology is "the study of God," then there is nothing more important for us to explore, especially as pastors. One can't have a personal relationship with someone apart from knowing what that person is like and we can't be good spiritual healers unless we know how to diagnose and treat the illness.

Matthew: Your Theology is a "top down" methodology that is dependent on revelation. How does your understanding of the trinity play into this paradigm, and specifically how does your understanding of Christology factor into your "top down" construction of a revelatory theological paradigm?

Horton: Great question. "The Word became flesh": that's where we begin. Instead of our rising to God in proud speculation, God descends to us in humility and grace.

We start with the particular God who has revealed himself in Jesus Christ. When it comes to the doctrine of Scripture, I press the importance of a Trinitarian conception of inspiration. If we make our view of inspiration hang entirely on the fact that the Word is spoken by the Father (and therefore cannot err), we can fall into a mechanical view; if we put all of the weight only on the Son as the content that grounds inspiration and authority, we can adopt a "canon-within-a-canon" approach: only that which preaches Christ (or that we judge preaches Christ) is actually Scripture.

Focusing exclusively on the Spirit's work is susceptible to "enthusiasm": separating the Spirit from the Word. So I try to show how a robust doctrine of inspiration is based equally on the Father's speaking in the Son by the Spirit.

Matthew: The Christian Faith includes study questions at the end of each chapter, why were these included and who will benefit most from them?

Horton: Theology is not only done for the church, but at its best it is done in the church. My hope is that it will not only be used as a textbook in classes, but also in group studies within churches. The questions aren't selected with a view merely to recalling my conclusions, but as a springboard for guided discussion of the relevant scriptural passages by others.

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