Professor of Theology Emeritus,

Dubuque Theological Seminary, Iowa, USA

Dr Daniel J. Adams, Professor of Theology at Hanil University and Theological Seminary, Chonju Korea, a former student and colleague of Dr Bloesch has edited a volume of essays in his honor. The essays are written by former students of Dr Bloesch to mark his retirement after four decades at Dubuque who now live in eight different countries, many in Asia.

It begins,

1 Pioneer and Prophet

Donald Bloesch has been hailed as "a brilliant theologian" who has established himself as "one of evangelicalism's seminal thinkers." For example, Mark Noll described his work as probably "the most notable evangelical theology coming from the mainline churches" and one that is "somewhat unexpectedly . . . providing some of the theological maturity and biblical comprehension absent in the more strictly evangelical bodies." Bernard Ramm referred to it as a "real pioneering effort," while Clark Pinnock said of one of Bloesch's major volumes, "Now we have a self-conscious effort to present evangelical convictions in the light of comprehensive awareness of historical and contemporary theology."

Bloesch's theology has been praised for its overall orthodoxy, incisiveness, catholicity of spirit and academic rigour. This reputation is mainly built upon his most prominent general works, Essentials of Evangelical Theology, The Evangelical Renaissance and The Future of Evangelical Christianity and his controversial Is the Bible Sexist? and The Battle for the Trinity.

Other books on spirituality, such as The Crisis of Piety, The Struggle of Prayer and Centers of Christian Renewal and Wellsprings of Renewal, have also made a substantial contribution to his reputation, not the least because he tackled topics in this area long before other evangelicals did, and integrated these themes into his theology more effectively than others.

But in the North American scene, Bloesch is an evangelical with a difference.

It continues under these headings:

2. Key Theological Principles

2.1 Transcendence and dualism

2.2 Paradox

2.3 Faith seeking understanding

2.4 Catholic Evangelicalism

3. The Essential Evangelical Theologian

The final section states:

The result is a system which displays a dynamic and positive optimism, but given its basic elements, not a "surprising" one, as Noll suggests. It may be considered idealistic by some, but not if attention is paid to one of Bloesch's most important concepts, the paradoxical unity between the Christian life as it is lived in this present world and vision of what God in his grace has accomplished. Therefore, what Noll said of Bloesch's book on the future of evangelical Christianity is true for his entire system: "Donald Bloesch may overestimate the possibility of actually realizing the evangelical potential. He may underestimate the difficulties in moving from ideal to practice. But he has not misconstrued the liberating power of the gospel which unifies Christians even as it draws them from darkness to light. His unwavering fidelity to that power adds edification to the hopes of this fine book."

For further information, contact the publishers or

Dr Daniel J. Adams,

PO Box 77

Chonju, Chonbuk. Korea 560-750