Christian Book Notes

Murphy, Martin. Theological Terms in Layman Language. CreateSpace Publishers, 2009. 140 pp. $9.95. Purchase at Amazon.

Review

I have reviewed Martin Murphy’s book The god of the Church Growth Movement. I found that book to be a nice introduction to the discussion on the the idol that has become church growth. Now, he has published a dictionary of theological terms with the pew sitter in mind.

This dictionary is not just for theological terms as the title would indicate. Rather, it includes theologians and philosophers from throughout history as well as theological phrases. The book also includes theological and philosophical terms.

Included in some of the definitions, Martin offers some opinion, but for the most part he gives straight-forward definitions.  Below are a couple examples of the definitions from the different categories.

Descartes, Rene. A French philosopher of the 17th century who sought to explain the relation and interaction between matter and thought.  He sought to understand the relation between extension and non-extension.  Descartes described matter as extension and thought as non-extension.  He coined the phrase “Cogito ergo sum,” I think therefore I am.

Mediator. One who attempts to reconcile two parties in conflict.  In the Old Testament the priest was the mediator between God and man prefiguring the true Mediator, the Lord Jesus Christ.  As the God-man Jesus Christ represents both sides God and man.

There is nothing written in here that would keep me from recommending it to a member of my congregation. At $9.95 (cheaper at Amazon), this book is worth purchasing for that Sunday School teacher just getting started or that new Christian “chomping at the bit” wanting to learn more about God and the Bible.