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Faith Seeking Understanding: An Introduction to Christian Theology, third ed.
A superb, standard Christian theology text for nearly a quarter century, Daniel Migliore's Faith Seeking Understanding explores all of the major Christian doctrines in freshly contemporary ways. This third edition offers new FOR FURTHER READING suggestions at the end of each chapter, a substantial expansion of the glossary, and new material incorporated throughout, including a section on Christians and Muslims.Further, the three imaginary theological dialogues culminating the book -- pointedly playful exchanges that have delighted countless readers -- are here joined by a fourth dialogue, between Karl Barth and Friedrich Nietzsche, on atheism. All in all, a new generation of students, pastors, and Christian educators, eager to better understand the rich heritage, central themes, and contemporary challenges of Christian theology, will find both guidance and stimulation in Migliore's updated work.
- GenresTheology
504 pages, Kindle Edition
Published August 8, 2014
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
March 22, 2026
Going from Life Together to Faith Seeking Understanding was slightly jarring. While Bonhoeffer was laser focused on a specific part of the Christian life, Daniel Migliore has very skillfully summarized much of modern theology (which is broader than the 20th-21st century, I'm just using that term because it doesn't cover everything).
Through every chapter, Migliore goes through a different theological doctrine, and he does so very skillfully. He doesn't draw from just one corner of Christianity, but just about every corner that has some truly biblical basis (I say that because I don't agree theologically with every stance that Migliore presents in this book, but many of the thoughts proposed by these different theological positions were important and thought-provoking). What I really appreciated was Migliore's neutrality when it came to presenting the information and positions. While I'm sure he has his views, he doesn't let his own preferences get in the way of presenting the information in a very clear way. At the end of the book there are (I believe) three fictional conversations Migliore wrote centering around Karl Barth and a few other theologians and thinkers (such as Niebuhr and Nietzsche). Migliore cites Barth probably the most out of any theologian in this book, and while I'm not exactly a fan of Barth, Migliore is able to sift through Barth's teachings and find real gems.
Overall, I really appreciated Migliore's masterful explanation of the state of contemporary theology, and it widened my perspectives a lot more. The big point of Migliore's that is important to take away is the concept of Theology. Migliore talks about how presently the idea of Theology can leave a bitter taste in people's mouths, particularly due to the argument that Theology has seemed to them to be a lot of thinking and words and not any action. While Migliore agrees that this has been a problem with theologians (I'm not going to go over his whole defense of theology, but it's really good), he states that that is not real theology. Real Theology is "faith seeking understanding". It is the result of a faith that wants to know God on a deeper level, and Migliore believes that the study of theology is one of the most noble and honorable things a Christian can do (And I am happily inclined to agree with him!)
Through every chapter, Migliore goes through a different theological doctrine, and he does so very skillfully. He doesn't draw from just one corner of Christianity, but just about every corner that has some truly biblical basis (I say that because I don't agree theologically with every stance that Migliore presents in this book, but many of the thoughts proposed by these different theological positions were important and thought-provoking). What I really appreciated was Migliore's neutrality when it came to presenting the information and positions. While I'm sure he has his views, he doesn't let his own preferences get in the way of presenting the information in a very clear way. At the end of the book there are (I believe) three fictional conversations Migliore wrote centering around Karl Barth and a few other theologians and thinkers (such as Niebuhr and Nietzsche). Migliore cites Barth probably the most out of any theologian in this book, and while I'm not exactly a fan of Barth, Migliore is able to sift through Barth's teachings and find real gems.
Overall, I really appreciated Migliore's masterful explanation of the state of contemporary theology, and it widened my perspectives a lot more. The big point of Migliore's that is important to take away is the concept of Theology. Migliore talks about how presently the idea of Theology can leave a bitter taste in people's mouths, particularly due to the argument that Theology has seemed to them to be a lot of thinking and words and not any action. While Migliore agrees that this has been a problem with theologians (I'm not going to go over his whole defense of theology, but it's really good), he states that that is not real theology. Real Theology is "faith seeking understanding". It is the result of a faith that wants to know God on a deeper level, and Migliore believes that the study of theology is one of the most noble and honorable things a Christian can do (And I am happily inclined to agree with him!)
May 2, 2023
Read for my Christian Theology class. A great overview of all the doctrines of Reformed theology.
August 24, 2021
A Great Contemporary Overview of Christian Theology
Migliore writes with clarity and carefully pushes forward to a mediating position on several theological issues, though one may not always appreciate his conclusions. I appreciated his inclusion and treatment of positions with which I wasn't familiar, which treatments seemed to me to be balanced. As a Lutheran, I also appreciated his engagement with some of our important theologians and foundational documents, which speak to his dedication as a scholar. This is a worthwhile read for any interested in modern systematics, though this work is but an overview.
Migliore writes with clarity and carefully pushes forward to a mediating position on several theological issues, though one may not always appreciate his conclusions. I appreciated his inclusion and treatment of positions with which I wasn't familiar, which treatments seemed to me to be balanced. As a Lutheran, I also appreciated his engagement with some of our important theologians and foundational documents, which speak to his dedication as a scholar. This is a worthwhile read for any interested in modern systematics, though this work is but an overview.
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April 16, 2022Read for class
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews