The Lord's Supper: Five Views, Edited by Gordon T. Smith
The Lord's Supper
paperback
  • Length: 159 pages
  • Dimensions: 6 × 9 in
  • Published: July 29, 2008
  • Imprint: IVP Academic
  • Item Code: 2884
  • ISBN: 9780830828845

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Lord's Supper. Eucharist. Communion. Sacrament. Ordinance.

While it's the meal that should unite us as followers of Christ, it sometimes appears we can't even agree on what to call it, let alone how we might share a common theological view of its significance. Even if we cannot reach full agreement, how can we better understand one another and this central observance of the Christian faith?

In this Spectrum Multiview volume Gordon Smith has invited five representatives of differing views within Christian tradition. Each holds his or her views with conviction and makes the case for that tradition. Each responds to the other views with charity, highlighting significant areas of agreement and disagreement. The views and contributors include

  • The Roman Catholic View—Brother Jeffrey Gros, F.S.C., Professor of Church History, Memphis Theological Seminary, Memphis, Tennessee
  • The Lutheran View—John R. Stephenson, Professor of Historical Theology, Concordia Lutheran Theological Seminary, St. Catherines, Ontario
  • The Reformed View—Leanne Van Dyk, Academic Dean and Professor of Reformed Theology, Western Theological Seminary, Holland, Michigan
  • The Baptist View—Roger E. Olson, Professor of Theology, George W. Truett Theological Seminary, Waco, Texas
  • The Pentecostal View—Veli-Matti Kärkkäinen, Professor of Systematic Theology, Fuller Theological Seminary, Pasadena, California

Here's a book that offers more light than heat on an important topic.

Spectrum Multiview Books offer a range of viewpoints on contested topics within Christianity, giving contributors the opportunity to present their position and also respond to others in this dynamic publishing format.

What this volume does well is to show how within each tradition there is real overlap and points for conversation. This is a great introductory volume.

Kyle Strobel, Theology Forum (theologyforum.wordpress.com), December 17, 2008

The Lord's Supper: Five Views contains a wealth of important information, especially in regards to the history of each position.

Trevin Wax, Kingdom People (trevinwax.com), November 13, 2008

I think any layperson with an interest in comparing various views of the Lord's Supper without having to read 5 systematic theology texts will be well served by this book.

InternetMonk.com, September 3, 2008

I wish I had had this book years ago when I moderated a wide-spred e-mail discussion group that focused on the meaning of Holy Communion. . . . In the end, it makes for an insightful look into a major sacrament that has divided Christianity for centuries. This would be a great study book for church groups.

Bill Tammeus, Faith Matter (billtammeus.typepad.com), August 23, 2008
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CONTENTS

Introduction

1 The Roman Catholic View
Brother Jeffrey Gros, F.S.C.
A Lutheran Response
A Reformed Response
A Baptist Response
A Pentecostal Response

2 The Lutheran View
John R. Stephenson
A Roman Catholic Response
A Reformed Response
A Baptist Response
A Pentecostal Response

3 The Reformed View
Leanne Van Dyk
A Roman Catholic Response
A Lutheran Response
A Baptist Response
A Pentecostal Response

4 The Baptist View
Roger E. Olson
A Roman Catholic Response
A Lutheran Response
A Reformed Response
A Pentecostal Response

5 The Pentecostal View
Veli-Matti Kärkkäinen
A Roman Catholic Response
A Lutheran Response
A Reformed Response
A Baptist Response

Conclusion

For Further Reading

Indexes

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Gordon T. Smith

Gordon T. Smith is the president of Ambrose University and Seminary in Calgary, Alberta, where he also serves as professor of systematic and spiritual theology. He is an ordained minister with the Christian and Missionary Alliance and a teaching fellow at Regent College, Vancouver, British Columbia. He is the author of many books, including Institutional Intelligence, Called to Be Saints, and Your Calling Here and Now.