This book by Gavin Ortlund is a great introduction to historic Protestant theology, what he calls “mere Protestantism.” He does well in articulating the unifying Protestant convictions and making a positive case for them. Also, he does well in expressing Protestant concerns with the other Christian traditions, making a negative case against them. Though a topic of much debate and contention, Ortlund’s approach matches that of his YouTube channel, being irenic in expressing his convictions. I admit my bias in favor of Ortlund generally, being an evangelical myself and having benefited from his work. Thus, I recommend this book to all Protestants so that they are informed. Of course, this book is also essential for those considering other Christian traditions. Finally, this book will even benefit Christians in the non-Protestant traditions, giving them a clear articulation of Protestantism to consider. Even if those readers are not convinced, it will at least help facilitate productive dialogue.

As one who normally does not leave book reviews (this may be my first), I felt compelled to leave one for this book. Roger Olson does a great job providing an introduction to historic Christian beliefs concerning the major areas of theology. He follows a consistent pattern in every chapter, covering the basic orthodox beliefs always held by nearly all Christians (what he calls the Great Tradition), views that have appeared within the church that are antithetical to those beliefs (i.e., heresies), and diversity of opinion within the church on secondary matters. Furthermore, he ends each chapter with a short proposal for a unitive Christian vision that respects the Great Tradition and the diversity among believers. I recommend this book to interested laypeople and think it is an essential read for anyone pursuing ministry or formal theological education.