A Theology in Outline ─ Can These Bones Live?

In 2008, preeminent theologian Robert Jenson delivered his last set of lectures, "Can These Bones Live?: An Introduction to Christian Theology", at Princeton University. Adam Eitel, Jenson's teaching assistant at the time, recorded and transcribed the twenty-three lectures in the series. Jenson and Eitel have since worked together to revise and prepare these lectures for publication in order to share the atmosphere and immediacy of Jenson's classroom.

A Theology in Outline gives an overview of Christian theology as well as an introduction to Jenson's thought. Each chapter treats a major doctrine in Christianity--God, Israel, Resurrection, the Trinity, Creation, and Sin, among others. Unlike Jenson's previous work, this book is influenced by his recent interest in Biblical exegesis. He frames the whole series as a response to an exegesis of the question, "Son of man, can these bones live?" from Ezekiel 37:3. He considers whether the story that God lives with his people can continue, and if the Christian faith itself has become a valley of dry bones.

The lectures provide a single sequence of illustrative conversations for the purpose of introducing beginners to Christian theology. Moreover,A Theology in Outline marks the genuine development in Jenson's thought--a unique work unto itself.

Robert W. Jenson was most recently Senior Scholar for Research at the Center of Theological Inquiry in Princeton. He has taught Christian theology at Luther College, Gettysburg Seminary, St. Olaf College, Oxford University, and Princeton University. He is the author of the landmark, two volume work Systematic Theology, (OUP 1997, 1999).

Adam Eitel is Assistant Professor of Ethics at Yale Divinity School.