The Culture of Theology

“How wonderful to have Webster’s Culture of Theology edited and made available to a new generation of readers in this fine book. I count myself fortunate to have had the challenge laid down in these chapters—to strive to think of theology, its methods, aims, and practices, theologically—put to me during my student days and so to have been compelled to wrestle continuously with the possibilities and perils of doing theology in the eschatological space created by the ‘staggering good news of Jesus Christ.’ This book stands as a winsome invitation to others to do the same.”—Philip G. Ziegler, University of Aberdeen

“Why would a theologian as God-centered as John Webster be constantly ruminating on theology’s culture, theology’s tasks, Christian tradition, university faculties, and so forth? He does so in order to meet his hearers in the midst of their (our) theologically scandalous loss of interest in God and Christ, and to call out: God is summoning you, the eschaton (Christ himself) has broken in among you, Scripture is speaking Christ’s Word to you in the Spirit! When Christ is recognized for who he is, theology can rediscover itself for what it is: a joyful response to the risen Lord. Let theologians be Christians and thereby really have something to say to one another, to the university, and to the wider world.”—Matthew Levering, James N. and Mary D. Perry Jr. Chair of Theology, Mundelein Seminary