The Variety of American Evangelicalism

Written by Donald W. Dayton and Robert K. Johnston (eds) Reviewed By Craig Blomberg

Despite being horribly overpriced, this volume is one of the most important studies of American evangelicalism in recent years. Contributors from different theological traditions survey their own movements and assess to what extent the term ‘evangelical’ is an appropriate description of what they represent. Fundamentalists, Pentecostals, Adventists, Wesleyans, Restorationists, Blacks, Baptists, Lutherans, Mennonites, and the Reformed all get a turn. The two editors themselves contribute articles, disagreeing over whether there are substantial enough similarities to make the term ‘evangelical’ meaningful as a cross-denominational label. Tim Weber helpfully suggests four subdivisions of evangelicals—classical, pietistic, fundamentalist and progressive. The same questions ought to be asked of the different branches of Christianity world-wide.


Craig Blomberg

Craig Blomberg
Denver Seminary
Denver, Colorado, USA