This work examines some of the most pressing problems facing contemporary systematic theology and provides a clear and coherent alternative to these views.

Crisp promises to provide an overview of the contemporary landscape in the area of theological methodology (for students), and assessment of the strengths and weaknesses of each approach surveyed (for scholars) – both of these tasks have proven quite difficult for students and scholars, and this positive contribution to the field offers a clear and concise assessment of the methodologies on offer.

He lays the groundwork for a vision of a common theological project across varied theological approaches, such as the importance of metaphysics and divine revelation, and the key doctrines of the Christian faith such as the Trinity and Incarnation. Crisp tackles a new development in the method of doing theology that “begins with experience” (queer and liberation) and argues that although experience is indeed a source of theological authority and basis for the formation of some doctrine, it is not the only source that factors into the formation of doctrine. And sets out a constructive proposal for addressing the question of how we understand the relationship between the different levels of theological authority.

Crisp ends his discussion by offering a sketch of a programme in systematic theology that is both respectful to the Christian tradition, as well as constructive in nature.