New Dictionary of Christian Ethics & Pastoral Theology

by David John Atkinson (Editor), David F. Field (Editor), Arthur F. Holmes (Editor)

Especially in today's complicated world, moral practice and decision-making raise many hard questions. Dealing with those questions often requires wide-ranging understanding--in areas such as systematic and practical theology, psychology, economics, sociology and philosophy. For the first time, the New Dictionary of Christian Ethics and Pastoral Theology offers expert information and guidance across this range of disciplines--in a single volume. Besides hundreds of articles on specific issues, the Dictionary includes eighteen major keynote articles which provide a basic introduction to the main themes of Christian ethics and pastoral theology. These articles alone constitute a textbook of Christian ethics, excellently surveying that broad field. Written at a nontechnical and accessible level, this Dictionary will be consulted again and again by Christians from all walks of life.

Genres: Reference, Theology

918 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1995

About the author

The Rt Rev. David John Atkinson is the former Bishop of Thetford. He was born on 5 September 1943 and educated at Maidstone Grammar School and King's College London. After a short career as a chemistry teacher he was ordained in 1973. His career began with a curacy at St Peter Halliwell Bolton, after which he was Chaplain (and a Fellow) of Corpus Christi College, Oxford, then a Canon Residentiary at Southwark Cathedral and finally (before his elevation to the Episcopate) Archdeacon of Lewisham. In 2009 he became an Assistant Bishop in the Diocese of Southwark. Bishop David is married with two children and six grandchildren. He retired on 16 September 2009.

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[Andy Hickman · Rating 3 out of 5]

Helpful resource.

New Dictionary of Christian Ethics and Pastoral Theology, David J. Atkinson, ed. (Downers Grove, IL: IVP, 1995).

E.g.
Clans and families: Adam and Eve and their children were essentially a team-based leadership commissioned with a divine mandate (Gen 1:28; 2:7-24; Lk 3:38; Mt 19:4-6). Marriage is a covenant of companionship (Mal 2:14). The family (Heb. bayit) was the basic team unit in ancient Israel with several extended families linking to form larger family groups called 'clans' or 'tribes' (Heb. miš·pā·hāh).

Michael Moynagh, “Family”, in David J. Atkinson (ed), New Dictionary of Christian Ethics & Pastoral Theology (Downer Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 1995), 372.