In today's secular world, the Christian faith is viewed as only one aspect of what could be called "religious life." Acknowledging this, Hendrikus Berkhof begins this thought-provoking study with a sketch of religion and faith in general before narrowing it down to a discussion of the specific place of Christian faith in all of reality.

For Berkhof the starting point in his systematic examination of Christian faith is revelation - the sources and norms for our knowl-edge of God. This leads to a discussion of God, creation, Israel, the person and work of Christ, the church, and finally, the renewal of the world and of humanity. Throughout the book Berkhof com-ments on (and often takes issue with) systematic theologians of the past.

Written for both the layperson and the scholar, the text is inter-spersed with excursuses (set off in smaller type than the main text) that cover specific subjects more thoroughly, citing sources, con-troversies, and other details which will be of particular interest to theologians and students.

"Simply to write a one-volume systematic theology is a formidable task, and Berkhof bas managed it well.... His command of the literature is impres-sive; and while his own convictions and conclusions are clear, they are artic-ulated in explicit appreciation of the significant alternatives. In sum, this is an excellent text."