Basic Christianity - (IVP Signature Collection) by John Stott (Paperback)

About the Book

Who is Jesus Christ, and what does it mean for us? John Stott's classic book, with updated language and study questions, examines the historical facts on which Christianity stands. With thoughtful, pastoral guidance Stott presents a biblical portrait of Christ and the evidence that supports it. He then considers our need for salvation, how we should respond to the gospel, and what it looks like to live as a Christian.

Book Synopsis

• Named a "Book of the Century" by Christianity Today

Who is Jesus Christ? While Jesus and his teaching continue to hold appeal, many people question the plausibility or relevance of the Christian faith. Is it reasonable to believe that Jesus was truly divine? If so, what does it mean for us?

John Stott's accessible, classic book examines the historical facts on which Christianity stands. With pastoral guidance, Stott presents a biblical portrait of Christ, then considers what it looks like to become and live as a Christian.

For more than sixty years, Basic Christianity has been a landmark resource that has helped millions understand the gospel. With updated language, study questions, and a new foreword by Christopher J. H. Wright, it is now available as the first volume in the IVP Signature Collection.

Review Quotes

"'Who is Jesus Christ?' and 'What does it mean to follow him?' These are the basic questions that need to be first sincerely asked and then meaningfully answered. They are the fundamental questions the Gospels ask and to which they give the perfect answer. From Augustine to Bonhoeffer, from The Confessions to The Cost of Discipleship, great theologians with pastors' hearts have asked and answered these two basic questions for their own age. In our time, it has been John Stott and his Basic Christianity."

--Michael Card, musician, author of Inexpressible

"[This slim volume] has introduced more people to Christ than any book I know other than the Bible."

--James W. Sire, author of The Universe Next Door

"Anything John Stott says is worth listening to . . . anything he writes is worth reading. Basic Christianity is not only a classic must-read for every believer, it is truly a blessing preserved on the written page for the enrichment of this generation, and those to come."

--Anne Graham Lotz, author of Just Give Me Jesus

"I first read Basic Christianity as a new Christian in college. I feasted on every word. The blend of head and heart, soul and strength, marks me to this day. It provided a rudder of truth that would long keep me on course amid the gale-force winds of our day. Later in life, when I had the opportunity to meet the author, the book took on an even richer texture--for it was clear that the words of the book were a reflection of the life that he led. I cannot commend this book, or the life behind it, highly enough."

--James Emery White, author of Serious Times

"Its uncompromising clarity, intelligent logic, and easy application make this one of the most enduring of Christian classics. In a time of ambiguity and confusion I can think of no other book I would rather recommend. Every evangelist should consider Basic Christianity a master class in communicating the gospel. This book is a must-read for those who are seeking God or wishing to refresh their own faith, or for those who hope to lead others into the loving arms of Jesus Christ."

--William Van der Hart, evangelist and pastor, Central London

"John Stott's Basic Christianity is a simple, clear, deep explanation of our faith. I am so grateful for the lucid elegance of this invitation to follow Jesus."

--John Ortberg, teaching pastor, Menlo Church, author of Eternity Is Now in Session

"John Stott's books have helped millions around the world to a better understanding of the Christian faith. I, for one, am extremely grateful for the way in which he explains complex and difficult issues with great clarity, insight, and wisdom. Basic Christianity has become a classic of our time."

--Nicky Gumbel, vicar, Holy Trinity Brompton, and pioneer of the Alpha course

"Lucid, clear, and compelling. After Mere Christianity, perhaps no other book has helped more people come to faith. I'm thrilled that this classic has been appropriately shaped and refreshed for a modern audience without losing any of itstimeless charm and persuasive brilliance. Having led and organized university missions for over twenty-five years, I was sobered to be reminded of what a debt we all owe to this book and its author. 'Christ is Christianity, ' and no other book exemplifies a Christ-centered apologetic more simply and clearly."

--Richard Cunningham, director, UCCF: The Christian Unions

"We can thank God that in the past few years those committed to Christian orthodoxy have been realizing the importance of the subjective and experiential aspects of the Christian gospel and using these in introducing Christianity to others. But the danger is that we can get so carried away by this that we forget the heart of what Christianity is all about. At such times it is good to go back to tried and tested expositions that have stood the test of time. And what better resource is there for this than John Stott's classic Basic Christianity?"

--Ajith Fernando, teaching director, Youth for Christ Sri Lanka

About the Author

Christopher J. H. Wright (PhD, Cambridge) is international ministries director of the Langham Partnership, providing literature, scholarships, and preaching training for pastors in Majority World churches and seminaries. He has written many books including commentaries on Deuteronomy, Jeremiah, Lamentations, and Ezekiel; The Mission of God; Cultivating the Fruit of the Spirit; Old Testament Ethics for the People of God; and the three volumes of Knowing God Throughthe Old Testament. An ordained priest in the Church of England, Chris spent five years teaching the Old Testament at Union Biblical Seminary in India and thirteen years as academic dean and then principal of All Nations Christian College, an international training center for crosscultural mission in England. He was chair of the Lausanne Theology Working Group from 2005 to 2011 and the chief architect of The Cape Town Commitment from the Third Lausanne Congress, 2010.

John R. W. Stott (1921-2011) was known worldwide as a preacher, evangelist, and communicator of Scripture. For many years he served as rector of All Souls Church in London. A leader among evangelicals in Britain, the United States, and around the world, Stott was a principal framer of the landmark Lausanne Covenant (1974). Stott's many books, including Basic Christianity and The Cross of Christ, have sold millions of copies.