John Stott - Basic Christianity

For fifty years Basic Christianity has exposed the backbone of the Christian faith. 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 masterclass in communicating the gospel. This book is a must-read for those who are seeking God, those wishing to refresh their own faith, or those who hope to lead others into the loving arms of Jesus Christ.

Rev. William Van Der Hart, evangelist and pastor

Lucid, clear and compelling. After Mere Christianity , perhaps no other book has helped more people come to faith. Im thrilled that this classic has been appropriately shaped and refreshed for a modern audience without losing any of its timeless 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-centred apologetic more simply and clearly.

Rev. Richard Cunningham, Director of 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 Stotts classic Basic Christianity ?

Ajith Fernando, National Director, Youth for Christ, Sri Lanka

Clear, penetrating and fresh, Basic Christianity has everything that you want to say to someone who wants to know what Christianity is all about. With an engaging and accessible style, John Stott lays out the truth of the gospel. The account of the Bibles message is wonderfully straightforward and the challenge to respond to Jesus Christ is compelling. By the time youve read the first few pages youll already be thinking of people to give this book to: dont pull back!

Rev. Dominic Smart, Gilcomston South Church, Aberdeen

This was the classic forerunner of strong, balanced evangelistic books, and I am delighted it is being republished fifty years later. It led many to faith then, and it will again.

Canon Dr Michael Green

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 and speaker

John Stotts 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 of Holy Trinity Brompton and pioneer of the Alpha course

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

Jim Sire, author

InterVarsity Press
P.O. Box 1400
Downers Grove, IL 60515-1426
World Wide Web: www.ivpress.com
E-mail:

New edition John Stott 2008
First published 1958

Published in the United States of America by InterVarsity Press, Downers Grove, Illinois, with permission from Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co., Grand Rapids, Michigan

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form without written permission from Wm B. Eerdmans Publishing Co., Grand Rapids, Michigan.

InterVarsity Press is the book-publishing division of InterVarsity Christian Fellowship/USA, a movement of students and faculty active on campus at hundreds of universities, colleges and schools of nursing in the United States of America, and a member movement of the International Fellowship of Evangelical Students. For information about local and regional activities, write Public Relations Dept. InterVarsity Christian Fellowship/USA, 6400 Schroeder Rd., P.O. Box 7895, Madison, WI 53707-7895, or visit the IVCF website at www.intervarsity.org.

All scripture quotations, unless otherwise noted, are from the Holy Bible, Todays New International Version Copyright 2001 by International Bible Society. All rights reserved.

All royalties from this book have been irrevocably assigned to Langham Literature, a program of the Langham Partnership International. Langham Literature distributes books to pastors, theological teachers and students, and seminary libraries in the developing world. Further information may be obtained from, and donations sent to: Langham Literature, 4 Thornton Road, Carlisle CA3 9HZ, UK..

Design: Cindy Kiple
Images: Matt Tilghman/iStockphoto

ISBN 978-0-8308-6379-2

All John Stotts royalties from this book have been irrevocably assigned to Langham Literature (formerly the Evangelical Literature Trust). Langham Literature is a programme of the Langham Partnership International (LPI), founded by John Stott. Chris Wright is the International Ministries Director.

Langham Literature distributes evangelical books to pastors, theological students and seminary libraries in the Majority World, and fosters the writing and publishing of Christian literature in many regional languages. For further information on Langham Literature, and the other programmes of LPI, visit the website at www.langhampartnership.org.

In the USA, the national member of the Langham Partnership International is John Stott Ministries. Visit the JSM website at www.johnstott.org.

There are a few landmark books that everyone in the world should read. This is one of the rare few.

In the twenty-first century, you cannot afford to ignore this book! Whether you are a sceptic, raised in another faith, a spiritual seeker or a Christian believer, you need to know why 2.3 billion people call themselves Christians. You need to know what they believe and why they believe it.

This book is especially essential for leaders in business, government, academia, media, entertainment, journalism and other fields that work directly with people. To be able to have an intelligent conversation with one-third of our worlds population, you need to understand their worldview.

John Stotts Basic Christianty is a classic introduction to the faith that has transformed billions of lives.

Rick Warren

Pastor, Saddleback Church

Every three years a mission is held in Cambridge University, and one such took place in November 1952. Invited to be the chief missioner, I knew that my responsibilities would include giving a series of eight evening addresses in Great St Marys, the university church. I also understood that a university mission would present a wonderful, if daunting, opportunity to lay before the university a systematic unfolding of the gospel, including the divine-human person of Jesus, the significance of his death and the evidence for his resurrection, the paradox of our humanness, made in Gods image but fallen and rebellious, the possibility of a new birth into a new life, the challenge of personal commitment and the cost of discipleship.