Boyd - Benefit of the Doubt: Breaking the Idol of Certainty

2013 by Gregory A. Boyd

Published by Baker Books

a division of Baker Publishing Group

P.O. Box 6287, Grand Rapids, MI 49516-6287

www.bakerbooks.com

Ebook edition created 2013

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any meansfor example, electronic, photocopy, recordingwithout the prior written permission of the publisher. The only exception is brief quotations in printed reviews.

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data is on file at the Library of Congress, Washington, DC.

ISBN 978-1-4412-4454-3

Unless otherwise indicated, scripture quotations are from the Holy Bible, New International Version. NIV. Copyright 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc. Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide. www.zondervan.com

Scripture quotations labeled ESV are from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version (ESV), copyright 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved. ESV Text Edition: 2007

Scripture quotations labeled RSV Scripture quotations are from the Revised Standard Version of the Bible, copyright 1952 [2nd edition, 1971] by the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Scripture quotations labeled TNIV are from the Holy Bible, Todays New International Version. TNIV. Copyright 2001, 2005 by Biblica, Inc. Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide. www.zondervan.com

Even when certainty is inaccessible, commitment remains an option. Greg Boyd is incapable of uninteresting thoughts. And this book is not merely thoughtful; it will be a tremendous help to doubters (and non-doubters) everywhere.

John C. Ortberg, author of Who Is This Man? ; pastor of Menlo Park Presbyterian Church

Sometimes I feel like Greg Boyd is a brother-from-another-mother. I try to read everything he writes. Sometimes I find him articulating things I havent been able to put the words to. Hes one of the great thinkers of the contemporary church. Hes gotten used to exploring new territory, and in this book he dives into the issue of doubt and certaintyand recovers the lost treasure of Christlike humility and childlike wonder. Enjoy.

Shane Claiborne , author, activist, and lover of Jesus; www.thesimpleway.org

Benefit of the Doubt is a deeply personal yet profoundly theological look at the important role of doubt in the Christian faith. I found myself underlining entire chapters and tucking away favorite quotes in my journal. This is a book I suspect I will return to again and again. Prepare to feel a little less crazy, a little less alone, and a lot more challenged to take the risk of following Jesus with your head and heart engaged. Boyd is the best sort of company for the journey.

Rachel Held Evans , blogger at www.rachelheldevans.com; author of Evolving in Monkey Town and A Year of Biblical Womanhood

Prolific author and speaker Greg Boyd has crafted a tour de force that will help countless Christians who are struggling with their faith. Like a fine surgeon, Boyd takes dead aim at numerous misconceptions about faith that are in the drinking water of evangelical Christianity today. He then presents a strikingly beautiful and solidly biblical portrait of what believing faith looks like on the ground and how its not incompatible with the struggle against doubt. If youre a Christian who wrestles with doubt or you know someone who does, Benefit of the Doubt is one of the best books ever written on the subject. Its an important work whose time has come.

Frank Viola , author of Gods Favorite Place on Earth ; www.frankviola.org

If I was one of Jesuss first disciples, I would be doubting Thomas. My mind naturally questions everything and faith never feels simple. Benefit of the Doubt was written for me. Thank you Greg Boyd! If you ever wrestle with an inner skeptic (like me) or regularly interact with skeptics, this book offers hugely helpful insight into the benefits of doubt and how to leverage doubt in deepening our trust in God. I predict many people who read Benefit of the Doubt will find it profoundly life-changing.

Bruxy Cavey , teaching pastor, The Meeting House; author of The End of Religion

As usual, Greg Boyd has hit a home run. Benefit of the Doubt is brutally honest, thought provoking, and creative. If I could require all conservative Christians to read one book (besides the Bible!) it would be this one. It would liberate them from fear-based theology and spirituality. As good as the title is, it doesnt begin to describe this book that ranges far and wide over many issues of fear-based theology and liberating faith.

Roger E. Olson , Foy Valentine Professor of Christian Theology and Ethics, George W. Truett Theological Seminary

Id like to dedicate this book to my dear, artistic, super-creative, and highly gifted friend, Terri Churchill. Terri worked as my editor throughout the duration of this project, and her feedback, corrections, and insights have made it a much better work than it would have otherwise been.