What a Friend We Have in Jesus: The Evangelical Tradition

The Traditions of Christian Spirituality series makes the riches of some of the world’s greatest spiritual traditions available to a contemporary public. Each title introduces the key themes and values of one of the major traditions of spirituality, and draws out their relevance for the modern-day reader. “In comparison to other religions, Christianity is not always associated in people’s minds with spirituality. This is a great pity, for Christianity East and West over two thousand years has given birth to an immense range of spiritual wisdom. There is a widespread hunger for spirituality in all its forms, and this is an opportune time for a new series which will help more people to be aware of the great riches available within the Christian tradition.” Philip Sheldrake, Series Editor

The influence of evangelicalism within Christian churches has never been stronger. Ian Randall’s new study reveals the breadth and range of what has been described as ‘the slumbering giant in the world of spirituality’. Evangelicalism has its origins in the evangelical revival of the eighteenth century, although it has strong links with the Protestant Reformation of the sixteenth century and the English Puritan movement of the seventeenth century. In an ideal introduction for readers of every background to a vital tradition of spirituality not confined to one country or one denomination, Ian Randall describes its characteristic features and the major strands within the tradition, and shows how evangelical spirituality has changed and developed over time.

Ian Randall is Deputy Principal and Lecturer in Church History and Spirituality at Spurgeon’s College, London, and Senior Research Fellow at the International Baptist Theological Seminary (IBTS) in Prague, Czech Republic. He is the author of several books and many articles on evangelical history.