EMQ » April – July 2025 » Volume 61 Issue 2
Character Theology: Engaging God through His Cast of Characters
By Tom Steffen and Ray Neu
Pickwick Publications, 2024
312 pages
US$40.00.
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Reviewed by Mark A. Strand, professor, North Dakota State University, Fargo, North Dakota.
In Character Theology: Engaging God through His Cast of Characters, authors Tom Steffen and Ray Neu introduce an approach to teaching the narrative portions of the Bible that focuses on drawing out truths of Scripture through the lives of the Bible characters. This is a fascinating approach, and this book contains many nuggets of insight for teaching the Bible in cross-cultural ministries.
The authors argue that stories are the most effective way to teach the complex truths of the Bible. They state, “Character theology provides abstract facts a concrete home in which to reside, thereby making them more accessible, memorable, and easily replicable” (9). Their approach uses classic adult learning theory, focusing on participatory teaching methods and life application using what they call “Engaging Bible Characters” (EBC) study groups. Their approach to asking questions and leading discussions is commendable.
They argue that their approach is more appropriate and more compelling in the postmodern, post-Christian, and post-fact world in which they believe we are living. It is convincing that their storytelling approach may be more appealing to such an audience than a more traditional approach. However, while postmodern persons may find the storytelling approach more interesting, will they be more inclined to accept it as true or universal because of the delivery method? It seems that the underlying problem is more epistemological (“Is there even such a thing as truth?”), than hermeneutic (“What method shall we use to tell the gospel story?).
To illustrate their approach, chapter 7 describes the process for holding an EBC study group on the book of Jonah, including verbatim responses from the EBC participants. This chapter was very helpful to see how the approach works.
The book’s content and approach are excellent; however, not everyone will appreciate the style. The book comes across as somewhat defensive as if the reader was sceptical of the authors’ approach, and sometimes as a bit redundant.
While it is not a standalone theology, as the title suggests, Character Theology is a complement to the excessively academic approach of systematic theology and a welcome resource for cross-cultural Bible teachers. It would be an appropriate supplement for seminary hermeneutics, particularly chapters 4–5. It is thoroughly cited, with a bibliography, seven tables, and 27 figures. The authors effectively illustrate the need for focusing on Bible characters in the narrative genres of Scripture to bring God’s Word to life.
For Further Reading
The Return of Oral Hermeneutics by Tom Steffen and William Bjoraker (Wipf and Stock, 2020).
Walking Together on the Jesus Road: Discipling in Intercultural Contexts by Evelyn and Richard Hibbert (William Carey Publishing, 2018).
“Daniel as a Model for Godly Living in Creative Access Countries” by M. Ramstad in Evangelical Missions Quarterly 45, no. 1 (2009): 30–35).
EMQ, Volume 61, Issue 2. Copyright © 2025 by Missio Nexus. All rights reserved. Not to be reproduced or copied in any form without written permission from Missio Nexus. Email: EMQ@MissioNexus.org.
