Introduction: The Rationale for This Special Issue☆

Abstract This introduction outlines the rationale and scope of our special issue examining Alister McGrath’s The Nature of Christian Doctrine (2024). It contextualizes McGrath’s work within ongoing debates about doctrine’s nature since George Lindbeck’s influential typology, then presents six critical responses from scholars in historical theology, biblical studies, systematic theology and philosophy of science. Key themes explored include the promise and limits of the scientific analogy, the integration of historical and systematic perspectives and attention to experiential and contextual dimensions of doctrinal formation. The introduction thus concludes by identifying major insights and future directions for doctrinal theology.