This article argues that the controversy surrounding Theotokos at the Council of Ephesus was fundamentally Christological rather than Marian, while critically examining the council’s decision to canonize Marian terminology as a doctrinal boundary marker for Christology. While affirming the full deity and unity of Christ and recognizing the council’s historical intent to defend orthodoxy, the article contends that the terminology chosen at Ephesus carried long-term theological and devotional consequences far beyond its original context. From an evangelical and sola scripturaperspective, it argues that Scripture alone possesses final doctrinal authority and that post-apostolic terminology, however well intentioned, remains historically conditioned, fallible, and open to critique.

This book is about how to present the Gospel of Jesus Christ to Muslims. Over the span of many years, I noted that most people asked more questions about presenting the Gospel to Muslims than any other topic. They indicated to me that it was not an easy task. I have come to believe that their greatest need was not presenting a book of stories, testimonies, and example of dialog with Muslims. Their greatest need is to clarify the biblical foundations the Gospel and for the methodologies of presenting it to Muslims. I can summarize every meaningful discussion I had with others about the Gospel and Muslims and it ultimately centered around these biblical and theological foundations that are shared in this book.