This textbook provides complete and comprehensive coverage of the theological tradition of Aquinas, Maximus, Luther, Irenaeus, Lonergan, von Balthasar, Schmemann, Meyendorf and Barth. Each section of this textbook explores a wide variety of questions – who are we? Is there a God, and if so, what is his nature? Who is Jesus? What does it mean that we live both in sin and righteousness?
It consists of 15 modules that are comprised of 46 chapters. Each module has two parts: there are systematic chapters that discuss and explain each module's topic; and the final chapter of each module examines 4 to 6 primary sources that are important for each topic.

This textbook includes an extensive range of pedagogical features:
- Sample tests in which each objective question has been quality tested by classroom use (with a discrimination index)
- A discussion guide for each chapter
- Learning objectives linked to each chapter
- The text includes bold-faced terms, boxed text sections that identify central figures and points of debate, study question, chapter summaries, glossary