As an unofficial spokesman and representative of George MacDonald in the minds of thousands who have discovered Phillips’s editions of MacDonald’s writings since the 1980s, Michael Phillips has been sought out by men and women from around the world to shed light on the complex conundrum presented by the doctrine of eternal punishment. Seeking to address these inquiries in the least controversial way possible, in 1998 Phillips prepared a private compendium of quotes from writers through history, laying out scriptural evidence on both sides of the controversy. His motive was not to argue for or against any perspective, neither to persuade to a particular point of view, but to give information that would help each individual objectively investigate the matter quietly and personally. Though not made public at the time, Phillips’s booklet proved helpful to many. It is now made more widely available in this new edition. His subtitle aptly summarizes the book’s contents: "A selection of quotations by some Christian individuals of repute who have held to the doctrine of universal reconciliation and a list of scriptures upon which their beliefs are based."

Frequently asked through the years, "What did George MacDonald believe?" MacDonald biographer Michael Phillips has prepared this concise overview of MacDonald’s perspectives on the Bible and the essence of true Christian belief. Introducing each of the nine points of belief with a knowledgeable summary of MacDonald’s position, Phillips draws upon selections from MacDonald’s writings to illuminate and succinctly clarify MacDonald’s theological orientation on the Godhead, true and false gospels, salvation, the atonement, and other important topics of belief.