The question of whether and how people who have not had the chance to hear the gospel can be saved goes back to the beginnings of Christian reflection. It has also become a much-debated topic in current theology. In Will Many Be Saved? Ralph Martin focuses primarily on the history of debate and the development of responses to this question within the Roman Catholic Church, but much of Martin's discussion is also relevant to the wider debate happening in many churches around the world.
In particular, Martin analyzes the Dogmatic Constitution on the Church, the document from the Second Vatican Council that directly relates to this question. Contrary to popular opinion, Martin argues that according to this text, the conditions under which people who have not heard the gospel can be saved are very often, in fact, not fulfilled, with strong implications for evangelization.

Will Many Be Saved? is an explanation of what Vatican II really says about salvation outside of the faith, and how flawed interpretations of this have weakened missionary efforts. After giving a history of the development of the Council's statement on the matter, the author looks at the first three chapter of the Book of Romans, which back it up.

He then focuses on two major post-conciliar theologians who have salvation theories contradict the statement: Karl Rahner and Hans Urs von Balthasar. The thesis is that ideas such as theirs that focus on the idea that all men are saved, in spite of the fact that the Church teaches the opposite, has resulted in a dramatic decrease in missionary activity just when it is most needed. Pope John Paul II started what is called the "New Evangelization", but he author argues that it will take a popular refocusing of the Church's salvation teaching if it is ever truly to be achieved.

Salvation and missions are interesting topics because they are so important but because they are not "PC" do not get the discussion they warrant. If anything, Martin's book is an excellent discussion starter, even if it is a bit dense at the beginning. The part on Romans is what really made things clear for me. Highly recommended for those looking for a detailed take on the current Catholic teaching on salvation. ( )