New book on the deity of Christ
September 14, 2011
The Deity of Christ is the latest volume in the series, Theology in Community, which is being published by Crossway under the editorship of Christopher W. Morgan and Robert A. Peterson. The series is aimed at the thoughtful and informed elder or seminary student; it is also designed to bring together specialists in the various theological disciplines to examine key doctrinal topics. This is important: in an era of fragmented and specialized scholarly discourse, the possibility for theological synthesis by a single individual becomes increasingly remote; interdisciplinary, multi-author volumes seem at least worth trying as an attempt to ameliorate this situation. While such always mean that the treatment is likely to be somewhat uneven in standard and coverage, that is a risk worth taking.
This volume is well worth reading. In addition to a helpful introduction by the editors which underlines the importance of the topic, there are essays from Stephen J Nichols, Raymond C Ortlund Jnr, Gerald Bray, Robert A Peterson, Alan W Gomes, J Nelson Jennings and two a-piece from Stephen J Wellum and Andreas J Kostenburger.
If I had to single out the most helpful contribution, it would be the two essays by Wellum, dealing with the deity of Christ in the synoptics and the apostolic witness. In both, as in other essays, the work of Richard Bauckham looms large, particularly his approach to Christological construction via the notion of divine identity. This is a compelling approach, outlined in his God Crucified and then (slightly revised) in his Jesus and the God of Israel. Apart from anything else, I have found this approach to be eminently preachable and to help Christians understand more fully the argument for the deity of Christ in a manner at once biblical, persuasive and understandable. It is very helpful to see this approach being deployed so fruitfully in these essays.
One odd moment stood out. Steve Nichols gives Athanasius more influence at Nicaea in 325 than he actually had (he was a virtual unknown at the time), perhaps led astray by Gregory of Nazianzus's hagiographic oration to his beloved co-belligerent. But this minor quibble aside, this is a fine collection and all the essays are informative and helpful. The articles by Wellum are worth the price alone; and the book as a whole is a most accessible snapshot of the subject and contains many points which preachers will find helpful as they prepare to speak on this topic.
This volume is well worth reading. In addition to a helpful introduction by the editors which underlines the importance of the topic, there are essays from Stephen J Nichols, Raymond C Ortlund Jnr, Gerald Bray, Robert A Peterson, Alan W Gomes, J Nelson Jennings and two a-piece from Stephen J Wellum and Andreas J Kostenburger.
If I had to single out the most helpful contribution, it would be the two essays by Wellum, dealing with the deity of Christ in the synoptics and the apostolic witness. In both, as in other essays, the work of Richard Bauckham looms large, particularly his approach to Christological construction via the notion of divine identity. This is a compelling approach, outlined in his God Crucified and then (slightly revised) in his Jesus and the God of Israel. Apart from anything else, I have found this approach to be eminently preachable and to help Christians understand more fully the argument for the deity of Christ in a manner at once biblical, persuasive and understandable. It is very helpful to see this approach being deployed so fruitfully in these essays.
One odd moment stood out. Steve Nichols gives Athanasius more influence at Nicaea in 325 than he actually had (he was a virtual unknown at the time), perhaps led astray by Gregory of Nazianzus's hagiographic oration to his beloved co-belligerent. But this minor quibble aside, this is a fine collection and all the essays are informative and helpful. The articles by Wellum are worth the price alone; and the book as a whole is a most accessible snapshot of the subject and contains many points which preachers will find helpful as they prepare to speak on this topic.
