This is and excerpt from a sermon by St. Augustine (Sermo 185: PL 38, 997-999) on the mystery of the incarnation which is used by some on Christmas:
Dec 25 2009
John Chrysostom’s Christmas Homily
I have come to admire the Golden Mouth, John Chrysostom, from a homiletic standpoint as well as an interpretative standpoint. He is sound in many of this thoughts, and although we may arrive at a different view of the Godhead, it would be difficult at best to find that difference in this homily.
Nov 02 2009
Historical Critical Interpretation Reveals Christian Distortion of the Old Testament?
Oh, this is just too rich -
Gerd Lüdemann has an op-ed at The Bible and Interpretation website pointing out one of the obvious benefits of the historical critical method. That is, the historical critical method exposed a quite prevalent claim of New Testament and other early Christian writers – that the Old Testament predicted or prophesied or otherwise pointed to Jesus of Nazareth – to be a false claim.
Have you ever seen such offal? Whew…good thing we have this historical critical method to tell us that everyone for 2000 years got it wrong when they viewed Christ as the Incarnation of many of the ‘prophecies‘ of the Old Testament. Frankly, Gerd might need to do a bit more studying in the ‘mad house’ before he attempts anything else.
Sep 22 2009
Defending the Deity of Christ with the New Living Translation (NLT)
This week, we are examining key Christian doctrines with the New Living Translation. The most important doctrine of all is the doctrine of the deity of Christ. This doctrine separates and divides, and most be guarded as the paramount doctrine of the Church. Before we talk about the various understandings of the Godhead, we must first agree that Christ is God, not merely a high angel, or a god among gods, but God.
One of my favorite passages in the New Testament is the Christ hymn found in Philippians 2.5-8, in which Paul is writing about humility, compassion and love, but in doing so, he speaks volumes of theology as well.
Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. (Philippians 2:5-8 KJV)
Continue reading “Defending the Deity of Christ with the New Living Translation (NLT)”
Sep 21 2009
Review: Incarnation, The Person and Life of Christ
Click to Order
I would like to thank IVP-Academic for this review copy of Thomas F. Torrance’s work on the Incarnation, which is comprised primarily of lectures given over the course of his tenure, as compiled and edited by Robert T. Walker (who is in a rare position as an editor, he is also Torrance’s nephew).
- Hardcover: 371 pages
- Publisher: IVP Academic (November 30, 2008)
- Language: English
- ISBN-10: 0830828915
- ISBN-13: 978-0830828913
- Product Dimensions: 9 x 6.2 x 1.6 inches
The book was completed posthumously by the author’s nephew, but includes an Author’s Introduction, perhaps Torrance’s last written word to the world. In it, he describes in humble language his resume, but it is noticeable, however, his closeness to his mentor, Karl Barth.
The editor gives a forward, an outline of the book, and an introduction in which he gives you general topics, focusing on Torrance’s theology and methods. In describing Torrance’s view of the importance of the deity of Christ, Walker writes,
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Sep 21 2009
Torrance on the Existence of Christ
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I am currently reading through Thomas F. Torrance’s work on the Incarnation, which is comprised primarily of lectures given over the course of his tenure, as compiled and edited by Robert T. Walker (who is in a rare position as an editor, he is also Torrance’s nephew). It is published by IVP-Academic. In these quotes, Torrance, expresses my doctrine of the Godhead and my search of the Patristic authors mixed with my tepid search of the Reformers.
But here, in the Word become flesh in the unity of God and man in Jesus Christ, Jesus Christ is God. Jesus Christ has no existence apart from or different from or parallel to God’s existence. He has his existence only in the divine acts of condescension in which God gathers man into coexistence with himself. That means that here in the Word made flesh God and man are so related in Jesus Christ, so that Jesus exists as man only so far as he exists as God, and yet as God he also has existence as flesh… (pg67) There needs to be a reconstruction of the whole classical doctrine of Christ in such a way as to bring together the Patristic emphasis on the being-of-God-in-his-acts and the Reformation emphasis on the acts-of-God-in-his-being. (pg85)
I am still amazed that Torrance’s work did not make the rounds of the blogosphere, especially those of the Reformed doctrine. I hope that you will be encouraged to pick up this work yourself, Reformed or not.
Sep 16 2009
Quote on Karl Rahner on the Incarnation
“What does it mean that the Word of God became human? Isn’t God unchanging? What we have to say is that God, who is unchangeable in Godself, can become changeable in something else. The divine freedom means that God can become not-God, finite, Other-than-God. In emptying Godself and giving Godself away, God can make the other his own reality. Everything that God makes has, as a result of God’s self-giving love, the potential to become an expression of God and God’s love. All theology, says Rahner, is therefore anthropology, and all anthropology is Christology. To know what it is to be human is to know Christ, and to know Christ is to know God.” (From Marika, the host of Theologies blog. In attempting to explain Rahner)
HT.
Sep 15 2009
Torrance on the Historical Jesus
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I am currently reading through Thomas F. Torrance’s work on the Incarnation, which is comprised primarily of lectures given over the course of his tenure, as compiled and edited by Robert T. Walker (who is in a rare position as an editor, he is also Torrance’s nephew). It is published by IVP-Academic.
Overall, and I am barely scratching the service of the book, Torrance is deeply respectful of the subject, speaking not just to students of the ministry, but to the lay person who has a rich love of the doctrine of the Incarnation – of course, if you do not already have the love of the Incarnation, it is quite possible that you will after reading this book.) It is lectures, as I mentioned, and hand outs given to students – sometime long before I was born.
I want to share with you a quote which struck me -
Sep 09 2009
Incarnational Fulfillment of the Prophets – A Conversation
Warning – feeble attempt at a pseudo-academic article. It is not meant to be complete, but an addition to the conversation.
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Aug 31 2009
In the Mail: Something I Want to Read Edition
Thanks to IVP-Academic for this copy. I cannot wait to read it. Above all, the Incarnation is my quintessential doctrine – for the life of the Christian is tied into the life of Christ.
I recieved it on Friday, and am now trying to finish a few more books before I tackle this one.
This is the first of a two part series from the late theologian, Thomas Torrance. I look forward to reading it.
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