As with all multiple views books, this was uneven. With the exception of Boersma, each of the authors presupposed that violence is immoral. For them,...moreAs with all multiple views books, this was uneven. With the exception of Boersma, each of the authors presupposed that violence is immoral. For them, apparently, this is a self-evident and obvious. This foundational element to their writing was not proven or argued, just presupposed. They (Weaver, Daniels, and Finger) then made no effort to explain what the numerous biblical passages that speak to God judging in violent ways meant in light of the immorality of violence. I suppose this was self-evident to them, but it is not to me. That being said, Weaver's and Finger's essays were interesting and thier proposals, though I ultimately disagree with them, were easy to understand and thought provoking. Daniels lost me at multiple levels (his appeal for the church to get past worship that focuses on praising God for what he alone has done, his dependence on Rene Girard, and his call for the church to participate redemptively in the atonement), and was the least helpful.(less)
Classic work on the atonement. It reads more like a reference book and, as such, is an invaluable tool. I suspect that many who want to deny the conce...moreClassic work on the atonement. It reads more like a reference book and, as such, is an invaluable tool. I suspect that many who want to deny the concepts of propitiaion and penal substitution would be well served by this book.(less)
This is a fine book and a welcome addition to the numerous books being published on the nature of the atonement. Cole is generous and fair to those wi...moreThis is a fine book and a welcome addition to the numerous books being published on the nature of the atonement. Cole is generous and fair to those with whom he disagrees. Scripture is evidently authoritative as he constructs his theology of the Work of Christ. He engages many of the issues at hand in contemporary theology. (less)
Here is the endorsement I wrote for the soon-to-be-released book:
The evangelical Christian church has rightly and strongly focused much attention on d...moreHere is the endorsement I wrote for the soon-to-be-released book:
The evangelical Christian church has rightly and strongly focused much attention on defending the deity of Jesus Christ to those who question the doctrine. An unintentional yet tragic result of this is a lack of appreciation and understanding of the humanity of Jesus. In far too many instances, the church is functionally docetic, basically affirming that the divine Christ only seemed to be human. But as Bruce Ware skillfully and passionately explains, the gospel and its implications depend upon the full deity and true humanity of Jesus Christ. Biblically faithful, theologically solid, devotionally heartwarming, "The Man Christ Jesus" will increase your knowledge of and reverence for our wonderful Savior and Lord, the God-man Jesus Christ.(less)
"God is Impassible and Impassioned" is an excellent book. Lister's work is an extraordinary example of what evangelical scholarship should look like:...more"God is Impassible and Impassioned" is an excellent book. Lister's work is an extraordinary example of what evangelical scholarship should look like: Biblically faithful, Christ honoring, academically credible, fair and charitable to those with whom the author disagrees, heart-warming, worship-evoking, thought-provoking, historically faithful, and challenging. To think that this is largely borne out of Lister's PhD dissertation makes the book all the more remarkable because it is quite readable. Lister walks the reader through the history of Christian thought at a quick but informative pace, surveys the significant biblical passages that play on this issue, and then dives into the theological implications defending a workable and credible thesis of how God is both impassible and impassioned. The last chapter by itself is worth the price of the book. This will surely become required reading for my next Theology Proper class. (less)
This edited volume is a timely addition to any Christological library. The book offers a fantastic mix of church history, philosophy, and theology. Th...moreThis edited volume is a timely addition to any Christological library. The book offers a fantastic mix of church history, philosophy, and theology. The articles do not simply repeat the status quo, but are based on strong tradition while simultaneously pushing thinking forward on a number of significant issues that have strong implications for how life is lived at the most practical level. It is probably aimed at the college level (at best) but more likely a seminary audience.(less)
Where to begin: I rarely read books that are this frustrating. The book was an exercise in bile-suppression from almost the first page. His picture of...moreWhere to begin: I rarely read books that are this frustrating. The book was an exercise in bile-suppression from almost the first page. His picture of God is reductionistic. He feels the complete freedom to tinker with the Trinity and depart from/deny the biblical witness. The book is a theodicy, so it will not do to defend the book as covering just one aspect of who God is - that is precisely the problem! Because the book is a theodicy, it will also not wash to attribute the short-comings to it being a work of fiction. This is Young’s effort to explain the way that God governs! How can you leave out and/or deny such things as holiness, wrath, righteousness, atonement, propitiation, etc. His shots at the church are insufferable! It also has a decidedly pluralistic tone. I also finished the book wondering if Young likes being a man. Horrible book.(less)
Why 5 stars? This is not a magnificent treatise on the person of Jesus Christ that will rival the work of Macleod or Bruce, yet it is a book on Christ...moreWhy 5 stars? This is not a magnificent treatise on the person of Jesus Christ that will rival the work of Macleod or Bruce, yet it is a book on Christology, just written in a different genre - satire. When judged according to the standards of its own genre, it is very effective in communicating its message. And the message is important.With our postmodern sensibilities demanding that we worship a God of our own making, an avatar, that may or may not resemble the actual God of the cosmos and Lord of the Church, Matt’s book is required reading. It is a quick read and very funny. But he does alert us to a very serious problem. Unless the Jesus we are worshiping is the Son of God and the Jesus revealed on the pages of Scripture by the apostles, we are worshiping an imaginary Jesus. The Bible has a word for that: Idolatry.(less)
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