The Named God and the Question Of Being: A Trinitarian Theo-Ontology

by Stanley J. Grenz

In this book, Stanley Grenz examines the long-standing trajectory of thought that has equated the concept of "being" with the God of the Bible--and thus claimed that the ontological category of being is the guiding concept by which God should be understood. Grenz extends the engagement between Christian theology and the Western philosophical tradition and focuses the discussion on the importance of naming, particularly given that the Christian God is both named and triune. In doing so, he organizes the book into three parts, forming an overarching story of the interplay between the named character of God and the question of being. First he analyzes the history of the philosophical concept of Being, then he shifts the focus to an exegesis of the "I Am" texts, and finally he moves to a renewed conversation between theology and ontological philosophy by means of the divine name.

Genres: Theology

360 pages, Hardcover

First published November 17, 2005

About the author

Stanley James Grenz was born in Alpena, Michigan on January 7, 1950. He was the youngest of three children born to Richard and Clara Grenz, a brother to Lyle and Jan. His dad was a Baptist pastor for 30 years before he passed away in 1971. Growing up as a “pastor’s kid” meant that he moved several times in his life, from Michigan, to South Dakota, North Dakota, Montana and Colorado.

After high school Stan began his undergraduate studies in 1968 with the idea that he would become a nuclear physicist. But God had other plans for him, and in 1971, while driving home to Colorado after a visit with his parents in Oklahoma, he received a definite call into full time Christian ministry.

In 1970-1971 Stan traveled in an evangelistic youth team where he met Edna Sturhahn (from Vancouver, BC), who then became his wife in December, 1971. Both Stan and Edna completed their undergraduate degrees at the University of Colorado and Stan went on to receive his M. Div from Denver Seminary in 1976, the same year in which he was ordained into the gospel ministry. During the years of study in Colorado he served as a youth pastor and an assistant pastor. From Denver, Stan and Edna moved to Munich, Germany where Stan completed his Doctor of Theology under the mentorship of Wolfhart Pannenberg. Their son, Joel was born in Munich in 1978.

During a two-year pastorate (1979-1981) in Winnipeg, MB, where daughter Corina was born, Stan also taught courses at the University of Winnipeg and at Winnipeg Theological Seminary (now Providence Seminary). His full time teaching career began at the North American Baptist Seminary in Sioux Falls, SD (1981-1990). Those years were followed by a twelve-year (1990-2002) position as Pioneer McDonald Professor of Baptist Heritage, Theology and Ethics at Carey Theological College and at Regent College in Vancouver, BC. From 1996 to 1999 he carried an additional appointment as Professor of Theology and Ethics (Affiliate) at Northern Baptist Theological Seminary, Lombard IL. After a one-year sojourn as Distinguished Professor of Theology at Baylor University and Truett Seminary in Waco, TX (2002-2003), he returned to Carey in August 2003. In fall 2004, he assumed an additional appointment as Professor of Theological Studies at Mars Hill Graduate School, Seattle WA.

Stan has authored or co-authored twenty-five books, served as editor or co-editor for two Festschriften, contributed articles to more than two dozen other volumes, and has seen to print more than a hundred essays and an additional eighty book reviews. He had plans to write many more books. Two more of his books will appear in print within the next year.

In addition to writing and lecturing all around the world, Stan loved preaching. He admitted to “breaking into preaching” in some of his lectures. He served as interim pastor of several congregations and as guest preacher in many churches. He loved the Church, both locally and worldwide.

Stan wholeheartedly supported and encouraged his wife Edna in her pastoral ministry, her studies and in the enlargement of her ministry gifts. At First Baptist Church, he played the guitar and trumpet in the worship team and sang in the choir. He was proud of his children and their spouses, Joel and Jennifer and Corina and Chris, and delighted in his new granddaughter, Anika. Stan was a friend and mentor to many, always encouraging people to strive to new heights.

As a theologian for the Church Stan wrote from the deep, interior vision of the sure hope that we would enter into the community of God in the renewed creation. He articulated the reality of this new community as the compass for Christian theology: 'Now the dwelling of God is with human beings, and he will live with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.' (Rev. 21:3

Reviews

[Gipson Baucum · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book frustrated and captivated me. Grenz spends a lot of space examining the ontological concept of being and how it relates to the nature of God. The entire first part of the book is focused on understanding the classical Greek philosophical idea of "being" and how Christian authors synthesized their theology. I really struggled through this part of the book (the first three chapters, titled: "The Saga of Being.)" The second part of the book was an exegesis of the different passages dealing with the divine name. It treated occurrences in the Old Testament, The I Am statements in the book of John, and also occurrences in the book of Revelation. This was really in my wheel house and I made swift progress through this section, three chapters titled: "The Saga of the I AM." The last part at times was again a bit of a struggle for me conceptually. These three chapters were called "The Saga of the Triune name" and explored the relationship of the trinity, how they share the divine name, and confer the name on the community of believers. The last twenty pages of this book masterfully pulled it all together and the last 10 pages absolutely blew me away. It's hard work to get through this book, but for me it was worth it.

[G Walker · Rating 2 out of 5]

Ehhh, I am not sure what really to say. I enjoyed reading this book. I genuinely did. Actually, the whole reason I was motivated to read this book was due to Roger Olson's high praise, that and the fact that I was somewhat dissapointed with his work _Rediscovering the Triune God_. That said, I felt like her flirted too much with (the dated) Neo-Orthodox theologians. Actually more than flirting, to stay with the "dating analogy" I would call it heavy petting. But to his credit, he doe so in a contemporary, pomo friendly way... and I think that is the reason that I didn't really care for this book or the follow up _The Social God and the Relational Self_. It too suffers from that. I have a bunch of mixed feelings about Grenz... so much of what he does is good... and yet, the when her errors, it comes dangerously close to heterodoxy.