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The Incarnation of God: The Mystery of the Gospel as the Foundation of Evangelical Theology
It’s at the heart of the Christian faith.
It’s the central fact of human history.
It’s the defining reality of all existence. In The Incarnation of God , theology professors John Clark and Marcus Johnson explore the doctrine of the incarnation of Christ―an unquestionably foundational yet oddly neglected topic in contemporary evangelical theology―examining its implications for the church’s knowledge and worship of God, appreciation for salvation, approach to the Christian life, and understanding of human sexuality. Grounded in Scripture and informed by church history, this book will lead readers to reexamine afresh the greatest mystery of the our Lord’s assumption of human flesh.
It’s the central fact of human history.
It’s the defining reality of all existence. In The Incarnation of God , theology professors John Clark and Marcus Johnson explore the doctrine of the incarnation of Christ―an unquestionably foundational yet oddly neglected topic in contemporary evangelical theology―examining its implications for the church’s knowledge and worship of God, appreciation for salvation, approach to the Christian life, and understanding of human sexuality. Grounded in Scripture and informed by church history, this book will lead readers to reexamine afresh the greatest mystery of the our Lord’s assumption of human flesh.
256 pages, Paperback
First published March 31, 2015
43 people are currently reading
277 people want to read
About the author
John C. Clark
4 books9 followersMarcus Peter Johnson (PhD, University of Toronto) is assistant professor of theology at Moody Bible Institute. Along with writing his doctoral dissertation on union with Christ in the theology of John Calvin, he is also the author of several scholarly essays. He and his wife, Stacie, live in Chicago with their son, Peter, and are members of Grace Lutheran Church.
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Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews
January 5, 2024
3.5 Stars.
This is a well-written and theologically insightful book. It is easy to read, straight-forward in its structure, and important in its content.
I appreciated the genuinely theological approach (not getting caught up in the wrong questions) and the critical remarks against the shallow Christology common in modern evangelical circles.
The book rightly and consistently confesses (by drawing on Bonhoeffer, Barth, Torrance, and esp. Luther and Calvin), that the “incarnation is the God-given reality from which theology begins, not a plausible possibility towards which theology moves.” This is refreshing, showing the strengths of reformed theology (without falling into some of its pitfalls) especially when the authors talk about the attributes of God, the church, the sacraments, and marriage.
At the same time, this book could be shorter. It becomes repetitive when the same insights are stated several times and then even more often reiterated with the phrase “in other words…”.
The book also left me with some open questions, e.g., about Christ’s descension into hell (a topic that strangely never appears even though the creeds are consistently mentioned) and the relationship between the experimental and doctrinal knowledge of God in Christ (which is only shortly talked about).
This is a well-written and theologically insightful book. It is easy to read, straight-forward in its structure, and important in its content.
I appreciated the genuinely theological approach (not getting caught up in the wrong questions) and the critical remarks against the shallow Christology common in modern evangelical circles.
The book rightly and consistently confesses (by drawing on Bonhoeffer, Barth, Torrance, and esp. Luther and Calvin), that the “incarnation is the God-given reality from which theology begins, not a plausible possibility towards which theology moves.” This is refreshing, showing the strengths of reformed theology (without falling into some of its pitfalls) especially when the authors talk about the attributes of God, the church, the sacraments, and marriage.
At the same time, this book could be shorter. It becomes repetitive when the same insights are stated several times and then even more often reiterated with the phrase “in other words…”.
The book also left me with some open questions, e.g., about Christ’s descension into hell (a topic that strangely never appears even though the creeds are consistently mentioned) and the relationship between the experimental and doctrinal knowledge of God in Christ (which is only shortly talked about).
March 31, 2015
Superlatives have an unfortunate prevalence in too many Christian sermons and books: “This is the most” whatever. I cannot tell you how many times I have heard misplaced ‘greatest’ and ‘worst’ and ‘most needed’ and ‘biggest cause’ phrases attached to silly and nearly neutral issues—and if not neutral, leastwise secondary, tertiary, or implicative ideas. And so when authors Clark and Marcus describe the doctrine of Christ’s incarnation as the Foundation of Evangelical Theology, you might expect some rolling of eyes or tongue-biting grunts of semi-affirmation. After all, how can the incarnation supplant ‘the cross and crucifixion of Christ’?! Or even the resurrection: isn’t "foundation" the honor Paul accords to resurrection in I Corinthians 15?... or is it? After all, isn’t Paul’s argument concerned with bodily resurrection for all the saints?
Well, fortunately for you, Clark and Marcus have handled these disagreements with tact and love in their case for The Incarnation of God as The Foundation of Evangelical Theology —released tomorrow in their Crossway book by that title.
The preface describes the full context and impetus for this book as well as its intended audience, but suffice it for this review to quote their thesis:
The incarnation of God, therefore, is the supreme mystery at the center of our Christian confession, and no less at the center of all reality. Consequently, all conceptions of reality that fail to see and savor that all things hold together in Christ, and the he is preeminent in all things, can never be anything but abstract conceptions of virtual realities—that is, invariable hollow and ultimately vacuous concepts pulled away from reality.
[This book is]…noncomprehensive and nonexhasustive…. Its aim is to explore the relation of the incarnation to other major facets of the Christian faith, demonstrating that Christ holds together, and should indeed be preeminent in, the whole of our Christian confession.
And does their thesis hold? Argument after argument, I believe it does. In the pages of this book Clark and Marcus deliver to our hearts and minds the mystery of the incarnation—offering honor and glory to our Triune God in exposition of the incarnation in relation to Triune being and work, soteriology, ecclesiology, marriage & sex. I found myself, several times, wiping tears from eyes as I was confronted with the beauteous gospel of our incarnate Christ. Now, I understand that each person is dynamic and that the same truth or event can effect different results in the individuals; and so maybe my interaction with this book was a timely interruption given me by our wise and loving God, but I anticipate that there are far too many who share my current theological context—one lacking the robust glory of the incarnation—so while I cannot guarantee this book will be life changing, neither can I affirm and support the publication and wide-dispersion enough! I intend to order multiple copies to hand out to friends and leadership in my church, and I would encourage any thoughtful Christian to pick up a copy for themselves.
Two more notes:
(1) What sets this book apart from others (especially those) about the incarnation? I believe the distinguishing mark of this work is the way the authors reveal the interweaving nature of all theology. What we believe about the incarnation has direct implications on what we believe about salvation and the church. It also reveals what we believe about the Trinity—which is a bold statement, but one the authors do not shy away from. We know God as Trinity, they argue, only because the Son came in human flesh and revealed the Father and Spirit to us. This line of argument—the interweavingness of theology—can have some pitfalls, of course: namely determining a priori what ‘must’ be resultantly true and determining therefore what ‘must’ be essentially true, but I do not think Clark and Marcus fall into this potential trap. And I think they do not do so because of their great esteem for the giants of theological history. Every chapter is filled with excerpts and quotes from the church fathers and reformers, all of which show their own reliance on Holy Scripture.
(2) My professor and friend once reminded his class that no book can be
perfect, and so no book review should lack a suggestion for improvement. Here’s mine: the authors occasionally fall into a type of preacher speak/mnemonic device which seems trite in the face of the profundity. Setting apart ‘atonement’ as “at-one-ment” each time it comes, while a helpful reminder, can be a bit too childish at times. There was another term where something similar was employed, but I’ve forgotten it now. And hopefully the childishness of my own critique only underlines the timeliness and helpfulness of The Incarnation of God’s entrance into our Christian sphere.
Our Triune God is honored and magnified as the personal God who communicates himself to us in the very human flesh which we indwell east of Eden. He has taken this sinful flesh upon himself and marched us into the Father’s presence where we experience the love which the Father has for the Son with overwhelming interpenetration. It is scandalous! And it is the very heart of the gospel.
Be sure to check out my blog for specific interaction with some of the ideas presented in this book.
I received this book as part of Crossway's Beyond the Page program; this review is my own.
This review is crosslisted on Amazon and ejboston.blogspot.com
Well, fortunately for you, Clark and Marcus have handled these disagreements with tact and love in their case for The Incarnation of God as The Foundation of Evangelical Theology —released tomorrow in their Crossway book by that title.
The preface describes the full context and impetus for this book as well as its intended audience, but suffice it for this review to quote their thesis:
The incarnation of God, therefore, is the supreme mystery at the center of our Christian confession, and no less at the center of all reality. Consequently, all conceptions of reality that fail to see and savor that all things hold together in Christ, and the he is preeminent in all things, can never be anything but abstract conceptions of virtual realities—that is, invariable hollow and ultimately vacuous concepts pulled away from reality.
[This book is]…noncomprehensive and nonexhasustive…. Its aim is to explore the relation of the incarnation to other major facets of the Christian faith, demonstrating that Christ holds together, and should indeed be preeminent in, the whole of our Christian confession.
And does their thesis hold? Argument after argument, I believe it does. In the pages of this book Clark and Marcus deliver to our hearts and minds the mystery of the incarnation—offering honor and glory to our Triune God in exposition of the incarnation in relation to Triune being and work, soteriology, ecclesiology, marriage & sex. I found myself, several times, wiping tears from eyes as I was confronted with the beauteous gospel of our incarnate Christ. Now, I understand that each person is dynamic and that the same truth or event can effect different results in the individuals; and so maybe my interaction with this book was a timely interruption given me by our wise and loving God, but I anticipate that there are far too many who share my current theological context—one lacking the robust glory of the incarnation—so while I cannot guarantee this book will be life changing, neither can I affirm and support the publication and wide-dispersion enough! I intend to order multiple copies to hand out to friends and leadership in my church, and I would encourage any thoughtful Christian to pick up a copy for themselves.
Two more notes:
(1) What sets this book apart from others (especially those) about the incarnation? I believe the distinguishing mark of this work is the way the authors reveal the interweaving nature of all theology. What we believe about the incarnation has direct implications on what we believe about salvation and the church. It also reveals what we believe about the Trinity—which is a bold statement, but one the authors do not shy away from. We know God as Trinity, they argue, only because the Son came in human flesh and revealed the Father and Spirit to us. This line of argument—the interweavingness of theology—can have some pitfalls, of course: namely determining a priori what ‘must’ be resultantly true and determining therefore what ‘must’ be essentially true, but I do not think Clark and Marcus fall into this potential trap. And I think they do not do so because of their great esteem for the giants of theological history. Every chapter is filled with excerpts and quotes from the church fathers and reformers, all of which show their own reliance on Holy Scripture.
(2) My professor and friend once reminded his class that no book can be
perfect, and so no book review should lack a suggestion for improvement. Here’s mine: the authors occasionally fall into a type of preacher speak/mnemonic device which seems trite in the face of the profundity. Setting apart ‘atonement’ as “at-one-ment” each time it comes, while a helpful reminder, can be a bit too childish at times. There was another term where something similar was employed, but I’ve forgotten it now. And hopefully the childishness of my own critique only underlines the timeliness and helpfulness of The Incarnation of God’s entrance into our Christian sphere.
Our Triune God is honored and magnified as the personal God who communicates himself to us in the very human flesh which we indwell east of Eden. He has taken this sinful flesh upon himself and marched us into the Father’s presence where we experience the love which the Father has for the Son with overwhelming interpenetration. It is scandalous! And it is the very heart of the gospel.
Be sure to check out my blog for specific interaction with some of the ideas presented in this book.
I received this book as part of Crossway's Beyond the Page program; this review is my own.
This review is crosslisted on Amazon and ejboston.blogspot.com
January 6, 2016
Много добра книга - вероятно най-добрата на тази тема, която съм чел.
Изобщо не е нужно човек да е съгласен с всичко казано - по-важното е да си даде сметка колко бедно (да не кажа сиромашко) в някои отношения е средностатистическото евангелско осмисляне на спасението. При това в рязък контраст с наследството на Реформацията.
Горещо препоръчвам книгата като в същото време се съмнявам, че много хора ще имат търпението първо да прочетат бавно една материя, която ще намерят в много отношения както за странна така и за непозната и след това да направят допълнително усилие да я осмислят - а тя никак не е лесна.
Изобщо не е нужно човек да е съгласен с всичко казано - по-важното е да си даде сметка колко бедно (да не кажа сиромашко) в някои отношения е средностатистическото евангелско осмисляне на спасението. При това в рязък контраст с наследството на Реформацията.
Горещо препоръчвам книгата като в същото време се съмнявам, че много хора ще имат търпението първо да прочетат бавно една материя, която ще намерят в много отношения както за странна така и за непозната и след това да направят допълнително усилие да я осмислят - а тя никак не е лесна.
May 23, 2017
I began reading this a couple of Christmases ago and was stunned how much I found there that I hadn't known, hadn't thought about in the way the authors expressed it, and just how well written it is. I have a seminary degree and a Ph.D. in linguistics, but this book stretched me and took me to beautiful places I'm still enjoying. A remarkable book worth reading and rereading.
March 25, 2018
An excellent book that effectively shows the incarnation to be the foundation of evangelical theology. They quote Bonhoeffer approvingly at the end: "Henceforward one can speak neither of God nor of the world without speaking of Jesus Christ. All concepts of reality which do not take account of Him are abstractions" (quoted on p. 234). The authors discuss the incarnation vis-a-vis our knowledge of God, the attributes of God, mediation, union with Christ (because the bandwagon's a movin'), the Church and her sacraments, and marriage and sex.
The writing is very doxological, which is great, and the theology and style are deeply influenced by T.F. Torrance and John Webster. The authors' emphasis on the incarnation as "the great central fact of the world" is praiseworthy and skillfully developed, and their reminder that the risen and ascended Christ is "himself the living reality of his church" should prove salutary for the many Christians who tend to think of Jesus as both a past and future reality but not much of a present one (189). The penultimate chapter, which discusses Jesus Christ as the "one great Mystery and Sacrament" of the world, with the Word of God proclaimed being the primary means by which he gives himself to us, and with baptism and the Lord's supper being applications of the one Sacrament, was maybe the best chapter I've ever read on sacramental theology in general and on the sacraments in particular. And the final chapter, on seeing human sexuality and distinction-within-unity in light of the incarnation, and on all holy human intimacies as indicative both of creation and of the gospel according to which we, the Church and Bride, are brought to intimate union with Christ, was likewise fantastic.
The weak points were the authors' facile arguments against divine impassibility and their woefully inadequate arguments for Christ's assumption of a sinful human nature.
Otherwise I wholeheartedly recommend this book.
The writing is very doxological, which is great, and the theology and style are deeply influenced by T.F. Torrance and John Webster. The authors' emphasis on the incarnation as "the great central fact of the world" is praiseworthy and skillfully developed, and their reminder that the risen and ascended Christ is "himself the living reality of his church" should prove salutary for the many Christians who tend to think of Jesus as both a past and future reality but not much of a present one (189). The penultimate chapter, which discusses Jesus Christ as the "one great Mystery and Sacrament" of the world, with the Word of God proclaimed being the primary means by which he gives himself to us, and with baptism and the Lord's supper being applications of the one Sacrament, was maybe the best chapter I've ever read on sacramental theology in general and on the sacraments in particular. And the final chapter, on seeing human sexuality and distinction-within-unity in light of the incarnation, and on all holy human intimacies as indicative both of creation and of the gospel according to which we, the Church and Bride, are brought to intimate union with Christ, was likewise fantastic.
The weak points were the authors' facile arguments against divine impassibility and their woefully inadequate arguments for Christ's assumption of a sinful human nature.
Otherwise I wholeheartedly recommend this book.
Read
April 1, 2019Two of my favorite parts:
"[In this book] priority is given to the question, 'Who is the incarnate Christ?' over the question, 'What is the relevance of the incarnate Christ?' Ours is a pragmatic culture; it prizes and praises utility, efficiency, and expediency. Consequently, the latter question is routinely prioritized in contemporary Christian discourse... this betrays an idolatrous tendency to place more value and interest in the blessings of Christ than in Christ himself, a tendency to see Christ not as a matchlessly beautiful end in himself, but as a means to other greater and grander personal, social, or cultural ends" (p. 40)
"Loosed from the self-giving of Jesus Christ, the mystery and beauty of sanctification all too easily degenerates into technique and methodology - 'seven steps to spiritual growth' and the like - that are often little more than self-help programs designed to motivate the human spirit. On the contrary, the Spiritual life of the Christian is none other than a baptism by the Spirit into Jesus Christ, who crucifies and resurrects us into the power and freedom of his living, sanctifying presence. That is why John Williamson Nevin writes:
The Christian is not called, either before or after his conversion, to form an independent holiness for himself; but only to receive continuously the stream of life that flows upon him from Christ.... and still this absolute passivity is at the same time the highest activity; since Christ works, not without the man, but in the very inmost depths of his being, infusing into the will itself the active force of his own life" (p. 178)
"[In this book] priority is given to the question, 'Who is the incarnate Christ?' over the question, 'What is the relevance of the incarnate Christ?' Ours is a pragmatic culture; it prizes and praises utility, efficiency, and expediency. Consequently, the latter question is routinely prioritized in contemporary Christian discourse... this betrays an idolatrous tendency to place more value and interest in the blessings of Christ than in Christ himself, a tendency to see Christ not as a matchlessly beautiful end in himself, but as a means to other greater and grander personal, social, or cultural ends" (p. 40)
"Loosed from the self-giving of Jesus Christ, the mystery and beauty of sanctification all too easily degenerates into technique and methodology - 'seven steps to spiritual growth' and the like - that are often little more than self-help programs designed to motivate the human spirit. On the contrary, the Spiritual life of the Christian is none other than a baptism by the Spirit into Jesus Christ, who crucifies and resurrects us into the power and freedom of his living, sanctifying presence. That is why John Williamson Nevin writes:
The Christian is not called, either before or after his conversion, to form an independent holiness for himself; but only to receive continuously the stream of life that flows upon him from Christ.... and still this absolute passivity is at the same time the highest activity; since Christ works, not without the man, but in the very inmost depths of his being, infusing into the will itself the active force of his own life" (p. 178)
January 6, 2025
This book certainly has its flaws, but it’s undeniably thought-provoking. Seriously thought-provoking. Every chapter challenged me to reflect on the profound mystery of the incarnation of Jesus. For this reason, I find it difficult to give it a definitive rating. Weaknesses aside, it still stands apart from anything I’ve ever read on the subject, addressing lifelong questions I’ve struggled with. While most works on the incarnation declare it a mystery yet seemingly attempt to solve it apologetically, this book takes a different approach: it seeks to “articulate the mystery.” That refreshing perspective has left a lasting impression on me, and I anticipate revisiting it many times.
Here’s a quote from the chapter “Christ for Us, Christ in Us”:
“We do not seek and find a reclusive God; he pursues and overtakes us in our rebellion. We do not perforate his unapproachable light; he penetrates our unsearchable darkness. We do not interrogate the Jesus of history to excavate the God of eternity; that infinite and eternal God storms space and time to confront us face to face in the face of Christ. The incarnation scandalizes our desire for heroism without humility, for glory without grace, for human ascent without divine descent. That is because the incarnation sets before us the unsettling yet liberating reality that rapprochement between God and humanity is accomplished only and ever from the side of God.”
A profound and deeply challenging read!
July 16, 2020
This was a very difficult book to read, and I mean it in the best possible way. There’s so much to learn and re-learn through its pages that you can't do better than to read it very slowly, trying to digest everything, bite to bite. The reality of the incarnation and its implications are certainly diminished in modern theology, even though they should be at the center of our confession, and the consequences of that are devastating for the Church. This book does an amazing job explaining why.
June 1, 2015
Christology is my favorite subject to study. It began with John Owen, and moved onto John Calvin, Edwards, Warfield, and so on. In my own experience, I have not picked a contemporary book on the person and work of the Lord Jesus Christ and felt my heart moved and mind awakened in quite the same way as with the classic books; until I picked this up. I don't mean to say this facetiously, but this is beautiful, rich, mind-stretching, Christ-exalting, heart-warming theology. It is very good writing. The amount of thought and heart that these authors have put into their articulation is very impressive, and is worthy of Christ's name. In this it feels very "Puritanic". It was said of John Owen that you could read him one page at a time and have a rich feast before you. That's how this book has made me feel. I have greatly appreciated systematic theology courses in the past, but I feel that the Christology in this work goes deeper than what a lot of us may be acquainted with. This will be a well-rewarding read for hungry pilgrims and theologians.
If you love to study and meditate on Jesus, and if you're often hungry for the richness you find in the old authors, I would recommend this book to you!
If you love to study and meditate on Jesus, and if you're often hungry for the richness you find in the old authors, I would recommend this book to you!
August 12, 2015
I usually have a book with me at work to read if I have a gap of spare time to do so. Often I'll pick a book that I wouldn't want to sit down and read otherwise, but can bite off in small pieces as time allows.
This is no such book. This book is fabulous. It returns soteriology to where it should be centered: not on an ordo, not on justification, but on the incarnation. Sure the cross is central, but incarnation was for a deeper purpose than just that one event. Just read John's Gospel to see how the incarnation is vital to any knowledge of God. Clark and Johnson cover this in an early chapter, perhaps the best of the book.
Of course the other chapters are good too. The one on what the incarnation means for marriage/sex was a bit weak, but the ones discussing Christ's taking on flesh specifically were great. Let us not forget that Christ didn't merely take on flesh; he took on sinful flesh. The virgin birth did not absolve him from this burden. He experienced all that we experience. To be saved is to be linked to this experience in all its fullness--not merely the cross.
This is no such book. This book is fabulous. It returns soteriology to where it should be centered: not on an ordo, not on justification, but on the incarnation. Sure the cross is central, but incarnation was for a deeper purpose than just that one event. Just read John's Gospel to see how the incarnation is vital to any knowledge of God. Clark and Johnson cover this in an early chapter, perhaps the best of the book.
Of course the other chapters are good too. The one on what the incarnation means for marriage/sex was a bit weak, but the ones discussing Christ's taking on flesh specifically were great. Let us not forget that Christ didn't merely take on flesh; he took on sinful flesh. The virgin birth did not absolve him from this burden. He experienced all that we experience. To be saved is to be linked to this experience in all its fullness--not merely the cross.
May 6, 2016
Was the incarnation just a means to the Cross of Christ or is it more important? Does the incarnation accomplish anything on it's own accord or is it totally dependent on the Cross? Clark and Johnson once again challenge evangelical theology that is quick to only emphasize the Cross to the detriment of the incarnation of the Person of Christ. It has challenged me to see the incarnation of Christ with such a powerful lens which has increased my affections for my humble King. This is one of my top 10 favorite books in my life and I would recommend any teacher in theology to read it.
April 28, 2016
Having John Clark as a professor has been an extraordinary blessing. Few have shaped and refined my theology as much as he has. And this book well encapsulates his mantra of the importance of the incarnation, and our union with Christ. Few books have made my soul sing, or my eyes weep tears of joy, such as this book. If this book was read by the masses, there might be a resurgence of those who are hungry for Christ, not satisfied with cheap imitations.
December 6, 2017
Great book on the meaning and importance of Jesus becoming a man just like all of mankind from Adam's sin onward. Many of the authors' assertions make understanding what the scripture says more understandable. Their arguments also point out that some of the arguments that are used for various understandings of the faith and what it means for life do not go far enough, or are based upon a faulty foundation (especially chapter 8 on the understanding of the Incarnation, and Marriage and Sex).
January 21, 2024
Clark and Johnson successfully demonstrate why the answer to the question "Who is Jesus?" is fundamental to all other areas of theology, salvation, Scripture, church, sacraments, and sexuality. In spite of my hope that they would eventually get to the intersection of Christology with discipleship and mission (which they didn't), every leader and teacher should be familiar with the centrality of Christology to Christian theology and it's implications for leadership. Without sounding overly critical, Clark and Johnson help us see the devastating effects of the diluted Christology in popular evangelicalism.
The authors draw heavily on early church Fathers, the Reformers (Luther and Calvin), and a handful of more contemporary theologians (Bonhoeffer and the Torrence brothers). They write from a Reformed perspective (I'm not Reformed), though I appreciated learning about Calvin's commitment to the Incarnation as the foundation for soteriology and ecclesiology. I would have liked to know more about John Wesley's treatment of the Incarnation.
Most significant for contemporary evangelicalism is a rediscovery of the Incarnation of Christ as the substance of soteriology. Salvation isn't something offered to us by Christ, but something found in Christ. Additionally, the recognition of the Incarnation as the substance of ecclesiology should ignite a "rethink" regarding the corporate worship, mission, and leadership of the local church.
We desperately need a Christological reformation in the evangelical church today. In many circles, Christ is a tool in "God's" (ignoring the Trinitarian nature of theology) mechanics of salvation, and Jesus is an example of how to live and minister. The mystery pointed to in John 1 and Colossians 1 is relegated to doctrinal statements and theological courses with little impact on the being or practice of the local church.
I would hope more pastors would read this book.
The authors draw heavily on early church Fathers, the Reformers (Luther and Calvin), and a handful of more contemporary theologians (Bonhoeffer and the Torrence brothers). They write from a Reformed perspective (I'm not Reformed), though I appreciated learning about Calvin's commitment to the Incarnation as the foundation for soteriology and ecclesiology. I would have liked to know more about John Wesley's treatment of the Incarnation.
Most significant for contemporary evangelicalism is a rediscovery of the Incarnation of Christ as the substance of soteriology. Salvation isn't something offered to us by Christ, but something found in Christ. Additionally, the recognition of the Incarnation as the substance of ecclesiology should ignite a "rethink" regarding the corporate worship, mission, and leadership of the local church.
We desperately need a Christological reformation in the evangelical church today. In many circles, Christ is a tool in "God's" (ignoring the Trinitarian nature of theology) mechanics of salvation, and Jesus is an example of how to live and minister. The mystery pointed to in John 1 and Colossians 1 is relegated to doctrinal statements and theological courses with little impact on the being or practice of the local church.
I would hope more pastors would read this book.
December 1, 2023
The authors are very clear writers who develop very good argumentation for the centrality of the incarnation in all theological discourse, and the importance of maintaining “mystery” in Christian discussion on the incarnation of Christ.
However, too often the authors make very grand, serious, and dismissive claims about disagreements with their Christological views. For example, they dismiss the notion of divine impassibility—a concept upheld by many church fathers, medievalists, and even Calvin—as a Nestorian notion since it separates the emotional life of Christ from the emotional life of God. Ultimately, the authors overly ‘immanentize’ God through their rejections of principles such as divine accommodation.
The final chapter of the book is also a little weird and sounds an awful lot like Social Trinitarianism. Yet, I’m always baffled about why Social Trinitarians never identify themselves as such even though they are making clear arguments for ST.
Overall, it’s a well-written book, but there are many other books on Christology and incarnation that are more worthwhile reads.
However, too often the authors make very grand, serious, and dismissive claims about disagreements with their Christological views. For example, they dismiss the notion of divine impassibility—a concept upheld by many church fathers, medievalists, and even Calvin—as a Nestorian notion since it separates the emotional life of Christ from the emotional life of God. Ultimately, the authors overly ‘immanentize’ God through their rejections of principles such as divine accommodation.
The final chapter of the book is also a little weird and sounds an awful lot like Social Trinitarianism. Yet, I’m always baffled about why Social Trinitarians never identify themselves as such even though they are making clear arguments for ST.
Overall, it’s a well-written book, but there are many other books on Christology and incarnation that are more worthwhile reads.
January 7, 2020
This has been an great start in my reading goal for 2020. The message is logical, historical, and biblical and well organized in each chapter. Even better is the message and the imperative importance of the mystery of the incarnation. However, I would mainly recommend to people who have some understanding of theological terms and concepts as the subject matter can be quite thick; but I have no doubt you will awe over the beauty of Christ.
March 8, 2018
"Theology is meant to sing to Jesus Christ, for he alone is the Way, Truth, and Life of God - the full, final, and saving revelation of the Creator, creature, and creation. (238)
December 18, 2019
I'm undecided. Parts of the book I thoroughly enjoyed. Parts I am unsure about. And parts I found puzzling, if not troublesome.
December 21, 2019
Great Read!
This book has several places where what you read is worth the time in mining through the book. You will refer to this book time and time again.
This book has several places where what you read is worth the time in mining through the book. You will refer to this book time and time again.
November 16, 2021
Heading into the last chapter I have found this to be a very interesting book. I am required to read through the text for NT. LIT. HIST. and THEO class at Moody Theological. It is very interesting to see the argumentation given. This is a very philosophical, theological, and metaphysical book. I am not privy to Dr. Clark's background, nor Johnson's but I don't think they have much background in either metaphysics or philosophy, being theology experts they may have some studying in it, that being said it appears they are making some interesting assumptions.
First they do not ever define personhood, or what it means to be human. They just assume the definition to be known. Thus some of their conclusions can be hard to understand (although even if they decided to give the definition of personhood or what it means to be human their conclusions can be difficult to understand).
With that, this book provokes great discussion and brings one back to the importance of knowing the God who redeemed us, and the extent to which he is willing to go to do that. It is a great "mystery" but correctly stated needs to put "The Gospel as the foundation of Evangelical Theology."
First they do not ever define personhood, or what it means to be human. They just assume the definition to be known. Thus some of their conclusions can be hard to understand (although even if they decided to give the definition of personhood or what it means to be human their conclusions can be difficult to understand).
With that, this book provokes great discussion and brings one back to the importance of knowing the God who redeemed us, and the extent to which he is willing to go to do that. It is a great "mystery" but correctly stated needs to put "The Gospel as the foundation of Evangelical Theology."
April 15, 2025
One of the best books I've ever had the pleasure of reading. Here are my two critiques:
1. It has a section on impassibility that completely contradicts itself on immutability. It is a dismal page or two that is a stain on an otherwise fantastic book.
2. It is too harsh on the protestant position given that their difference with them ultimately comes down to an "at the point of conception" distinction. It reminds me of the way that eastern orthodoxy will attack against the filioque.
1. It has a section on impassibility that completely contradicts itself on immutability. It is a dismal page or two that is a stain on an otherwise fantastic book.
2. It is too harsh on the protestant position given that their difference with them ultimately comes down to an "at the point of conception" distinction. It reminds me of the way that eastern orthodoxy will attack against the filioque.
July 13, 2015
Fantastic
September 11, 2015
Very good volume. I disagree on some issues such as their view on impassibility. Nevertheless, this work is well written, comprehensive, and at the same time very accessible.
December 28, 2024
Reread this book with students for a Socratic group. One of my favorites on the incarnation (outside of primary sources).
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