Studies in Theology, Lectures Delivered in Chicago Theological Seminary

by James Denney

This is a reprint of the 1895 Hodder & Stoughton edition. The Introduction by David F. Wells was written for the 1976 edition, and is 21 pages long.

272 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1895

About the author

James Denney (1856 – 1917) was a Scottish theologian and preacher. He is probably best known today for his theological articulation of the meaning of the atonement within Christian theology, atonement for him being “the most profound of all truths”.

Reviews

[Eli · Rating 4 out of 5]

James Denney is without a doubt one of the deepest Christian thinkers of the Christian Church. This book is a rare gem as it contains Denney's thoughts on a wide spectrum of theological subjects, each chapter a weighty feast for the heart and mind. While the majority of this book is solid, the great weakness is the final two chapters in which Denney discusses Scripture and eschatology. Denney, although conservative and orthodox in his views on most Christian doctrine, was liberal in his view on Scripture (an interesting and rare combination). This effected his hermeneutics and his approach to questions. The ultimate concern for Denney was not: "What saith the Scriptures?" but "How does this idea resonate with my conscience and ethical understanding?" Amazingly, Denney's hermeneutic led him basically into orthodoxy, which says a lot about orthodoxy. This hermeneutic also makes reading Denney fascinating and rich. But the weakness is seen in particular subjects where Scripture has things to say that are difficult for us to understand at first, or that simply don't have to do with the kind of knowledge that resonates with our consciences (ex. historical data; providences of God, etc.). We must bow the knee to the judgment of Scripture rather than be the judges of Scripture. Nevertheless, this book is excellent in so many ways. I recommend it with this warning.