The Social God and the Relational Self: A Trinitarian Theology of the Imago Dei

by Stanley J. Grenz

The first of a six-volume contribution to systematic theology, this text extends the insights of contemporary Trinitarian thought to theological anthropology. It develops a communal understanding of the "imago deli" in the face of the demise of the centred self. It reformulates an understanding of the self in postmodern context, a context that is characterized by the loss of self coupled with the quest for relationality in community.

Genres: Theology, Nonfiction

400 pages, Hardcover

First published April 15, 2001

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

[Joyce del Rosario · Rating 4 out of 5]

Grenz explores the contours of the historical, contemporary and biblical anthropological theology of the trinity and the relationship to the imago dei but did so from a particular location. The irony of Grenz’s postmodern treatment of this topic is that it lacks the kind of diversity that the postmodern perspective should allow. Grenz’s social location as a Western male theologian has an impact on the approach to this discussion. His final chapter on the self within community lacks a robust conversation that could be had in a diverse and multicultural dialogue. The way we see community varies between cultural groups and an inclusion of those conversations could widen and bolster Grenz’s postmodern efforts.

[Daniel Im · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wow. A fascinating and deep read to understand self, the formation of identity, the image of God in us, and the trinity. The only reason the book isn’t a 5 out of 5 is because of how difficult it was to read.

[Sabrina · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was deep. I had to stop to rest my brain throughout reading this book. It took me 7 months to read

[Mr. Dokkie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Super tough read. But quality content

[Jason Kanz · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read The Social God and the Relational Self: A Trinitarian Theology of the Imago Dei (2001) by Stanley Grenz on the recommendation of Larry Crabb. When I attended his School of Spiritual Direction, there were several books and authors that he mentioned. Other than CS Lewis, who he mentions frequently, Crabb often spoke fondly about this book.

The Social God is an ambitious academic text. In seeking to explore the relationship between the Trinity, our notions of self, and the Imago Dei, Grenz covered a lot of ground. Briefly, he discusses numerous theologians from Iranaeus to Calvin to Barth to Moltmann. He also dives deeply into the psychological literature of the self from William James to Sigmund Freud to Abraham Maslow. Throw in discussions of Nietzsche, Kant, and Locke and you have a broad exploration of God in relation to the self.

I will confess that this was a challenging read for me. Academic neuropsychology is often difficult enough, not to mention a broad-ranging academic theology that relies, in some cases, on reference to original Greek, Hebrew, and Aramaic. He also seemed to be balanced in his approach. Regardless, I found my thinking challenged, trying to understand topics like Rahner's Rule, the LaCugna Corollary, and the economic versus immanent Trinity. At at a more base, or practical level, this book was helpful to me in terms of understanding the importance of relating as a component of the Imago Dei. The penultimate chapter on The Imago Dei and Human Sexuality deserves a second read as it explores how the Imago Dei may be specifically expressed in our maleness and femaleness. I suspect that in what he wrote, both conservatives and liberals could find something with which to be offended.

I would recommend this book, but it is not for the faint of heart.

[Joseph Sverker]

It is very impressive to follow the sheer scope of Grenz's reading for this book. He covers an immensely broad ground and manage to do this with his credibility intact. I would recommend anyone who is interested to read about how the view of the "self" has changed through the history of time from Plato to now to read Grenz section on this. He bases his thought on Charles Taylor a fair bit, but he manages to cover the ground in about 100 pages rather than 500 and also Grenz include more of literature and contemporary psychology than what I can remember Taylor did. As such I think Grenz paints a fuller picture of the history of ideas behind the change from an communal to an inward individualistic self. Grenz's section on the human person in the Bible is somewhat dense in detail even though it is of great interest to me since I do research in the area. However, everything is neatly and succinctly tied up and analyzed in the final chapters. I was very impressed reading this book and it left me feeling a little bit superfluous if I was going to write simply about theological anthropology.

[Rodger · Rating 4 out of 5]

I will not lie to you. This is a very difficult book to understand. The parts I could understand were great and insightful. My reason for reading this book was to search my thesis on relationships. "The Image of God, in which we are created, is the basis for all the relationships of our lives." For that, Grenz was very helpful.

[Alfred · Rating 5 out of 5]

Awesome book, a great place to start for delving into Christian anthropology on what it means to be human. He offers three major perspectives on the meaning of the imago dei and how Christ is the perfect imago dei as the source and goal for a restored humanity.

[G Walker · Rating 2 out of 5]

See notes from his previous volume _The Named God_.

[Dennis Podryadchikov · Rating 5 out of 5]

A detailed approach to the problem of the lost and disintegrated self be focusing on the relationality of the Triune God who set an example in Jesus Christ.