Synopses & Reviews
The love of God is arguably the most central doctrine of the Christian faith, and yet, remarkably, the subject of God's love has not received the attention it deserves. In Nothing Greater, Nothing Better an international team of distinguished theologians and biblical scholars admirably fills this need, offering clear and inspiring discussion of the nature of God's love and its implications for the Christian life. Kevin J. Vanhoozer begins the book by outlining the proper theological context of and main issues involved in meaningful talk about God's love today. Gary D. Badcock revisits the distinction between agape and eros, crafting a fresh understanding of these terms in relation to God's loving act in Christ. Geoffrey Grogan reviews the biblical evidence that ought to guide our thinking about God's love. Lewis Ayres examines Augustine's view of God's love as expressed in his commentary on 1 John and in his profound work on the Trinity. Trevor Hart examines the perils of using human language to speak of God, including attempts to fully grasp the concept of God's love. Alan J. Torrance looks for insight in the great Johannine assertion God is love. Tony Lane queries the possibility of thinking about God's wrath and God's love together. Paul Helm asks whether God can love the world, turning, provocatively, to natural theology for an answer. David Fergusson takes up the vital eschatological concern: will the love of God ultimately triumph? The book closes with a sermon on Hosea 11 by Roy Clements that moves reflection on God's love from dogmatics to doxology. Though exploring the subject of God's love from many angles, these chapters are united in their understanding that it is nothuman love per se, but rather the love of the man Jesus -- representative both of God and of an authentic humanity -- that is the ultimate criterion for thinking about the love of God. Readers will find this volume both thought-provoking and spiritually uplifting.
Synopsis
This new work by an international team of theologians and biblical scholars is devoted to building a greater understanding of what it means to speak of God's love. Each chapter examines the topic of God's love from a different angle: biblical theology, historical theology, philosophical theology, and the systematic theological doctrines of eschatology and atonement. Providing needed insight into the theme of God's love, this volume helps properly define where and how the subject should be presented in the context of systematic theology, making it an ideal resource for classrooms as well as for scholarly debate.
Table of Contents
The love of God : its place, meaning, and function in systematic theology / Kevin J. Vanhoozer -- The concept of love : divine and human / Gary D. Badcock -- A Biblical theology of the love of God / Geoffrey Grogan -- Augustine, christology, and God as love : an introduction to the Homilies on 1 John / Lewis Ayres -- How do we define the nature of God's love? / Trevor Hart -- Is love the essence of God? / Alan J. Torrance -- The wrath of God as an aspect of the love of God / Tony Lane -- Can God love the world? / Paul Helm -- Will the love of God finally triumph? / David Fergusson -- The love of God : a sermon on Hosea 11 / Roy Clements.