Book Review: Incarnation: The Person and Life of Christ

I would like to thank InterVarsity Press for this Review Copy.

In, Incarnation: The Person and Life of Christ, Thomas F. Torrance, with the help of his nephew, Robert T. Walker, is given one last opportunity to share with us the wealth of knowledge stored up from over 25 years of lecturing at New College Edinburgh on the topic of Christology. While this is only volume one of two (as he has already published, Atonement: The Person and Work of Christ) it is one that will surely make a splash in the discipline, as his attention to detail and desire to create awe in the reader will leave you gawking once more at the beauty of the God-man, Jesus Christ.

After an extensive introduction and helpful table of contents, one is opened up to a treasure chest of thought, as Torrance does not begin without a lengthy explication of how he plans to arrive at a Christology that is methodologically sound by tapping into history, science, and sincere reflection on the kerygma of the NT documents. However, he does not merely describe this methodology, but he employs it throughout, as he continually provides the reader with clear explanations for why he approaches his Christology in the manner he does. Torrance’s work takes into account the witness of Christian thought, philosophical acuity, and an exegetical competency that results in a theologically rich Christology that leads one into worshipful reflection. It is one of the only theological works I have read that deals with significant texts without relentless details, as he offers timely exegetical points to validate the issue at hand.

The beauty of this book does not lie in its ability to answer every question you have ever had regarding the incarnation, but what it does do is diffuse the wrong questions asked of the text, and answers the questions that are there to be answered. Torrance does not have a normal Christology, as it arises out of concern for a wholistic reading of the incarnation by taking up not merely his descent to earth, but from Bethlehem through Golgotha and back up to glory. He rightly corrects the obsession with the two natures of Christ, by leading us back into an incarnation that rightly considers this, but also brings into the conversation the vital role his obedient life and atoning work that has saving significance as the humanity of Christ. His desire for the incarnation and atonement to collide are seen throughout, and thus results in one of the strongest points of his work, as he sees Christ in his completeness, by not allowing there to be disconnect within his theology. Thus, one sees a compendium of thought on creation, sin, revelation, salvation, and eschatology, which climaxes in a comprehensive and helpful Christology.

Incarnation is to be read with a heart wide open so as to be fed a steady diet of honest and compelling evidence that arises from revelation and not mere reflection. It is a work that will surely be beneficial for all students of Christology and for every Christian willing to think through the revelation that is before them. Torrance’s words are a welcomed addition to the study of Christian thought on the subject of Christ, and there is no one better to walk along with, as his heart is laid bear on every page and his words read like someone who has walked with the very Christ he is seeking to portray.

Does God Speak Your Language?

Here is a really interesting clip of some people answering the question of how people percieve God to communicate, how he should communicate, and what they would like him to say if he did communicate with them. Quite revealing…

Understanding the Incarnation

For millenia now Christians have been struggling with all their brain capacities to apprehend, let alone comprehend, the mystery of Jesus as both human and divine. In my reading of Thomas F. Torrance’s Incarnation, I have been struck by how wrong headed this approach is. This unsatiable desire to comprehend and make sense of this mystery with all of my post-enlightment power, I try to get at this mystery and break it down so that I can understand it, but it defies it every time. And Torrance just punched me in the face with this when speaking of the mystery of the human and the divine in one:

“Both the sinner who is forgiven by Christ and the man or woman who has come to see the face of God in the face of Christ, know that they can never master or dominate the mystery of Christ in their hearts, but can only acknowledge it gladly with wonder and thankfulness, and seek to understand the mystery of Christ out of itself, that is, seek to let it declare itself to them, seek to let themselves be told by the mystery what it is.”

When stated as such, it reminds me that I am reading “revelation”. I forget so often in my reading of Scripture that this is a document FROM God. And my attempts at taming and grasping the text are finite and in direct opposition to the fact of its being as revelation. My heart is longing to be satisfied alone with the questions of “what is this?” and “how is this possibe?”, but all the while the revelation is only answering the questions, “why is this?” and “from where did this come?” May I not believe blindly, but my I take the Word at its word, and seek to wonder anew at the magnificence of the mystery, rather than balk at it in frustration and discontent.

Add Ramadan to Your Prayer List

One of the biggest pilgrimages that we can take as believers is at the same time as one of the fastest growing religions in the world, Islam. Ramadan, one of Islam’s 5 Pillars, is taking place this year from August 11th through September 9th. I have found a great website that will send daily reminders and ways to pray for Muslims who are in need of the message of the Gospel. I hope that you will take time to think on those who are going to be hearing the gospel this next month, and that we would see ourselves as playing a vital role in penetrating the hearts of millions of Muslims who are in need of an advocate on their behalf, so that they have eyes to see and ears to hear of The Advocate, who has died and risen again on their behalf.

If at least one Islam book  is not on your current reading list, then I suggest some of the ones below. John Esposito is not a Christian, but one of the most even handed writers on matters related to Islam. I highly suggest his writings!

Who Speaks for Islam?: What a Billion Muslims Really Think, by John Esposito

Unholy War: Terror in the Name of Islam, by John Esposito

The Oxford History of Islam, by John Esposito

Book Review: Plowshares & Pruning Hooks

Sandy, Brent D. Plowshares & Pruning Hooks: Rethinking the Language of Biblical Prophecy and Apocalyptic. Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 2002.

I would like to thank InterVarsity Press for providing this review copy.

In Plowshares & Pruning Hooks (hereafter P&P), Brent Sandy, Department Chair and Professor of Biblical Studies at Grace College, breathes into the life of lay leadership, pastors, and students a breath of fresh air, as it pertains to the study of prophecy and apocalyptic literature. While Sandy has not been all that popular in the publishing world, as the only other publication he has been apart of is, Cracking Old Testament Codes: A Guide to Interpreting the Literary Genres of the Old Testament, he far exceeds any expectations in P&P.

In an easy to understand manner, Sandy lays out seven questions as the framework for the book, so that the major questions that many have concerning prophetic and apocalyptic works are introduced to a basic hermeneutic. He delves decisively into the power and problems of prophesy; the use of language in prophecy, apocalyptic, and blessing/destruction; and then gives some guiding principles for understanding how prophesies have been and will be fulfilled. Without bringing a theological construct into the mix, Sandy is able to introduce the reader to basic methods of bible study through his explanation of the importance of language and how it works, the ANE context, and the canonical context. However, while retaining this careful attention to detail, he simultaneously deals with the human obsession with this literature, and seeks to gently rewire the heart and mind of the reader to understand the ambiguity that exists in dealing with suck books as Daniel and Revelation. Thus, his goal, while stated upfront, is fulfilled, as he is not out to resolve all of the issues, but provide a framework that is akin to the literatures intention, so that everyone can benefit from the prophetic/apocalyptic voice.

His ability to handle the polarities that lie within the character of God are helpfully explained and then equally as encouraging, as he brings them together so that one can appreciate and worship the multifaceted beauty of God’s person and works. He demonstrates this specifically by meting out some of the interpretive issues in Daniel 8 and Rev.12-13, so that one leaves understanding the difficulty of the interpretation, but also with a renewed sense of the intention of such a passage for one’s life.

However, my only reservations about the book were the fact that he often casted the interpretive issues in a negative light, and spoke with frustration at times about the difficulty of understanding them. I think that it just has the tendency to further laden people’s frustration with these genres, rather than redeem them and set them in a positive light. And secondly, I think that from a content perspective, that it would have been nice if he would have further clarified and given more examples of how prophecy has been fulfilled, and dealt with the fact that at times there are multiple layers of fulfillment. However, one can only do so much, but I do think that it would have aided me when first understanding the prophetic books.

All in all though, this book would be a wonderful addition to an introductory class on interpretation, as I could see it fitting right alongside How To Read The Bible For All It’s Worth and How To Read the Bible Book By Book. It’s clarity and contemporary language makes it easily accessible for new students of Scripture and for those who are seeking to teach these books in a helpful and palatable manner.

The Unfathomability of Grace

This is a paragraph from my friend, Jason Zastrow, who has much to share and needs to start a blog for all our sake, so I thought I would share it.

I understand atrocity. I understand evil and sin. I understand abuse, death and murder. What I don’t understand is grace. I understand justice, but not on my behalf. Justice should be against me. I understand disbelief, independence, pride, racism, and hatred. I understand hell and wrath, but what I don’t understand is heaven and inheritance. I deserve the things I understand because I am those things, I do those things. I don’t understand God’s motivation. His love. His grace. These are truly unfathomable. I know of them, accept them, love them through the mediation of Christ. But to say that I understand a gracious God fully would be my haughty flesh speaking, and even on this He pours grace.

In the Mail…

So I just gained access into IVP’s book review dealio and received my first stash. I have been hoping to work on some larger theological categories and have heard a lot of good stuff about Torrance’s Atonement and Incarnation, so I got those. And in the midst of working on my study in Isaiah I figured I would pick up Plowshares and Pruning Hooks by Sandy. Any thoughts on where I should begin or any in particular that you enjoyed or not so much?