Christ's Humanity in Current and Ancient Controversy: Fallen or Not?

by Sanmartà & Ribalta

Overview

Was Christ's human nature fallen, even sinful? From the 18th century to the present, this view has become increasingly prominent in Reformed theological circles and beyond, despite vigorous opposition. Both sides on the issue see it as vital for understanding the nature of salvation. Each side's advocates appeal to or critique the Church Fathers. This book reviews the history and present state of the debate, then surveys the connections, distinctions, and patristic interpretations of five of the modern fallenness view's proponents (Edward Irving, Karl Barth, T. F. Torrance, Colin Gunton, and Thomas Weinandy) and five of its opponents (Marcus Dods the Elder, A. B. Bruce, H. R. Mackintosh, Philip Hughes, and Donald Macleod). The book verifies the views of the ten most-cited Fathers: five Greek (Irenaeus, Athanasius, Gregory Nazianzen, Gregory Nyssen, and Cyril of Alexandria) and five Latin (Tertullian, Hilary of Poitiers, Ambrose, Augustine, and Leo the Great). The study concludes by sketching the implications of its findings for the doctrines of the Immaculate Conception, sin, sanctification, and Scripture.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780567675569
Publisher:	Bloomsbury USA
Publication date:	07/13/2017
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	224
File size:	638 KB

About the Author

E. Jerome Van Kuiken is Assistant Professor of Religion and Philosophy at Oklahoma Wesleyan University, USA.
E. Jerome Van Kuiken is Assistant Professor of Religion and Philosophy at Oklahoma Wesleyan University, USA.

Table of Contents

Introduction:The Falling-Out Over Fallenness

Chapter One
The Rise and Progress of the Fallenness View Among Select Modern Theologians
1.1 Heather and“Heresy”: Edward Irving
1.2 Revolutionizing Christology: Karl Barth
1.3 Theologian of Mediation: Thomas F.Torrance
1.4 The World, the Flesh, and the Spirit: Colin Gunton
1.5 Broadening Consensus: Thomas Weinandy
Conclusion

Chapter Two
The Defense of the Unfallenness View Among Select Modern Theologians
2.1 Exposing Irving's Errings: Marcus Dods
2.2 Descent and Development: A. B. Bruce
2.3 Catalyst for Fallenness: H. R. Mackintosh
2.4 The Importance of Image: Philip E. Hughes
2.5 Fallacious Fallenness: Donald Macleod
Conclusion

Chapter Three
The Greek Fathers on the Fallenness or Unfallenness of Christ's Humanity
3.1 Theology's Trailblazer: Irenaeus
3.2 Defending the Incarnate God: Athanasius
3.3 “The Unassumed Is the Unhealed”: Gregory Nazianzen
3.4 Imagining Incarnation: Gregory Nyssen
3.5 “Seal of the Fathers”: Cyril of Alexandria
Conclusion

Chapter Four
The Latin Fathers on the Fallenness or Unfallenness of Christ's Humanity
4.1 Pioneering the West: Tertullian
4.2 The Passionlessness of the Christ: Hilary of Poitiers
4.3 The Passions of the Christ: Ambrose
4.4 Settler of the West's Opinion: Augustine
4.5 Chalcedon and Context: Leo the Great
Conclusion

Chapter Five
The Fleshing-Out of the Findings
5.1 Righting History: The Modern Debaters on the Fathers
5.2 Righting Theology: Taxonomy
5.3 Righting Theology: Terminology
5.4 Further Implications
5.5 A Final Word

Bibliography
Appendix: Edward Irving's Patristic Sources
Index

Editorial Reviews

Jerome van Kuiken's adapted dissertation, Christ’s Humanity in Current and Ancient Controversy, is thorough and learned…[he] has achieved his goal of providing clarity to this debate. His examination of the language used for Christ's humanity and his call for unity in the usage of these concepts should be heard on both sides of this debate so that neither side continues talking past the other.” - Reading Religion

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