Tag Archives: athanasius

Atonement and Election, some theses

Posted on November 25, 2018 by J. B. Aitken

With utmost fear and trembling, Models of Atonement and Election (A/E) that posit some sort of epistemological gap between election and assurance can only lead to spiritual death.  In other words, can I really know I am elect? Simply saying … Continue reading →

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We Believe in One Lord Jesus Christ (ed. McGuckin)

Posted on November 22, 2018 by J. B. Aitken

John McGuckin gives us an outstanding, yea even world-class compendium of Patristic Christology. It nicely succeeds the first volume in the series.  McGuckin notes a set of “ciphers” that explain the theology behind the Nicene Creed: “‘Christ’ becomes a cipher … Continue reading →

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J. Macleod Campbell (The Nature of the Atonement)

Posted on November 19, 2018 by J. B. Aitken

Campbell, J. Macleod.  The Nature of the Atonement.  Eerdmans. Macleod Campbell represents a different stream of Scottish theology.  It is Reformed theology without limited atonement. His argument, to be presented below, is incomplete in many ways.  He really doesn’t develop a … Continue reading →

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Zizioulas: Being as Communion

Posted on November 18, 2018 by J. B. Aitken

If I criticized Western models of the Trinity in the last post, I am going to push back against some fashionable Eastern models in this one. Zizzy notes that ancient Greek thought maintained a diversity in spite of apparent unity … Continue reading →

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Review: Augustine on the Trinity

Posted on November 18, 2018 by J. B. Aitken

Long review.  I’ll put my cards on the table. I am not a huge fan of Augustine.  I’ll try to not let that color the review too much. I didn’t realize I hadn’t posted a review.  Ligonier had a list … Continue reading →

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Review: Torrance, Space, Time, and Incarnation

Posted on November 10, 2018 by J. B. Aitken

Torrance, Thomas F. Space, Time, and Incarnation.  Edinburgh: T & T Clark, 1969 [1997]. At barely 90 pages of text, Thomas Torrance wrote a book on cosmology that shocked the theological world.  If his arguments in this book obtain, then all … Continue reading →

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Thomas Torrance: Reality and Evangelical Theology

Posted on October 31, 2018 by J. B. Aitken

Torrance, T. F. Reality and Evangelical Theology. Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsityPress, reprint 1999. There is an ontological connection between our minds and reality. Whenever we sever these with dualisms, we will see the effects of the breach. Rather, evangelical theology … Continue reading →

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One Being/Three Persons (Thomas Torrance)

Posted on October 28, 2018 by J. B. Aitken

The homoousion is a decisive step in the life of the church.  It guarantees how we understand the internal relations in the Trinity.  Not only are the persons homoousion, but so are the relations. “Only in Christ is God’s self-revelation … Continue reading →

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Pannenberg, Systematic Theology (Vol. 1)

Posted on October 20, 2018 by J. B. Aitken

Some important sections. Largely eclipsed by his student Robert W. Jenson. Outstanding remarks on the Vincentian canon, the spirituality of God, and Gregory Palamas. He gives critical reflection on the Cappadocian fathers. Evaluation: Hard to recommend to most students and … Continue reading →

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Is the Holy Spirit a product?

Posted on February 9, 2018 by J. B. Aitken

I don’t want to get into Filioquist metaphysics.  Confessionally, I am a Protestant and that means I am in the Filioque tradition.  So let’s get this out of the way up front:  do I hold to the Filioque?  I think … Continue reading →

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