jtoddbillings

The Reformed Tradition

Barth's Church Dogmatics - Karl Barth was one of the 20th century's most significant theologians, and the doctrine of God was central to Barth's project. He helped to lead to the 20th century revival of Trinitarian theology, putting the doctrine of the Trinity in the front and center of his doctrinal project from I:I of the Dogmatics. Barth also provides some of the 20th century's most profound reflections on the attributes of God in light of the incarnation and the cross of Christ. The list of secondary sources for Barth is long and wide-ranging, but one good place to start is the Cambridge Companion to Karl Barth.

Bavinck's Reformed Dogmatics, vol. 2 - This recently translated volume is a treasure for pastors in the Reformed tradition. Bavinck is a biblically focused, pastoral, and irenic theologian in the Dutch branch of the Reformed tradition. Click here for a brief bio of Herman Bavinck.

Bloesch's God the Almighty, - This book gives an overview of contemporary strands in the doctrine of God and a constructive proposal from a broadly Reformed perspective. Thoughtful Reformed pastors will find Bloesch to be an interesting dialogue partner.

Berkhof, Louis. Systematic Theology, new ed. 1996, Eerdmans. - This book is a classic textbook, and still one of the finest systematic introduction to classical Reformed theology. Berkhof's doctrine of God is presented in a direct and succinct way, but also with reference to the biblical and traditional sources for his view.

Calvin's Institutes and Commentaries; secondary: Muller (below) and Paul Helm, John Calvin's Ideas (Oxford, 2004) - In his Institutes, Commentaries, and Sermons, John Calvin's writing on doctrine of God is eminently biblical, pastoral, and thoughtful. His deeply trinitarian theology is woven throughout the Institutes and Commentaries. His doctrine of the attributes of God occurs mainly in biblical commentaries. Muller and Helm are helpful secondary sources.

Muller, Richard - see below

Select Recent Works in Doctrine of God

Cooper, John. Panentheism: The Other God of the Philosophers. This is a significant book giving a history of panentheism -- the idea that all things are in God, even though God is more than the sum total of the world as well. Whether your sympathies lie with panetheists like Jurgen Moltmann or Sallie McFague, or with a classical doctrine of God, this book will help to give an overview of the terrain. Cooper ends with a short critique of panentheism, but most of the book is descriptive.

Marion, Jean-Luc. God Without Being. - A quite profound contemporary Catholic philosopher and theologian who has initiated much of the "postmodern" critique of theology. This work is for the courageous pastor who wants to taste some contemporary apophatic theology -- "negative" theology which dwells in the mystery of God.

Oden, Thomas. Systematic Theology, vol. 1 - This book is unoriginal -- and precisely in its unoriginality, it is profound. Oden draws upon what he calls the "consensual tradition" of classical Christian theology to articulate the logic of Christian thought in his Systematic Theology. Oden's doctrine of God is particularly strong. He weaves together patristic trinitarian reflection, medieval reflection on analogy and the mystery of God, and a canonical reading of scripture to result in a stunning account of a God who is worth worshipping. Oden is deceptively simple in his writing. He points to key passages of scripture, and key passages from a wide range of Christian thinkers to create a collage which breaks through the common stereotypes of classical Christian belief. This is a very valuable reference work for pastors.

Pannenberg, W. Systematic Theology (3 vol.) - Excellent for science and theology discussion and a thorough trinitarianism from a Lutheran perspective. Pannenberg is one of the most significant theological voices of the late 20th century. His work is written both for the academy and the church.

Shults, LeRon. Reforming Doctrine of God. - Shults combines an interest in the intersection of science and theology with a postfoundationalist philosophical approach in this constructive account of the doctrine of God. If pastors want to read a provocative yet grounded account of the contemporary issues in the doctrine of God, this is a good place to look.

Smith, James K. A. Introducing Radical Orthodoxy. - Introduces new Anglo-Catholic school of thought and its quite Neo-Platonic doctrine of God, putting it in dialogue with the Reformed tradition. Pastors who are interested in the contemporary rediscovery of pre-modern Christian theology will appreciate this book.

Thompson, Marianne Meye. The Promise of the Father. - A provocative book from a feminist New Testament scholar who has a high doctrine of revelation. Good book on the question of theological language and gender. It addresses questions that many Christians in mainline churches are asking about "Father" language.

Torrance, James. Worship, Community and the Triune Grace of God. - This little book that argues that much Protestant worship is functionally "unitarian." Torrance goes on to give concrete suggestions for how to recover a trinitarian worship, with particular emphasis upon the Priesthood of Christ. This book is very practical for pastors who are thinking through the implications of the Trinity for worship.

Muller, Richard, PostReformation Reformed Dogmatics, vol. 3, Divine Attributes, vol. 4, Trinity. - Masterful account of classical Reformed positions on divine attributes and Trinity - very thorough, very precise. When you hear about the abstract and arid doctrine of God in Reformed Orthodoxy (or Scholasticism), Muller should be read as a counterpoint. Muller's careful work broken through the caricatures which so often surround late 16th to early 18th century Reformed theology. Pastors who want a reference work on the doctrine of God in the classical Reformed tradition will find these volumes very valuable.

Cunningham, David. These Three Are One. - What difference does it make that Christian confess belief in a Triune God? What difference should it make? Cunningham shows practical and ethical implications of the doctrine of the Trinity in church life.

Moltmann, Jurgen. The Trinity and the Kingdom. - Very influential "social trinitarian" theologian - influences liberation theology, post-holocaust theology, etc. While Moltmann is not reliable as a historical theologian, he casts a creative and provocative vision which can feed the pastoral imagination. For an account which focuses on the liberationist potential of trinitarian theology from a Latin American theologian, see Leonardo Boff's Trinity and Society.

Volf, Miroslav. After Our Likeness. - A dialogue with Zizioulas and Ratzinger on the idea that the church should reflect the Trinity. Volf comes from a free church perspective in this volume. My students have found this work to be difficult to work through, but rewarding.

Zizioulas, J. Being and Communion. - Tremendously influential yet highly controversial work from E. Orthodox theologian that grounds a very "social" anthropology in doctrine of God (through engaging the Cappadocian Fathers). While the historical grounding for Zizioulas' claims are sometimes shaky, he offers an anthropology and ecclesiology which is a counterbalance to the individualistic tendencies of contemporary American Christianity.

Augustine, The Trinity. - An incredibly subtle and oft-misunderstood work. Stereotypes of this work abound: that it is "individualistic," that it emphasizes the oneness or "substance" of the Trinity over the threeness, or that it is an abstract work without implications for the Christian life. None of these stereotypes can be maintained with a serious reading of this work which is profound on both theological and pastoral levels. Good secondary sources: Lewis Ayres, Rowan Williams.