The Theology of Conversion

Reviews / Votes

Dove provides a profound and incisive account of Christian conversion, thinking both with and beyond Karl Barth. He grounds conversion not in the capricious patterns of human experience but in Christ's prophetic work and steadfast commitment to humanity. With an impressive command of Barth's theology, he also advances a compelling argument for how we should think theologically about assurance and responsibility. In so doing, Dove offers the academy and the church a constructive path for renewed reflection on grace and the transformation it brings. * Andrew Torrance, University of St Andrews, UK * What is the theological significance of the experience of 'conversion'? That question becomes all the more pressing when seen in the light of Karl Barth's Christological 'objectivism' (based firmly on 1 Cor. 1:30). Is 'conversion' the moment in which I was 'saved', or is it to be understood, with Barth, as an awakening to faith in a work of Christ already effective 'for me' in Christ's death and resurrection? Tom Dove's study of Karl Barth's theology of conversion takes us deeply into those questions and demonstrates the biblical foundation of Barth's much-discussed 'Christocentrism'. Dove's work makes an important contribution to our understanding of Barth's soteriology. * Bruce McCormack, University of Aberdeen, UK * In this profound work, Tom Dove engages with the theology of conversion, a locus of Christian doctrine that has been desperately marginalised yet bears signal importance in this post-Christendom era of mission. By way of careful tracking of the contours of Christian Scripture and critical dialogue with the theology of Karl Barth, Dove offers a holistic vision of Christian conversion that overcomes the deficiencies and distortions of unreflected popular accounts. The result is a compelling dogmatic account that grounds Christian conversion in the work of the Son and the Spirit, and challenges Christian theologians to think further on this crucial theme. * Paul T Nimmo, University of Aberdeen, UK *