Simply God
Recovering The Classical Trinity
Published on 16. May 2014
Book
Paperback/Softback
240 pages
978-1-78359-104-6 (ISBN)
Description
Most contemporary presentations of the Christian God focus on either his 'oneness' or his 'relationality'.
These are often assumed to contradict one another, and language about God's love and relationality often settles into a comforting but ultimately shallow and unreliable gesture towards bland niceness. Peter Sanlon offers a fresh, stimulating examination of the triune God who is love. He guides us through the classical theological tradition of Augustine, Anselm and Aquinas - aiming to help us think and speak more faithfully about God.
In Part One, Sanlon introduces the vital concept of 'simplicity', without which it is impossible fully to affirm all the Bible teaches about God.
Part Two examines the relationality of God's love in Scripture. The author considers the importance of God's simplicity for the atonement, and concludes with some reflections on how Christians will be better equipped to engage with contemporary culture if they remain sensitive to both God's simplicity and his relationality.
These are often assumed to contradict one another, and language about God's love and relationality often settles into a comforting but ultimately shallow and unreliable gesture towards bland niceness. Peter Sanlon offers a fresh, stimulating examination of the triune God who is love. He guides us through the classical theological tradition of Augustine, Anselm and Aquinas - aiming to help us think and speak more faithfully about God.
In Part One, Sanlon introduces the vital concept of 'simplicity', without which it is impossible fully to affirm all the Bible teaches about God.
Part Two examines the relationality of God's love in Scripture. The author considers the importance of God's simplicity for the atonement, and concludes with some reflections on how Christians will be better equipped to engage with contemporary culture if they remain sensitive to both God's simplicity and his relationality.
More details
Language
English
Place of publication
Nottingham
United Kingdom
Product notice
Paperback (UK-trade)
Dimensions
Height: 216 mm
Width: 140 mm
Thickness: 13 mm
Weight
310 gr
ISBN-13
978-1-78359-104-6 (9781783591046)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
Additional editions
E-Book
05/2014
1st Edition
Inter-Varsity Press
€14.49
Available for download
Person
Born in N. Ireland, Peter holds Theology degrees from the Universities of Oxford and Cambridge (MAOxon, MPhil, PhD). He is an occasional lecturer at various seminaries and theological colleges, and enjoys speaking at university missions. He is a distance tutor in Systematic Theology for St. John's College, Nottingham.
Prior to ordination in the Church of England, Peter was a speech writer for a peer in the House of Lords. Today he is vicar of St. Mark's Church, Royal Tunbridge Wells. He is married and has two children.
In free time he enjoys reading biographies of British Prime Ministers, board games and visiting National Trust properties.
Prior to ordination in the Church of England, Peter was a speech writer for a peer in the House of Lords. Today he is vicar of St. Mark's Church, Royal Tunbridge Wells. He is married and has two children.
In free time he enjoys reading biographies of British Prime Ministers, board games and visiting National Trust properties.
Content
CONTENTS
Foreword 11
Acknowledgments 17
Introduction 19
1. Engaging with God 23
A God unlike us 24
Amnesia 28
Reconnecting the dots 31
You have mail 36
Mirror, mirror, on the wall 44
Helping one another 48
Meditation: humility 53
part 1: the simple god
2. Simply perfection 57
Simplicity is mysterious but coherent 61
Simplicity is a biblical doctrine 65
Simplicity accords with threeness 73
Simplicity is perfectly personal 75
Simplicity guards God's 'Godness' 79
Meditation: wonder 81
3. Back to the future 82
Struggling with time 82
The eternal God 83
Alternatives to eternity 89
Eternal omniscience 95
Benefits for time-bound creatures 98
Meditation: living in time 102
4. All powerful and all good 103
The problem of suffering 103
Biblical affirmations of omnipotence and goodness 104
Imperfect systems 111
The classical God and Felix Culpa 116
Pastoral value 118
Meditation: God is good 121
5. The Immortal dies 122
God is love 123
Without suffering or change 128
Open to change? 136
One of us 139
Meditation: love for me 143
part 2: the relational god
6. God's love and threeness in Scripture 147
The Father's loving plan 148
The Son's loving service 151
The Spirit's loving intimacy 156
Development in salvation history 160
Meditation: love 166
7. God's love and threeness in church history 167
Augustine 171
Richard of St Victor 175
Jonathan Edwards 180
Excessive and abundant love 187
Meditation: Father, Son and Spirit 188
8. Swopping places? A doctrinal debate 190
The accusation of swopping 191
Distinct persons 193
Simplicity and relationality 197
Simplicity and atonement 199
Meditation: knowing God 201
9. Engaging with the world 203
Entertainment 204
Work and ministry 208
Religious freedoms 213
Mission 218
Church 222
Meditation: God's power 226
Conclusion 227
Bibliography 229
Index of Scripture references 239
Foreword 11
Acknowledgments 17
Introduction 19
1. Engaging with God 23
A God unlike us 24
Amnesia 28
Reconnecting the dots 31
You have mail 36
Mirror, mirror, on the wall 44
Helping one another 48
Meditation: humility 53
part 1: the simple god
2. Simply perfection 57
Simplicity is mysterious but coherent 61
Simplicity is a biblical doctrine 65
Simplicity accords with threeness 73
Simplicity is perfectly personal 75
Simplicity guards God's 'Godness' 79
Meditation: wonder 81
3. Back to the future 82
Struggling with time 82
The eternal God 83
Alternatives to eternity 89
Eternal omniscience 95
Benefits for time-bound creatures 98
Meditation: living in time 102
4. All powerful and all good 103
The problem of suffering 103
Biblical affirmations of omnipotence and goodness 104
Imperfect systems 111
The classical God and Felix Culpa 116
Pastoral value 118
Meditation: God is good 121
5. The Immortal dies 122
God is love 123
Without suffering or change 128
Open to change? 136
One of us 139
Meditation: love for me 143
part 2: the relational god
6. God's love and threeness in Scripture 147
The Father's loving plan 148
The Son's loving service 151
The Spirit's loving intimacy 156
Development in salvation history 160
Meditation: love 166
7. God's love and threeness in church history 167
Augustine 171
Richard of St Victor 175
Jonathan Edwards 180
Excessive and abundant love 187
Meditation: Father, Son and Spirit 188
8. Swopping places? A doctrinal debate 190
The accusation of swopping 191
Distinct persons 193
Simplicity and relationality 197
Simplicity and atonement 199
Meditation: knowing God 201
9. Engaging with the world 203
Entertainment 204
Work and ministry 208
Religious freedoms 213
Mission 218
Church 222
Meditation: God's power 226
Conclusion 227
Bibliography 229
Index of Scripture references 239