Baker just published a collection of essays by theological heavyweights:
McCormack, Bruce L., ed. Engaging the Doctrine of God: Contemporary Protestant Perspectives. Grand Rapids: Baker, 2008.
Here are the contributors (corresponding to their chapter number):
- David F. Wright
- N. T. Wright
- D. A. Carson
- Paul Helm
- Oliver D. Crisp
- John Webster
- Henri A. Blocher
- Pierre Berthoud
- Stephen N. Williams
- Bruce L. McCormack
- Donald Macleod
Check out the Table of Contents in this ten-page PDF of the front matter and preface.
D. A. Carson’s essay “The Wrath of God” (pp. 37–63) is a must-read. Here’s just the skeleton of his argument:
Basic Review (pp. 38–42)
- Words and Expressions: This briefly surveys Hebrew and Greek words and expressions for wrath.
- The Story Line: Far more important than surveying words and expressions for wrath is tracing “the theme of God’s wrath . . . through the biblical story line” (p. 40).
Some Attempts at Exegetical and Theological Precision (pp. 42–61)
- “It is exegetically unwarranted to depersonalize God’s wrath, reducing it to an abstract and impersonal manifestation of irrevocable and implacable justice” (p. 42).
- “It is equally unwarranted to limit God’s wrath by several other clever maneuvers” (p. 46).
- “Perhaps it is here that I should venture a few comments on the doctrine of the impassibility of God” (p. 47).
- “Serious reflection on the wrath of God is a necessary element in any faithful understanding of what the fundamental human problem is” (p. 49).
- “The wrath of God bears, in several ways, on how we understand the cross” (p. 56).
- “There will come a time, in the consummation of all things, when the wrath of God will no longer hang over us in any sense” (p. 61).
Further Theological and Practical Implications (pp. 62–63)
- “Although it would take us into a domain we cannot possibly pursue here, there must be some sense in which we should be wrathful as God is wrathful” (p. 62).
- “Rightly integrated into Christian theology, the wrath of God enhances our grasp of God’s love” (p. 62).
- “There must be some sense in which God is praised for his wrath” (p. 62).
- “Try tears” (p. 63).
Chris Brauns says
Thanks for pointing this out. I put it on my wish list. It looks like it will be great.
Mike Gabriel says
I think this book would be worth buying just for this 26 page section. I went ahead and linked to this page for my friends on my blog. I hope you don’t mind.