Reading the Decree: Exegesis, Election and Christology in Calvin and Barth (T&T Clark Studies in Systematic Theology) Publication Date: November 17, 2009
by David Gibson, Francis Watson
Atonement: The Person and Work of Christ (Intervarsity Press, November 30, 2009)
This last week I have been doing a lot of study on the book of Revelation. I would argue that Revelation is one of the most untouched books in the Bible merely because people don't really know what to do with it. If anything the use of Revelation has been limited to apocalyptic and eschatological ones. Throughout my reading and research I forced myself to disregard all of the apocalyptic fluff that is often the basis for understanding Revelation. Revelation has become a one issue book, but in all reality it has much more to offer the Church.
I recognized the passages of judgment and the over arching theme of God's judgment in the "end," but even more so I recognized the relationship between judgment and redemption. In the book of Revelation the judgment of God and the redemptive act of God in Christ are inseparable. Judgment is the punishment and destruction of all creation that opposes the Kingdom of God and redemption is the salvation and establishment of a “new creation.” The act of judgment on the part of God is by no means evil or unjustified, but deserved (Rev. 16). And, the redemption of God is not deserved, but given by grace to those who have stayed faithful to the Lord. The judgment of God is a necessary act, which rids creation of all sinfulness as preparation for the final redemptive work of God.
It is important that the theme of judgment in Revelation not be ostracized from redemption. Judgment is often a hard theological theme to talk about, but Revelation gives us the comfort of redemption. Judgment is the necessary precursor for the redemptive purpose of God and even in light of judgment, it is a sweet thing to look forward to the redemption of the Lord.
Recommended Books:
Stephen H. Travis, Christ and the Judgment of God. (Colorado: Hendrickson Publishers, 2009); The last two chapters of this book are very helpful for understanding "judgment" in Revelation.
George Eldon Ladd, A theology of The New Testament. (Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1993); This is a timeless NT theology classic
Richard Bauckham, The Theology of The Book of Revelation (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1993); Bauckham does a great job of analyzing and engaging the theology of Revelation
Both Halden at, Inhabitatio Dei, and Kent at, Theology Forum, have very interesting posts concerning a quote by J.I. Packer and the legitimacy of blogging. Check them out! There is some good discussion happening.
I celebrated Thanksgiving in an old-fashioned way. I invited everyone in my neighborhood to my house, we had an enormous feast, and then I killed them and took their land.
This is a thesis for a paper that I will be writing. I will be blogging through this paper and would appreciate any feedback and criticism's that you deem appropriate. Thanks
Andrew
Kuyper, Barth, and the Religions
A Theological Dialogue on “Common Grace” and its Implications
Karl Barth’s theology is often interpreted in the shadow of his debate with Emil Brunner on “Natural Theology.” For some Kuyperian’s this has led to the rejecting of Barth on the grounds that his theology has nothing to contribute to Kuyper’s doctrine of “Common Grace.” This is an unfortunate misconception that has created much tension between these two traditions. The purpose of this paper is to closely examine the doctrine of “common grace” as it relates to Abraham Kuyper and Karl Barth and to bring these two theologians into dialogue. I will do this by arguing that there are strong continuities between Abraham Kuyper’s doctrine of “Common Grace” and Karl Barth’s work on Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. I will argue that although Barth never considered the category of “Common Grace,” his work on Mozart gives some indication of this doctrine and that we must make sense of this. My primary argument is not that Barth has been misinterpreted, but that his work on Mozart can serve as a sufficient resource and starting point for a new dialogue between Barthian’s and Kuyperian’s. This paper will serve to show Karl Barth’s theology as being compatible with the Kuyperian doctrine of “Common Grace” and present the theological implications of both traditions for inter-faith dialogue.
