An Introduction To Torrance Theology

For more than six decades, the brothers Torrance--Thomas, James and David—have had a tremendous influence on the theological world. They and particularly TF Torrance, have a devoted following world-wide and particularly in the US. Their high view of the fully human, fully divine Jesus is built upon the foundation of the Patristic writers, and the great Reformers from Calvin to Barth. Working in both pastoral and academic settings, the Torrances have stressed the profound implications of Christology for the mission of their Church and the daily life of Christians. Today, a generation of their students around the world find themselves in positions of pastoral and theological leadership. The focus of this book is the person of Christ (christology), a subject central to the Torrance theological vision and one which has had great influence on the presbyterian church. The contributors explore the contemporary relevance of Torrance Christology in such areas as the nature of Christ, the atonement, the ministry of the Church, epistemology and inclusion in Christ. The result is a book that offers both a fresh introduction to the Torrance tradition even as it advances the Torrance thought along fresh avenues of theological exploration.

This is perhaps the most engaging and readable introduction to T. F. Torrance's theology around. The author writes from the perspective of having been a student in Torrance's theology class in Edinburgh when Torrance was at the height of his powers, painting a fascinating picture of Torrance in action as a teacher. The book sets Torrance's theology in context by placing it in relation to liberal Protestantism on the one hand and traditional Calvinism on the other. It explores Torrance's methodology; it offers insights on how he linked incarnation and atonement; and it also suggests how some of Torrance's ideas may be extended in order to result in an even more integrated and cohesive theology. This book is a must, not only for Torrance readers, but for all lovers of theology.

The second book in Stephen D. Morrison's Plain English Series, "T. F. Torrance in Plain English" offers a clear and concise overview of Torrance's scientific and evangelical theology. An introduction to his complex thought, this book examines nine major ideas selected from Torrance's many volumes and essays. This is a helpful study of a prominent theologian, thoughtfully written and carefully explained for both beginners and experts alike.Arguably one of the most influential English-speaking theologians of the 20th century, T. F. Torrance is a brilliant thinker every Christian should be familiar with. Morrison writes with passion and clarity, offering a wide and deep introduction to Torrance's immense theological contributions. The subjects of this book include Torrance's scientific theology, his epistemological axiom (kata physin), his reformulated natural theology, the oneness in being and act of the Father and the Son (Homoousion), the Trinity as the "ground and grammar" of theology, the twofold agency (mediation) of Christ, the vicarious humanity of Christ, threefold atonement, and union and participation as the capstone of Torrance's thought.

Dealing with the issue of church unity and the ecumenical movement, Professor Torrance reminds Christians in a collection of essays that any theology which is faithful to the gospel must be a theology of reconciliation.

Thomas F. Torrance is regarded as one of the foremost Reformed theologians of the second half of the twentieth century. He taught for thirty years at New College, University of Edinburgh, Scotland, until his retirement in 1979. He has written extensively, contributing more than twenty major works of theology and hundreds of articles in a variety of languages. In this book Elmer Coyler provides access to Torrance's voluminous writings. Demonstrating the profoundly trinitarian and evangelical spirit of Torrance's theology, Coyler also captures his concern to formulate a renewed theological method in the tradition of Athanasius. Coyler helps us see how, in Torrance's view and practice, a truly scientific approach must be godly in order to be accurate and faithful.

This book provides an important study of the theology of Thomas F. Torrance, who is generally considered to have been one of the most significant theologians writing in English during the twentieth century, with a view toward showing how his theological method and all his major doctrinal views were shaped by his understanding of the doctrine of the Trinity. Torrance pursued a theology that was realist because he attempted to think in accordance with the unique nature of the object that is known. In holding to such a methodology, he drew an analogy between theology and natural science. This book demonstrates how, for Torrance, God relates with humanity within time and space so that creation finds its meaning in relation to God and not in itself; this enabled him to avoid many theological pitfalls such as agnosticism, subjectivism and dualism while explaining the positive implications of various Christian doctrines in a penetrating and compelling manner. This book offers an important resource for students of theology and for scholars who are interested in seeing how serious dogmatic theology shapes and should shape our understanding of the Christian life.

T.F. Torrance is widely recognized as one of our most important twentieth-century theologians. And scholars of Torrance suggest 'Reality & Scientific Theology' is one of his most accessible works. Torrance's insights on Christian epistemology are remarkably relevant in light of recent discussions on realism and antirealism in philosophy and theology. Torrance brilliantly sets forth no naive or even critical realism, but rather an evangelical realism - knowledge grounded in the revelation of God in Jesus Christ. He not only constructively argues the case for an evangelical realism but compares and contrasts theological knowledge with natural scientific knowledge, and shows how the Bible can function authoritatively in a fragmented church. This edition of 'Reality and Evangelical Theology' includes an in-depth foreword that contextualizes Torrance's seminal theological work in light of recent debates over postmodern and postcritical hermeneutics to Scripture. It will handsomely repay engagement (or reengagement) by theologians, philosophers, students and thoughtful pastors.

Thomas F. Torrance is considered by many to be the most important English-speaking theologian of the last fifty years. Torrance has written extensively (over six hundred items) on nearly every theme in theology, especially theological method and the nature of theology. Yet little secondary literature about his theology has been published to date. The significance of this book by Elmer M. Colyer is that it discusses a theme (the nature of doctrine) that takes readers into the heart of Torrance's critical realist epistemology, theological method and understanding of the nature and purpose of theology. Colyer also contributes significantly to the ongoing conversation concerning the nature of doctrine, since Torrance's understanding of doctrine moves considerably beyond the work of George Lindbeck (The Nature of Doctrine) and Alister McGrath (The Genesis of Doctrine) in this area.