The Unassumed Is The Unhealed

This work addresses a pivotal and controversial area lying at the heart of T. F. Torrance's Christology. Namely, that Jesus Christ assumed fallen and sinful humanity and, living out a sinless life from within our alienated state, healed our human nature. This is a claim that is conceptually basic to Torrance's integration of incarnation and atonement, and thus to his soteriology as a whole. It's pervasive nature and its significance within the overall structure of Torrance's thought is thoroughly and sympathetically set forth. Christ's assumption of sinful flesh is seen to lie underneath a number of disputed areas in Torrance's thought such as the role, or lack thereof, of human responsibility, and the question of universalism. This work not only illuminates, but rigorously examines the claim that "the unassumed is the unhealed."

This thesis examines and critiques the doctrine that Christ assumes our fallen humanity as explicated in the theology of T.F. Torrance. This is done by expounding the theological structures of Torrance's Christology. In addition to analysis of dogmatic concepts, it examines the narrative of Israel's history and the life of Christ up to, and including, the cross as expounded by Torrance. This dogmatic-narrative approach allows us to see, with greater depth and clarity, precisely how Christ's assumption of our fallen humanity works itself out across the whole of Torrance's Christology. The thesis demonstrates, first, that the assumption of fallen human nature is a pervasive and determinative facet of Torrance's Christology, and indeed, for much of his theology. It is either coupled with, or conceptually behind, a number of debated areas in Torrance scholarship. Second, it demonstrates that, on numerous fronts, Torrance has not made the concept fully intelligible. Primarily, through an examination of the human will of Christ, we show that the humanity which he assumed is in an incoherent state, both throughout his historical life and at the cross. Third, and deeply related, by examining the anhypostasia-enhypostasia couplet, we demonstrate that there is a "split" in the assumption of our fallen flesh in Torrance. This, we contend, is a direct result of Torrance's affirmation that Christ assumes fallen humanity. This "split" entails an additional split in the way the hypostatic union works within the incarnate mediator and the way it works in its interaction with others. We conclude that Torrance has presented us with a virtual dogmatics of concept that "the unassumed is the unhealed," yet one which has not sufficiently clarified that status of the humanity of Christ prior to the resurrection.

First published in 1979.

In this book Vernon White sets out to address the crisis of credibility that increasingly has affected traditional claims made for the Atonement, and attempts to explain how the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ can have a universal saving significance. The present work stands as something of a sequel to the author's earlier book The Fall of a Sparrow, which attempted to show how God might be conceived as being universally and specially active in the world. In this study, White concentrates on the saving nature of that activity, and the coherence which he feels emerges if this is grounded in the particularity of the Christ-event. In defending the constitutive nature of Christ's role in the salvation of the world, without relying on Anselmian or penal substitutionary models of atonement, White proposes an atonement model which could rehabilitate such a belief without offending moral and conceptual sensibilities. A supporting chapter is provided outlining the kind of christology required to sustain this model, while the final chapters of the book discuss the ethical implications of the position adopted.

This landmark volume, the first of two, assesses the prospects and promise of Lutheran theology at the opening of a new millennium. From four continents, the thirty noted and respected contributors not only gauge how such classic themes as grace, the cross, and justification wear today but also look to key issues of ecumenism, social justice, global religious life, and the impact of contemporary science on Christian belief.

Themelios is an international, evangelical, peer-reviewed theological journal that expounds and defends the historic Christian faith. Themelios is published three times a year online at The Gospel Coalition (http://thegospelcoalition.org/themelios/) and in print by Wipf and Stock. Its primary audience is theological students and pastors, though scholars read it as well. Themelios began in 1975 and was operated by RTSF/UCCF in the UK, and it became a digital journal operated by The Gospel Coalition in 2008. The editorial team draws participants from across the globe as editors, essayists, and reviewers. General Editor: D. A. Carson, Trinity Evangelical Divinity School Managing Editor: Brian Tabb, Bethlehem College and Seminary Consulting Editor: Michael J. Ovey, Oak Hill Theological College Administrator: Andrew David Naselli, Bethlehem College and Seminary Book Review Editors: Jerry Hwang, Singapore Bible College; Alan Thompson, Sydney Missionary & Bible College; Nathan A. Finn, Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary; Hans Madueme, Covenant College; Dane Ortlund, Crossway; Jason Sexton, Golden Gate Baptist Seminary Editorial Board: Gerald Bray, Beeson Divinity School Lee Gatiss, Wales Evangelical School of Theology Paul Helseth, University of Northwestern, St. Paul Paul House, Beeson Divinity School Ken Magnuson, The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary Jonathan Pennington, The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary James Robson, Wycliffe Hall Mark D. Thompson, Moore Theological College Paul Williamson, Moore Theological College Stephen Witmer, Pepperell Christian Fellowship Robert Yarbrough, Covenant Seminary

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.

Thomas F. Torrance invites evangelicals to think more Christianly Thomas F. Torrance and Evangelical Theology: A Critical Analysis brings Torrance into closer conversation with evangelical theology on a range of key theological topics. Thomas F. Torrance and the Evangelical Tradition (Thomas A. Noble) Torrance, The Tacit Dimension, and The Church Fathers (Jonathan Warren P. (Pagán)) Torrance and the Doctrine of Scripture (Andrew T. B. McGowan) Revelation, Rationalism, and an Evangelical Impasse (Myk Habets) Theology and Science in Torrance (W. Ross Hastings) A Complexly Relational Account of the Imago Dei in Torrance's Vision of Humanity (Marc Cortez) Barth, Torrance, and Evangelicals: Critiquing and Reinvigorating the Idea of a "Personal Relationship with Jesus" (Marty Folsom) Torrance and Atonement (Christopher Woznicki) Torrance and Christ's Assumption of Fallen Human Nature: Toward Clarification and Closure (Jerome Van Kuiken) Torrance, Theosis, and Evangelical Reception (Myk Habets) Thinking and Acting in Christ: Torrance on Spiritual Formation (Geordie W. Ziegler) 'Seeking Love, Justice and Freedom for All': Using the Work of T.F. and J.B. Torrance to Address Domestic and Family Violence (Jenny Richards) Toward a Trinitarian Theology of Work (Peter K. W. McGhee) Torrance and Global Evangelicalism: Some Potential Generative Exchanges with Contemporary Indian Evangelical Theology (Stavan Narendra John) Thomas Forsyth Torrance (1913–2007) was one of the most important theologians of the twentieth century, yet his work remains relatively neglected by evangelicals. A diverse collection of contributors engage Torrance's pioneering and provocative thought, deriving insights from theological loci such as Scripture, Christology, and atonement, as well as from broader topics like domestic violence and science. These stimulating essays reveal how Torrance can help evangelical theologians articulate richer and deeper theology.