The Doctrine of God

2020 ◽  
pp. 388-403
Author(s):  
Katherine Sonderegger
Keyword(s):  
Doctrine Of God ◽  
The Church ◽  
Reformed Worship

The Reformed doctrine of God has bequeathed to the church catholic a God who is truly Lord, a majestic sovereign who rides in the ancient heavens. He exercises his own good pleasure eternally, affirming and attesting and delighting in his own perfect goodness; and he turns toward his creatures in that perfect goodness to enact his justice and his mercy. Utterly self-sufficient, gloriously free, this God seals the covenant with creatures through the blood of his Son, and is content to dwell with them. He does not leave himself without witnesses, for the whole cosmos speaks his name. For this reason, the God whom the Reformed worship and adore, is in fullness and in truth, humanity’s chief end, its glory and its delight forever.

scholarly journals EVANGELICAL REFORMULATIONS OF THE DOCTRINE OF THE TRINITY AND CALVIN ON THE FULL EQUALITY OF ALL PERSONS OF THE TRINITY

2018 ◽  
Vol 4 (1) ◽  
pp. 65-84
Author(s):  
DOUGLAS F. KELLY
Keyword(s):  
Historical Survey ◽  
Church Fathers ◽  
Proper Understanding ◽  
Doctrine Of God ◽  
Doctrine Of The Trinity ◽  
The Church ◽  
The Trinity

In the context of Evangelical reformulations of the Trinity in a new sub-ordinationism, the article reasserts the traditional assertion of the full equality of all persons of the Trinity. To that end, the author exposits John Calvin’s formulation of the Trinity and that of the church fathers, which anticipates Calvin’s doctrine. Crucial to a proper understanding are the distinctions between essence and persons and between the ontological Trinity and each person’s role in redemption. The historical survey concludes with B. B. Warfield’s and Thomas F. Torrance’s assessments of Calvin’s contribution. Finally, three implications linked to our doctrine of God—knowledge, forgiveness, and love—are considered.

The renaissance of public worship in the church of Scotland, 1865–1905

1977 ◽  
Vol 14 ◽  
pp. 339-350 ◽  
Author(s):  
John M. Barkley
Keyword(s):  
Sunday Morning ◽  
Church Of Scotland ◽  
The Cross ◽  
Church Service ◽  
The Church ◽  
Public Worship ◽  
Reformed Worship

On his way to one of the early meetings of the church service society, Story met Charteris on the street, who asked what were their aims. He replied, ‘To restore the ring in marriage, the cross in baptism, and the denial of the cup to the laity’. Charteris fled in horror.Before discussing the renaissance of public worship in the church of Scotland it is necessary to look at the background. The lineage of reformed worship can be traced from Diebold Schwarz’s translation of the Hagenau Missal into German in 1524 through Bucer and Calvin, both of whom desired weekly communion, to the Scottish Book of Common Order (1564). When the civil authorities forbade weekly communion, Bucer and Calvin did not prepare an order of service for Sunday morning, but rubricated the order for communion as to how it should end when there was no celebration of the supper: that is, the eucharist was the norm for public worship.

Karl Barth on Baptism

1969 ◽  
Vol 22 (1) ◽  
pp. 10-29 ◽  
Author(s):  
H. Hartwell
Keyword(s):  
Essential Element ◽  
Karl Barth ◽  
Church Dogmatics ◽  
Son Of God ◽  
Doctrine Of God ◽  
Son Of Man ◽  
Remarkable Recovery ◽  
Doctrine Of Creation ◽  
The Church ◽  
Seriously Ill

Some years ago Barth fell seriously ill, and no one, least of all he himself, dared hope that he would ever again be capable of adding another volume to the twelve volumes of his opus magnum, the Church Dogmatics, which had appeared from 1932 till 1962. After his remarkable recovery in autumn 1965, however, he has paid a visit to Rome in September 1966, the fruit of which was his highly instructive report Ad Limina Apostolorum (reviewed in SJT, vol. 21, No. 1, pp. 110f), and now he has presented us with another volume of his Church Dogmatics, though, for the reasons given in the Preface to K.D. IV.4, the latter had to be confined to a fraction of what Barth had originally hoped to achieve in that volume. To understand what follows, we must call to mind that Barth, treating ethics as an integral part of dogmatics, had dealt in his doctrine of God (C.D. II.2) with the command of God as an essential element in the very Being of God (general ethics). In his doctrine of creation (C.D. III.4) he had discussed the command (special ethics) of God the Creator. In his teaching on reconciliation he had so far expounded (C.D. IV. 1–3) the three aspects of Jesus Christ's work of reconciliation, namely His priestly work as the Lord (Son of God) who became a servant to accomplish the work of reconciliation, His kingly work as the servant (Son of Man) who became Lord and by His exaltation exalted man to fellowship with God, and His prophetic work as the Godman who as the Mediator of man's reconciliation with God is the Guarantor and Witness of that reconciliation.

Understanding Pannenberg: Landmark Theologian of the Twentieth Century

2020 ◽  
Vol 28 (2) ◽  
pp. 198-199
Author(s):  
Christoph Raedel
Keyword(s):  
Twentieth Century ◽  
Biographical Data ◽  
Doctrine Of God ◽  
Critical Questions ◽  
Theological Influences ◽  
The Church

SummaryThe volume introduces the reader to the main aspects of the theology of W. Pannenberg. After describing Pannenberg’s biographical data and theological influences on him, the author points out the significance of the physical resurrection of Jesus for the overall theological conception of Pannenberg. Subsequent chapters are on the doctrine of God, Christology and anthropology as well as pneumatology, the perception of history as revelation and the Church. Thiselton presents Pannenberg’s thoughts as basically convincing without articulating substantial critical questions. Nevertheless, the book is suitable as a textbook given its structured and comprehensive presentation and also because each chapter concludes with questions for discussion and the book comprises a bibliography and several indices.RÉSUMÉCet ouvrage expose les principaux aspects de la théologie de Pannenberg. Après un portrait biographique de ce théologien et une présentation des influences qui se sont exercées sur sa pensée, Thiselton met en lumière l’importance de la résurrection physique de Jésus dans la pensée théologique de Pannenberg. Les chapitres suivants sont consacrés à la doctrine de Dieu, la christologie et l’anthropologie, ainsi qu’à la pneumatologie, à la manière dont Pannenberg perçoit l’histoire de la révélation et à l’Église. La présentation que Thiselton livre ainsi est convaincante, mais ignore certaines questions critiques importantes. Cet ouvrage constitue un bon manuel recommandable pour sa présentation structurée et complète et pour la façon dont chaque chapitre se conclut sur des questions pertinentes pouvant servir de base de discussion. Il comporte aussi une bibliographie et de nombreux indexes.ZusammenfassungDer Band führt in die wichtigsten Aspekte der Theologie W. Pannenbergs ein. Nach Ausführungen zu biographischen Stationen und theologischen Einflüssen wird die Bedeutung der leiblichen Auferstehung Jesu für die theologische Gesamtkonzeption Pannenbergs herausgearbeitet. Es folgen Kapitel zur Gotteslehre, Christologie und Anthropologie sowie zur Lehre vom Heiligen Geist, dem Verständnis von Geschichte als Offenbarung und zur Kirche. Thiselton präsentiert Pannenbergs Konzeption als grundsätzlich überzeugend, gewichtige kritische Anfragen werden nicht formuliert. Das Buch eignet sich gleichwohl als Lehrmittel, da die Darstellung strukturiert und verständlich ist, jedes Kapitel mit Fragen zur Diskussion abschließt und das Buch mit einer Bibliographie und mehreren Indices versehen ist.

Sixteenth-Century Origins

2019 ◽  
pp. 7-28
Author(s):  
Gary Neal Hanson
Keyword(s):  
Sixteenth Century ◽  
Significant Influence ◽  
Church Of Scotland ◽  
Renaissance Humanism ◽  
The Church ◽  
Reformed Worship

This chapter examines the sixteenth-century origins of Presbyterianism. It looks first at the broader reforming impulse in medieval European Christianity, and in particular, the sixteenth-century Reformations. Turning to the Reformed movement of which Presbyterianism is a part, it argues that the Renaissance humanism was its driving impulse and shaped its ethos. It examines three specific features of the sixteenth-century Reformed movement with significant influence on Presbyterianism: the Reformed theological synthesis, often called Calvinism; the style and priorities of Reformed worship; and the distinctive Reformed polity that made pastors the teachers of the faith and placed lay elders or presbyters in charge of congregational discipline. The chapter concludes by describing the evolution of the Church of Scotland into recognizable Presbyterianism.

scholarly journals Enkele aspekte met betrekking tot die gereformeerde erediens en kerklied in ’n multikulturele Suid-Afrika

2010 ◽  
Vol 44 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
E.J. Smit
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Jesus Christ ◽  
Worship Service ◽  
Worship Services ◽  
The World ◽  
Multicultural Context ◽  
Reformed Churches ◽  
Specific Culture ◽  
The Church ◽  
Reformed Worship

A few aspects regarding the reformed worship service and liturgical song in a multicultural South Africa Worship originates within a specific culture. Because cultures are constantly changing and developing, the church also has to deal with change in its worship services. In postapartheid South Africa, with its variety of cultures, the reformed churches will increasingly have to take cognisance of the realities and issues brought about by its multicultural context. When focusing in this regard on one of the important acts in reformed worship, namely the liturgical song, some fascinating issues present themselves. It shows that the reformed churches in South Africa are indeed facing exceptional challenges. In the liturgical song God affords his church the perfect gift with which these challenges can be met. If handled in the Biblical way, the reality of a multicultural context becomes an opportunity to witness to the world the forgiveness and reconciliation through Jesus Christ.

scholarly journals Spiritual (Mal)Formation

2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (1) ◽  
pp. 170-195
Author(s):  
Jeremy M. Rios
Keyword(s):  
Spiritual Formation ◽  
Recent Literature ◽  
Imago Dei ◽  
Christian Formation ◽  
Christian Life ◽  
Doctrine Of God ◽  
The Church

The Christian life is not static, but marks an expected, if often unspecified, trajectory of growth into maturity. The study of these practices that encourage growth is often called “Spiritual Formation,” and yet a survey of recent literature in the field reveals no real consensus regarding the definition for this process or its objectives. This essay will attempt to bring clarity to the practice of Christian formation through an analysis of the concept of formation, three key scriptural warrants, the role of the Church in its execution, and especially to the telos of formation. While typical accounts of Christian formation point to a vision for “Christlikeness” as the telos of its practices, in this essay I will argue that a more fundamental grounding—based on the nature of worship—should be located in the Triune Imago Dei. A given doctrine of God tacitly forms the ecclesiological environment in which a given Christian is being formed—or mal-formed.

The Growth of Denominational Bureaucracies: A Neglected Aspect of American Church History

1984 ◽  
Vol 77 (2) ◽  
pp. 177-194 ◽  
Author(s):  
Conrad Wright
Keyword(s):  
Social Issues ◽  
Church History ◽  
Doctrine Of God ◽  
Professional Careers ◽  
Lay Members ◽  
Historical Investigation ◽  
Doctrine Of The Church ◽  
Protestant Denominations ◽  
The Church

I invite your attention this morning to a problem in Church History that has thus far been most inadequately addressed by scholars. It is the development of ecclesiastical bureaucracies by Protestant denominations in this country. These bureaucracies are major realities of institutional religion in our day, which our M.Div. students will be dealing with all through their professional careers. Yet as a field for historical investigation, this is an almost entirely neglected subject. Our students may argue at length over theological issues like the doctrine of God; or will study with surprising enthusiasm the christological controversies of the ancient church; or will debate the role of the church in current social issues. In courses in Applied Theology they will talk at length about the local church as community, and the role of the minister as he or she interacts with lay members in the pews. But extraparochial structures are seldom looked at with any care. Their behavior may be criticized when ministerial settlement does not proceed rapidly enough, but the rationale for their existence is not examined. To state it in theological terms, theological analysis has paid little attention to a doctrine of the church that seems to have anything much to say about these institutions, how they came into being and why they have taken the shape and form that they have.

Justin

2019 ◽  
Vol 79 (5) ◽  
pp. 343-352
Author(s):  
Jörg Ulrich
Keyword(s):  
Fourth Century ◽  
Christian Tradition ◽  
Christian School ◽  
Church Fathers ◽  
Doctrine Of God ◽  
Critical Response ◽  
The Church

AbstractAmong the polyphonic theology of the »church fathers« of the first centuries, Justin, who lived from about 100-165, who led a Christian school in Rome and died there as a martyr, contributes an important voice. He is concerned with the conversation between Christianity and pagan philosophy as well as Judaism, and in this seeks to prove the supremacy of Christianity. To accomplish this, he also emphasizes the proximity between Christianity and Platonism. His theology can be analyzed and structured in terms of ethics, anthropology, the doctrine of God and the Logos, demonology, and eschatology. The Christian tradition received and discussed Justin and his ideas up until the fourth century, while the pagan world opposed him, most strongly through the critical response of the philosopher Celsus.

Spiritual Healing, Sick Kids and the Law: Inequities in the American Healthcare System

2003 ◽  
Vol 29 (2-3) ◽  
pp. 269-299
Author(s):  
Janna C. Merrick
Keyword(s):  
Medical Science ◽  
Spiritual Healing ◽  
Best Interests ◽  
Legal Rights ◽  
High Tech ◽  
Divine Love ◽  
Religious Minority ◽  
Human Need ◽  
East End ◽  
The Church

Main Street in Sarasota, Florida. A high-tech medical arts building rises from the east end, the county's historic three-story courthouse is two blocks to the west and sandwiched in between is the First Church of Christ, Scientist. A verse inscribed on the wall behind the pulpit of the church reads: “Divine Love Always Has Met and Always Will Meet Every Human Need.” This is the church where William and Christine Hermanson worshipped. It is just a few steps away from the courthouse where they were convicted of child abuse and third-degree murder for failing to provide conventional medical care for their seven-year-old daughter.This Article is about the intersection of “divine love” and “the best interests of the child.” It is about a pluralistic society where the dominant culture reveres medical science, but where a religious minority shuns and perhaps fears that same medical science. It is also about the struggle among different religious interests to define the legal rights of the citizenry.

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