DEEP THEOLOGY

Jim1999:

Did you say that you are RE-reading Edersheim? Man! What stamina you have. What is your take on Edersheim's view of Christ's ministry? Any helpful insights you have noticed?

Anything by Edersheim is a good read. Written in the late 1800's, scholarly and an excellent source for background information. Part of understanding any text is knowing the people addressed in the text, their culture, their status,,and Edersheim gives this.
He is one of those godly Anglicans who blessed the Oxford halls and blessed Christians everywhere with his studious work and solid teaching. He is typically English and hence wordy. Some in this modern era might find it a tedious read,,,,,,,,thus so with the Puritan writings, but I grew up with such books,,,,I own about 50 Puritan writings,including John Gil's works...not at all hyper-calvinistic, but might be considered that by those baptists who follow the sublapsarian view of the decrees.

Cheers in Him,

Jim

PS By the way, I am English, so the wordiness does not intimidate me.

 

I've used Niebuhr and Rorty in some of my work (particularly when studying Dante's Commedia). Lewis and Pound were also very useful for that study (they were used primarily for literary comparison, although some of Lewis' work worked on a theological level as well).

I've read some Aquinas and some Augustine, but that was for philosophical use, not theological. In fact, most of my study of the older theologians is with a eye toward philosophy. And some of the deeper theology I've read isn't Christian theology at all.

Right now, I'm waiting on a copy of Actualization and Interpretation in the Old Testament by Joseph (Joe) Groves. That should be good stuff (Joe was a teacher of mine in school - a wonderful thinker).

 

How about something like The Existence and Attributes of God by Stephen Charnock, or Gill's Body of Divinity , or Athanasius' On The Incarnation or anything by Jonathon Edwards?

That should be a good start!

 

Children and Conversions Edited by Clifford Engle

Revelation Four Views: A Parallel Commentary by Steven Gregg

Beyond Sex Roles: What the Bible Says About a Woman's Place in Church and Family by Gilbert Bilezikian

A History of Israel by John Bright

Holman Bible Atlas by Dr. Thomas Brisco (my Biblical Backgrounds prof when I was in seminary)

Antioch Effect by Kenneth Hemphill

Beyond the End Times...The Rest of the Greatest Story Ever Told by John Noe

Joseph Botwinick

 

No, not at all. Since the topic here was theology, I don't know why I would have included them if I didn't think they were theologians. However, I read their work while in a philosophy course about sexual morality. Biblical morality was but one of the codes we examined, and Augustine and Auquinas' writings were useful appendices for that study.

Of the examples I posted? Nothing. I took care to mention some of the Christian theologians I've read (although I'll admit that Rorty can be considered a stretch). But I haven't limited myself to studying Christian thinkers. I'm sure much of the feminist theology I've read wouldn't be considered Christian (granted, some of it is not). Some of the non-Christian theology I've read includes the work of David Barnhill, Starhawk, Mary Daly, Confucius, James Frazer . . . not exactly the most Christian of thinkers. And for the purposes of this thread, I didn't think them necessary to list.

Although this leads me to ask: is all theology assumed to be Christian? Should non-Christian theology be called something different?

 

I tend to agree more with Beckwith's assessment, than MacDonald's.

I find that MacDonald is somewhat more endebted to the Canonical Criticism of Brevard Childs (which has its own probelms) than he acknowledges. That leads him to be skeptical on points where it is not warranted IMO.

 

Then I suppose I don't understand the meaning of the phrase "deep theology." I've never heard it before, not even in theology classes. Maybe I'm sheltered?

No matter, I do read and study Christian theology. Whether or not it's considered "deep" is another issue. I certainly stay away from the fluffy books, though. Maybe it's intellectual snobbery, but I most often don't feel like I'm doing much study unless I've got a notebook and a pen and pencil at the ready.

 

Personally, I enjoyed the book. I thought it focused on some very key doctrines, such as original sin, infant baptism, and evangelism and how it is related to the way we do evangelism and teach our younger children about the Bible. It also focused a great deal on relating these issue to each other historically and looking to scripture for answers.

Revelation Four Views: A Parallel Commentary by Steven Gregg? What view do you take?? [/QUOTE]

I lean toward the preterist view, although I am not a total preterist yet. I am still studying the Biblical model of eschatology and probably would lean toward full preterism.

Beyond Sex Roles: What the Bible Says About a Woman's Place in Church and Family by Gilbert Bilezikian -- I suppose there are enough posts on this topic elsewhere, huh? [/QUOTE]

Probably true. Not to start a debate or anything, but I personally have no problem with women in leadership.

A History of Israel by John Bright? Do you like Bright? I hated this book![/QUOTE]

When I was in seminary taking Biblical Backgrounds, I hated Bright also. Mostly this was because I had a hard time reading his book and understanding it. The more I read it, however, the more clear it becomes and the better I like it. I have used this book several times sense then for research and it has become one of my favorites.

Holman Bible Atlas by Dr. Thomas Brisco? Not quite deep theology, eh? [/QUOTE]

It is according to what you mean by deep theology. I would argue that looking at the Bible through the eyes of an archeologist and Biblical Historian would certainly challenge a few things about what we beleived about the Bible. Perhaps, I just like it because it was written by one of my former profs.

Antioch Effect by Kenneth Hemphill? Not deep theology, but not without theology. Do you find this book useful / helpful?[/QUOTE]

I disagree here. I think there is plenty to be said about the Biblical model of doing evangelism.

Beyond the End Times...The Rest of the Greatest Story Ever Told by John Noe? What is this about?

Rev. G [/QUOTE]

This is about the preterist view of the End Times.

Joseph Botwinick

 

All of the above...

Joseph Botwinick

 

Hislop's "The Two Babylons" for about the fourth or fifth time. The historical aspect of the idolatry the folk who lived in the OT times faced fascinates me.

The collected works of Josephus -- not deep theology, but, again, history which enlightens my understanding of parts of the Bible.

Also historical, Dave Hunt's "Whatever Happened to Heaven" did a lot to clarify a lot of my thinking on some subjects.

C.S. Lewis' "Til We Have Faces", "The Great Divorce" and a number of his sermons/essays always make me think.

Francis Schaeffer -- I have his collected works but my brain isn't collected enough to have finished them yet...

Sidlow Baxter was a close friend of my husband's, and his widow, Isa, is of both of us. So his book "Explore the Bible" has special meaning for me.

Del Ratzsch always challenges my thinking, both in person and in his books. Although he is a "philosopher of science", his observations regarding theology have stopped me in my tracks a few times and caused some honest appraisals to take place!

I have just started Ravi Zacharias' "Jesus Among Other Gods." Well done.

I deeply appreciate Dr. Henry Morris' approach to Genesis.

For those interested in the witness of science itself, Richard A. Swenson's "More Than Meets the Eye" is outstanding.

These last are not technically theology, But they have sure caused me to appreciate both God and His Word more!

And although not 'deep', I have to include Phillip Keller's "A Shepherd Looks at Psalm 23" and "Lessons from a Sheepdog", the former having deepened my understanding of, and therefore love of, God, and the second having encouraged me in my trust and obedience of/to God. Anything which does that is worth reading -- several times!

 

Joseph Botwinick said:

I lean toward the preterist view, although I am not a total preterist yet. I am still studying the Biblical model of eschatology and probably would lean toward full preterism.[/QUOTE]

I too am of the partial preterist but that view around here is not to popular as you have to be pre or post but to each his own.

Love the Complete Works of Josephus and Hislops Two Babylons had me glued to the pages.

I studied every view there is about Eschatology and have come to my own understanding after many years of study that I am satisfied with. I'm constantly visiting the Preterist sites on line and gathering more information.

I read Gill quite a lot but never considered him to be a hyper-calvinist in any of his works... I glad to see there are others reading deep theology as there is to much fluff in a lot of these threads and not enough deep doctrine... IMHO... And to me that is really sad! Brother Glen

 

I am currently reading Mere Christianity by C.S. Lewis & Martin Luthers Preface to Romans

 

Talk about deep theology...I am working my way through "THE HOLY BIBLE",by God.

Talk about daunting!!!!!