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scottacorbin's review against another edition
5.0
Excellent. I realize that reviews on Goodreads are often prone to exaggeration (guilty), but this is truly one of the best works of contemporary theology I have read. Webster not only knows movements in contemporary theology better than most (he helped found the International Journal of Systematic Theology and was a key expert in the theology of Karl Barth and Eberhard Jüngel), he is clearly conversant with the best of the patristic, medieval, and early modern scholarship. In particular, he seems to have a fondness for Aquinas and Owen.
The chapters "Life in and of Himself," "Eternal Generation," "Non Ex Aequo: God's Relation to Creatures," and "On the Theology of Providence" were especially good. One of the things Webster does best is showcase how a focus on God and all things in relation to God is the proper object of theology. What this entails are positive descriptions of seemingly esoteric doctrines like creation ex nihilo, God's aseity, eternal generation, etc.
More than anything though, Webster causes the mind to soar with a disciplined focus upon the God of the gospel. If Webster is right that "regenerate theological activity" replaces intellectual greed with a "hunger for divine instruction," then he is a key model. There is nothing cute here. What one finds is a diligent focus on God's singular majesty.
TABLE OF CONTENTS:
Introduction
Chapter 1: Omnia . . . Pertractantur in Sacra Doctrina Sub Ratione Dei. On the Matter of Christian Theology
Part I: God in Himself
Chapter 2: Life in and Of Himself
Chapter 3: Eternal Generation
Chapter 4: Christology, Theology, Economy. The Place of Christology in Systematic Theology
Chapter 5: One Who is Son
Part II: God's Outer Works
Chapter 6: Trinity and Creation
Chapter 7: 'Love is Also a Lover of Life': Creatio Ex Nihilo and Creaturely Goodness
Chapter 8: Non Ex Aequo: God's Relation to Creatures
Chapter 9: On the Theology of Providence
Chapter 10: 'It Was the Will of the Lord to Bruise Him': Soteriology and the Doctrine of God
Chapter 11: Rector Et Index Super Omnia Genera Doctrinarum? The Place of the Doctrine of Justification
Chapter 12: 'In the Society of God': Some Principles of Ecclesiology
Chapter 13: Purity and Plentitude: Reflections on Congar's Tradition & Traditions
Epilogue
Chapter 14: What Makes Theology Theological?
The chapters "Life in and of Himself," "Eternal Generation," "Non Ex Aequo: God's Relation to Creatures," and "On the Theology of Providence" were especially good. One of the things Webster does best is showcase how a focus on God and all things in relation to God is the proper object of theology. What this entails are positive descriptions of seemingly esoteric doctrines like creation ex nihilo, God's aseity, eternal generation, etc.
More than anything though, Webster causes the mind to soar with a disciplined focus upon the God of the gospel. If Webster is right that "regenerate theological activity" replaces intellectual greed with a "hunger for divine instruction," then he is a key model. There is nothing cute here. What one finds is a diligent focus on God's singular majesty.
TABLE OF CONTENTS:
Introduction
Chapter 1: Omnia . . . Pertractantur in Sacra Doctrina Sub Ratione Dei. On the Matter of Christian Theology
Part I: God in Himself
Chapter 2: Life in and Of Himself
Chapter 3: Eternal Generation
Chapter 4: Christology, Theology, Economy. The Place of Christology in Systematic Theology
Chapter 5: One Who is Son
Part II: God's Outer Works
Chapter 6: Trinity and Creation
Chapter 7: 'Love is Also a Lover of Life': Creatio Ex Nihilo and Creaturely Goodness
Chapter 8: Non Ex Aequo: God's Relation to Creatures
Chapter 9: On the Theology of Providence
Chapter 10: 'It Was the Will of the Lord to Bruise Him': Soteriology and the Doctrine of God
Chapter 11: Rector Et Index Super Omnia Genera Doctrinarum? The Place of the Doctrine of Justification
Chapter 12: 'In the Society of God': Some Principles of Ecclesiology
Chapter 13: Purity and Plentitude: Reflections on Congar's Tradition & Traditions
Epilogue
Chapter 14: What Makes Theology Theological?
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