Christ’s Faith: A Dogmatic Account PDF
Preview Christ’s Faith: A Dogmatic Account
T&T Clark Studies in Systematic Theology Edited by John Webster, King’s College, University of Aberdeen, UK Ian A. McFarland, Candler School of Theology, Emory University, USA Ivor Davidson, University of Otago, New Zealand This page intentionally left blank THE CHRIST’S FAITH A Dogmatic Account R. Michael Allen Published by T&T Clark A Continuum Imprint The Tower Building 80 Maiden Lane 11 York Road Suite 704 London SE1 7NX New York NY 10038 www.continuumbooks.com All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording or any information storage or retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publishers. Copyright © R. Michael Allen, 2009 R. Michael Allen has asserted his right under the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act, 1988, to be identified as the Author of this work. British Library Cataloguing-in-Publication Data A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library ISBN-10:HB:0–567–03399–6 ISBN-13:HB:978–0–567–03399–4 Typeset by RefineCatch Limited, Bungay, Suffolk Printed and bound in Great Britain by the MPG Books Group For Emily Jane This page intentionally left blank contents Acknowledgements viii List of Abbreviations x Introduction 1 1 A Dogmatic Account of the Christ’s Faith 8 2 Perfect Sight in an Imperfect World: Christ’s Beatific Vision or Human Ignorance? 36 3 Toward an Extensive Definition of Faith: Hebrews 11 and the Reformed Tradition 69 4 Metaphysics of the Incarnation 106 5 Christ’s Faith Within the Loci of Salvation, Covenant, and Eschatology: Three Case Studies 143 6 The Function of Christ’s Faith: from Faith to Faith 183 Conclusion 211 Bibliography 215 Index 239 vii acknowledgements This book was originally written as a doctoral dissertation submitted to the Department of Biblical and Theological Studies at Wheaton College. Stephen Spencer and Daniel Treier have given countless hours to reading, editing, and conversing about this project. I am well in their debt for this and other generosities. At earlier stages, Scott Hafemann and Douglas Moo pro- vided valuable guidance in studying Holy Scripture. Henri Blocher has been to me a model of biblically formed theological scholarship, influencing me in ways he likely knows not. Any clarity found in this book is surely the prod- uct of Mark Noll’s faithful efforts to make me a better writer, and remaining obfuscation is surely my fault for not learning his lessons well enough. The Timothy R. Phillips Memorial Fellowship has provided needed funds for three years of uninterrupted research and writing, and I pray that this book does justice and honor to the memory of this late Wheaton professor and to the generous benefactors who have selflessly made this fellowship available to me. Also, the late John Fawcett and the ever-helpful staff at Buswell Memorial Library helped me acquire the necessary materials for research through the centuries and across the ocean. My journey through these studies has been encouraged at every step by colleagues and friends: in particular, Geoff Ziegler, Ryan Peterson, and Michael White have blessed me with the regular joys of theological cama- raderie. The Postgraduate Systematic Theology Seminar at Wheaton College also kindly read and discussed parts of Chapter 2. Parts of Chapter 4 have received feedback during sessions at the Evangelical Theological Society and the American Academy of Religion. My long-standing friendships with John McAlister and Wesley Hill have brought me the delights of honest criticism, constant enthusiasm, and thoughtful engagement at every step. Friends like these make the theological task both enjoyable and somewhat feasible. I am grateful also for the ongoing community of Immanuel Presbyterian Church in Warrenville, Illinois, and especially for the ministry of her former pastor, Mateen Elass. John Webster has proven exceptionally influential by offering an example of unflagging commitment to faithful dogmatic theology, by serving as external examiner for my dissertation, by encouraging a young theologian viii ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS from across the Atlantic, and by including this book within a series he edits. My thanks also to Ian McFarland and Ivor Davidson for their editorial support. Tom Kraft and the editorial team at Continuum/T&T Clark have been, especially helpful in bringing this book to its final form and have been a joy to work with at every step. In addition, Geoff Ziegler patiently solved my many computer-related dilemmas, and my wife, Emily, graciously pre- pared the index. Fellow theologians of days well past have provoked and sustained my own attempt to testify rightly about the gospel. The task of reading Scripture for the church would be immeasurably difficult without the communion of saints; thus, I am indebted to Augustine and Thomas, Calvin and Owen, Barth and Bavinck, not to mention the apostle Paul and that anonymous writer to the Hebrews. As Barth himself reminds us, these remain living voices because God has defeated death in the resurrection of Jesus Christ. I hope that my critical appropriation of these classical and Reformed theo- logians honors the testimony of the Holy Spirit through these saints, and I pray that my engagement of the creedal and confessional traditions of the church has been generous and faithful. My parents have long instilled the importance of education and thought- fulness into their children, especially as they exemplified a churchly and intellectual form of piety. I am thankful for the many sacrifices they have made to tend my fervent, esoteric, and overly expensive scholastic interests. My parents-in-law, grandparents, and siblings have provided friendship, conversation, normalcy, and the acceptance that one needs to justify spend- ing day after day writing an academic tome. I dedicate this book to my wife, Emily Jane Allen, with as much love and gratitude as I can muster. I could not imagine its completion without her daily support, my sanity without her humor, my faith without her prodding, my happiness without her stories, or my life without her presence. This monograph does not do justice to her, but it certainly would be much less without her. Finally, I give all glory, laud, and honor to the eternally triune God – Father, Son, and Holy Spirit – who has graciously blessed me with these family and friends, every grace necessary for the completion of this work, and the delightful gospel of Jesus Christ. R. Michael Allen Wheaton, IL 60187, June 2008 ix
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