Tx001247 1backgroundhistory theology of the incarnation. A biblical theology of incarnation 9780830826315 by graham cole. The trinity and the incarnation logos bible software. After reading this doctrine, you should be convinced that, the idea of the trinity in the old testament is not. In stoic philosophy, the logos is the intelligent and creative power bringing forth and sustaining creation.
I spent some years in writing fifteen books concerning the trinity, which is god. The idea that god came to earth and lived as the man jesus, which is central to the doctrine of the trinity. He suggests that evangelicals need to move beyond a merely defensive doctrine of scripture and develop a positive view that seriously engages. Evangelicals and the problem of the old testament, edition 2. He made a covenant with abraham and promised him a vast number of descendents. The faith of the early church basil studer, andrew.
In the new testament we find it addressed not alone to god the father, but to. From the beginning god introduces himself to man as elohim. Like many doctrines at this website, this tends to be rather long and as complete as possible. One of the amazing things about the new testament is that if you pay very close attention you begin to see that all the members of the trinity are constantly working in perfect harmony with one another. Incarnation and atonement grace communion international. Here are some traditional proofs some more compelling than others for the presence of the trinity in the old testament. Chapter 2 questions 1 the old testament was incarnational. The coherence of christian theism part 3 the trinity. In christian theology, the incarnation is the belief that jesus christ, the second person of the trinity, also known as god the son or the logos koine greek for word, was made flesh by being conceived in the womb of a woman, the virgin mary, also known as the theotokos greek for godbearer.
Kapic, professor of theological studies at covenant college and the author of the god who gives. The new testament adds many of the details to the outline of prophecy, but the fact of his glory is as well attested by the old testament. The old testament traces the promised seeds lineage through the son god promised to abraham, who would also be the firstborn of a new nation. The trinity and the incarnation is a book about the doctrine of the deity of christ, and especially of the incarnationa doctrine which has played an immense part in the history of religion, and still does so.
Evangelicals and the problem of the old testament, edition 2 ebook written by peter enns. However, many people believe that jesus is god incarnate. We typically think of the incarnation as something that happened only when jesus christ became human, that is, when he was born of a virgin, grew up as a boy under the parentage of joseph and mary, became a man, and then lived, taught, ministered, suffered, and died. The new testament contrary to some assertions contains no clear statement or evidence about the trinity. However, the old testament does not talk about that event because it had not yet happened in the old testament.
This book is a comprehensive study of early christian trinitarian theology and. Youll read the famous quote, the only palliative is to keep the clean sea breeze of the centuries blowing through our minds, and this can be done only by reading old books. The icon of the trinity by andrei rublev anu press. Knowing god the father through the old testament, knowing jesus through. Not all books can be read in the same way and some work needs to be done to understand the different genres in the old testament. Jun 25, 2012 inspiration and incarnation focuses on three specific problemsquestions raised by the modern study of the old testament and uses those specific problemsquestions to engage in a broader conversation about the nature of scripture, to provide a theological paradigm for people who know instinctively that the bible is gods word, but for whom. The incarnation of christ is attended by all the important revelation of these old testament messianic prophecies. Research professor of new testament, trinity evangelical divinity school, usa. There is one god and he is three persons eternally coexisting as a trinity. This translation was made by sister penelope lawson, of the anglican community of st. Mar 24, 20 studying the trinity and christology including the incarnation, takes one back to the roots of christian doctrine and theology set forth in the testimony of the apostles the new testament and the testimony of the early church fathers the early christian creeds. May, 2016 one of the amazing things about the new testament is that if you pay very close attention you begin to see that all the members of the trinity are constantly working in perfect harmony with one another.
Religion actually degrades jesus when it teaches that he was god in the flesh. This significant word, is used 330 times in the new testament but it is used specifically to express the second person of the divine trinity only 7 times in the new testament. Where in the bible are the doctrines of the trinity and. It is these verses, in part, that lay down the foundation for the doctrine of the trinity. Your father abraham rejoiced to see my day, and he saw it and was glad. The whole trinity worked the incarnation of the son. It was painted by andrei rublev, a russian monk, in 1411. Dec 20, 2017 sin entered gods good creation and corrupted all humanity. He then explores israels messianic hope, and then the testimony of the new testament and its relationship to the old testament testimony. The old testament is definite upon these two points, that not only was sin not mans original state nor a necessary condition of his finiteness or of any other contingency, but neither was his continuance in his sinlessness a necessity. This study from peter enns is an important reconsideration of evangelical perspectives on scriptural authority, particularly in light of recent old testament scholarship. All who read this book should experience a deeper devotion to our lord and savior jesus christ. The nt bears witness to that historical action of god.
Do yourself the great favor of getting a copy and reading it well. The study questions for chapters 16 of encountering. The books of the ot were written in differing time periods and show signs of being edited to some degree and therefore to some degree there is evidence of the develoopment and revision of thought over time and. Mar 25, 2014 if you have not read athanasius on the incarnation, you should. Veiled in flesh the godhead see, hail the incarnate deity. Later articles will include a survey of the types of christ in the old testament, the consideration of the incarnation itself, and a discussion of the person of the incarnate son of god. This development begins early in the new testament, as the spirit of god. Inspiration and incarnation addresses old testament phenomena that challenge traditional evangelical perspectives on scripture and suggests a way forward. Google cslewis introduction of on the incarnation to read it yourself. On the incarnation contains the reflections of athanasius of alexandria, upon the subjects of christ, his purpose on earth, and the nature of the holy spirit. The doctrine of the trinity identifies jesus as the incarnation of god, united in. Jul 16, 2008 the painting reproduced on the cover of this issue is titled the old testament trinity, and it is probably the bestknown and mostadmired icon among western christians.
Rublevs version of the hospitality of abraham old testament trinity is the. Witness of tradition 2 the human nature of jesus christ 3 the hypostatic union a. One astounding example of this comes in the form of the christmas story, or as it is more profoundly known, the incarnation. This tenth anniversary edition includes a substantive postscript that reflects on the reception of the first edition. Inspiration and incarnation baker publishing group.
Functional christology is the only kind which exists. New testament altered to support the trinity and incarnation by rav shaul in the attempt to turn yahuah the one and only god into a pagan trinity, the new testament has literally been altered to add phrases that are not inspired words of yahuah. But god immediately promised to redeem humanity and make all things right through one man in genesis 3. Writing in the greek language, the international language of his age, the inspired writer of this gospel expresses jesus as the divine logos. Strip away the seasons hustle and bustle, the trees, the cookies, the extra pounds, and what remains is a humble birth story and a simultaneously stunning reality the incarnation of the eternal son of god. And the word became flesh, and dwelt among us, and we saw his glory, glory as of the only begotten from the father, full of grace and truth. God the son is the second person of the trinity in christian theology. The christian doctrine of the trinity holds that god is one god, but three coeternal. Cole then answers anselms question, finding numerous answers in the new testament. The creeds merely affirm what the bible has as its clear position. The incarnation of god and the people of the incarnation. The old testament teaches that it was possible for sinless man to sin.
The faith of the early church studer, basil, louth, andrew on. I began as a very young man, and have published in my old age, some books. For more information on the trinity, please see what is the trinity. Whenever god appeared in the old testament, it was jesus, the only begotten son of jehovah that appeared to these people. Names and titles of jesus in the new testament sons of god. His concern is to help readers whose faith has been challenged by critical studies. Bible verses showing the plurality of god in the old and new. Gods presence was shown in josephs life as he rose from the position of servant to a important ruler in egypt. New testament altered to support the trinity and incarnation.
This book has really helped me fill in some gaps in my old testament understanding, that i knew were there but wasnt sure how to fill them. In point of fact the doctrine of the incarnation involves that, in regard of his human. Likewise, the incarnation was a historical event that occurred within a specific context in human history. But because, on account of the incarnation of the word of god for the working out. Whatever god does outside of the divine essence, the father, son, and holy spirit do as the one divine causal agent. Monotheism is clarified as trinitarianism in the new testament, and jesus christ is affirmed as the god of the shema, the sovereign lord god of israel. The church will continue to discuss and debate trinity and incarnation. His darkcrimson undergarment symbolises the incarnation. There was the true light which, coming into the world, enlightens every man. The incarnation has in its essential character the fulfillment of the revealed plan of god.
By poetically portraying the logos as becoming flesh and dwelling among us, johns gospel articulates a mature theology of incarnation, where the divine and. Evangelicals and the problem of the old testament is an ambitious effort to bring the insights of critical studies to bear on the evangelical understanding of biblical inspiration. The trinity is not mentioned in the 4 gospels and it is not taught anywhere in the new testament. The point is that abraham and his family believes in god and he used their faith as a solution to the sin problem in the world. Yet, god appeared to several people in the old testament. Chapter 2 questions 1 the old testament was incarnational because god showed himself to many people and in many ways.
The fact of the incarnation 1 the divine person of jesus christ a. This work was composed partly to explain athanasiuss thoughts on jesus christ and the nature of the holy spirit, and partly to refute the views of arius, a rival deacon within the egyptian church. Rublevs old testament trinity a russian orthodox church. Before you bombard me with texts to prove the trinity you must first start without any presuppostion that the trinity is true. For my part, i have made a commitment to read it on march 25the day on which the. Another principle of understanding the violent sections of the bible is to understand the incarnation of god. In the introduction to the incarnation, lewis advises that, rather than read books about the great thinkers of the past, readers should go directly to the source and obtain firsthand knowledge, which is usually much easier and more delightful to acquire.