The Knowledge of God: Essays on God, Christ, and Church

Description

The Knowledge of God turns to consider the knowledge of God revealed in the Word of God, with several essays addressing the doctrine of God, then the person of Christ, and finally the miracle of the church. Michael Allen shows the exegetical shape of historical and dogmatic reasoning as well as the significance of thinking about these topics in their interrelationships with a range of other Christian themes, not least the doctrine of the living and true God. In each of these topics, the theme of the promise and nature of God's presence (whether in his own life or then in the economy of the incarnation and of the church) proves to be a unifying thread. The gospel is shown to be rooted backward in God's own life and to have consequence forward for the ongoing life of Christ displayed in his church. This volume explores what it means to learn of and come to know God, who has life in himself and then shares his life with us in the coming of his Son and the ongoing presence amidst his body, the church of Christ.

Michael Allen is the John Dyer Trimble Professor of Systematic Theology and Academic Dean at Reformed Theological Seminary in Orlando, FL, USA.

These chapters exhibit a Reformed theological self-understanding amply catholic enough for Christians of many confessions and traditions to find themselves implicated and interested in. Michael Allen asserts the definite orientation of his overall systematic project more clearly here than in any of his previous works. -- Fred Sanders, Biola University, USA In this welcome collection of essays, Michael Allen brings his knowledge, insight, and erudition to bear on a range of dogmatic topics at the very centre of the Christian faith - God, Jesus Christ, and the church. The result is a series of soundings that offer biblically grounded, traditionally informed, and constructively poised wisdom to provoke and resource theological reflection today. Readers will find themselves not only informed and challenged, but also encouraged by this splendid volume. -- Paul T Nimmo, University of Aberdeen, UK