Christ in Eternity and Time: Modern Anglican Perspective

By Niall Coll

The belief that Jesus of Nazareth is personally identical with the eternally pre-existent Son of God, the Second Person of the Trinity and Logos, is an essential component of an orthodox understanding of the incarnation. This book studies the interpretations of Christ's pre-existence in the writings of L.S. Thornton, E.L. Mascall, J.A.T. Robinson and J. Macquarrie. It examines how their views have emerged from their overall approach to Christology in particular and to theology in general. Thornton and Mascall firmly uphold orthodox understandings of the doctrine. Robinson and Macquarrie reject the concept of the personal pre-existence of Christ, regarding it as a relic of an outmoded high christology. They propose that Christ's pre-existence be interpreted as simply an intentional pre-existence in the mind and purpose of God. It becomes apparent that a close parallel exists between the interpretations of the pre-existence of Christ in these authors and their understandings of his post-existence and divine identity. It is clear also that there are ambiguities inherent in the very term 'pre-existence' which leave it open to misrepresentation.In addition, the study acknowledges the importance of a contemporary debate on the subject of the eternity of God among Anglo-American philosophers of religion. Finally, the book demonstrates that one cannot speak of a single, distinctive Anglican approach to the doctrine of Christ's pre-existence, and offers some critical comments on the general shape of contemporary Anglican theology.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1851825991
• ISBN13: 9781851825998
• Release Date: July 2001
• Publisher: Four Courts Press
• Length: 208 Pages
• Weight: 1.06 lbs.