Thomas F. Torrance


Book Description

This book provides an important study of the theology of Thomas F. Torrance, who is generally considered to have been one of the most significant theologians writing in English during the twentieth century, with a view toward showing how his theological method and all his major doctrinal views were shaped by his understanding of the doctrine of the Trinity. Torrance pursued a theology that was realist because he attempted to think in accordance with the unique nature of the object that is known. In holding to such a methodology, he drew an analogy between theology and natural science.This book demonstrates how, for Torrance, God relates with humanity within time and space so that creation finds its meaning in relation to God and not in itself; this enabled him to avoid many theological pitfalls such as agnosticism, subjectivism and dualism while explaining the positive implications of various Christian doctrines in a penetrating and compelling manner. This book offers an important resource for students of theology and for scholars who are interested in seeing how serious dogmatic theology shapes and should shape our understanding of the Christian life.




Atonement


Book Description

This companion volume to T. F. Torrance's Incarnation: The Person and Life of Christ presents the material on the work of Christ, centered in the atonement, given originally in his lectures delivered to his students in Christian Dogmatics on Christology at New College, Edinburgh, from 1952-1978.




T. F. Torrance in Plain English


Book Description

The second book in Stephen D. Morrison's Plain English Series, "T. F. Torrance in Plain English" offers a clear and concise overview of Torrance's scientific and evangelical theology. An introduction to his complex thought, this book examines nine major ideas selected from Torrance's many volumes and essays. This is a helpful study of a prominent theologian, thoughtfully written and carefully explained for both beginners and experts alike.Arguably one of the most influential English-speaking theologians of the 20th century, T. F. Torrance is a brilliant thinker every Christian should be familiar with. Morrison writes with passion and clarity, offering a wide and deep introduction to Torrance's immense theological contributions. The subjects of this book include Torrance's scientific theology, his epistemological axiom (kata physin), his reformulated natural theology, the oneness in being and act of the Father and the Son (Homoousion), the Trinity as the "ground and grammar" of theology, the twofold agency (mediation) of Christ, the vicarious humanity of Christ, threefold atonement, and union and participation as the capstone of Torrance's thought.




T. F. Torrance


Book Description

T. F. Torrance is widely regarded as the most significant British academic theologian of the twentieth century. He is especially noted for his ground-breaking contribution to the study of the relationship of Christian theology and the natural sciences. He is unquestionably one of the most prolific of theological writers and is the most senior member of the nearest thing to a 'theological dynasty' that Great Britain has ever produced. Here, Alister McGrath, himself one of this country's leading theologians, traces the development of Torrance's theological thought and provides a comprehensive account of his life and career. Particular attention is paid to the important role played by Torrance in the English-language reception of the theology of Karl Barth, and to his pioneering engagement with the relation between theology and science. While making extensive reference to Torrance's published works, McGrath also draws on important unpublished writings and private papers. The book contains many unpublished photograhs, together with a complete bibliography of Torrance's works.




Space, Time and Resurrection


Book Description

In this sequel to Space, Time and Incarnation, Thomas F. Torrance sets out the biblical approach to the Resurrection in terms of the intrinsic significance of the resurrected one, Jesus; and demonstrates that the Resurrection is entirely consistent with who Jesus was and what he did. The Resurrection is thus taken realistically, and treated as of the same nature, in the integration of physical and spiritual existence, as the death of Christ. All this is elucidated in the context of modern scientific thought, in such a way as to show that far from being frightened by modern science into a compromise of the New Testament's message of the Resurrection of Jesus Christ in body, it actually allows us to take its full measure. This classic volume from one of the premier English speaking theologian of the 20th century remains an important contribution to the field of systematic theology. For this Cornerstones edition, the preface is written by Paul D. Molnar.




Theological Science


Book Description

The classic study, which establishes a sound theological base for the future of philosophical science.




Theology in Reconciliation


Book Description

Dealing with the issue of church unity and the ecumenical movement, Professor Torrance reminds Christians in a collection of essays that any theology which is faithful to the gospel must be a theology of reconciliation.




Thomas F. Torrance and the Church Fathers


Book Description

In this volume, Jason Radcliff examines T. F. Torrance's reading of the church fathers. Radcliff explores how Torrance reconstructs the patristic tradition, producing a Reformed, evangelical, and ecumenical version of the Consensus Patrum ("Consensus of the Fathers"). This book investigates how Torrance uniquely understands the Fathers and the Reformers to be mutually informing and how, as such, his approach involves significant changes to both standard readings of the Fathers and Torrance's own Reformed evangelical tradition. Torrance's approach is distinctive in its Christocentric rootedness in the primary theme of the Nicene homoousion ("of one essence [with the Father]") and its champion Athanasius of Alexandria. The book explores Torrance's inherently broad ecclesiology and constructive achievements, both of which contribute to his ongoing ecumenical relevance.




Divine and Contingent Order


Book Description

This book examines the implications of the Judaeo-Christian claim for our understanding of the universe that it is contingent: freely created by God out of nothing, and having an existence, freedom, and rtional order of its own while still dependent on him. Professor Torrance argues that this claim made possible the development of western empirical science, but that Newtonian physics obscured the connection between the rational order of nature and the Christian doctrine of creation. He shows how modern relativity and quantum theories have once againd rawn attention to the significance of contingence, and imply that the universe is found to be consistently rational only if it is dependent on a creative rationality beyond it. He considers finally the disorderly elements in the universe, both physical and moral, and argues that the doctrine of incarnation as well as of creation is necessary to deal with the intellectual problems which they raise.




Theology in Reconstruction


Book Description

A collection of fifteen essays addressing the basic intellectual challenges to the contemporary Christian church. Professor Torrance deals with such topics as the centrality of Christology in scientific dogmatics, the Reformed and Roman Catholic doctrines of grace, theological education, the relation of theological statements to scientific methodology, the contemporary significance of some past theological giants, and the nature and significance of the Holy Spirit and of the church.