About the Book
Table of Contents:
Notes on Contributors
Foreword, George Hunsinger, Princeton Theological Seminary, USA
Acknowledgments
1. Introduction, Paul D. Molnar, St. John's University, Queens, New York, USA
Part I: Contexts
2. Why Read Torrance Today?, Ivor J. Davidson, University of Aberdeen, UK
3. Thomas F. Torrance as a Scottish Theologian, David Fergusson, University of Edinburgh, UK
4. Thomas F. Torrance and Ecumenism, Joel Scandrett, Trinity School for Ministry, USA
5. Thomas F. Torrance and Karl Barth: Similarities and Differences, Paul D. Molnar, St John's University, Queens, New York, USA
6. Thomas F. Torrance's Influence upon Ray Anderson's Paradigm of a Practical Theology of Ministry, Todd Speidell, Editor, USA
7. Thomas F. Torrance: Historian of Dogma, Jason R. Radcliff, The Stony Brook School, USA
8. Theological Science Then and Now, Travis Stevick, Independent Scholar, USA
Part II: Dogmatics
9. Thomas F. Torrance on the Doctrine of Revelation, John C. McDowell, University of Divinity, Australia
10. The Importance of the Personal in the Onto-relational Theology of Thomas F. Torrance, Gary W. Deddo, Grace Communion Seminary, USA
11. Thomas F. Torrance and the Trinity, Christopher R. J. Holmes, University of Otago, New Zealand
12. Incarnation and Atonement, Thomas A. Noble, Nazarene Theological Seminary, USA
13. The Innovative Fruitfulness of an/en-hypostasis in Thomas F. Torrance, Robert T. Walker, University of Edinburgh, UK
14. “Jesus Christ Is Our Human Response to God”: Divine and Human Agency in the Theology of Thomas F. Torrance, Christian D. Kettler, Friends University, USA
15. Thomas F. Torrance and Ecclesiology, Kate Tyler, Bishopdale College, New Zealand
16. “Not I, but Christ”: Thomas F. Torrance on the Christian Life, E. Jerome Van Kuiken, Oklahoma Wesleyan University, USA
17. Theologia Is Eusebia: Thomas F. Torrance's Church Homiletics, Myk Habets, Laidlaw College, Auckland, and Australian College of Theology, Australia
18. The End of Ministry: Thomas F. Torrance and Eschatology, Andrew Purves, Pittsburgh Theological Seminary, USA
Name Index
Subject Index
About the Author :
Paul D. Molnar is Professor of Systematic Theology at St. John's University, USA.
Myk Habets is Head of Theology at Laidlaw College, Auckland, New Zealand.
Review :
This edition of Molnar and Habets's Handbook is greatly welcome. Each essay is brilliantly written, with critical appraisals.
The scope and quality of this fine handbook tells of the importance and continued influence of the Scottish historian of doctrine, theologian, churchman, and ecumenist, Thomas F. Torrance. Those looking for an entrée and orientation to Torrance's work, as well as those keen to deepen their appreciation of his theology and its legacy, will certainly benefit from the many fine contributions drawn together here.
For many, Thomas F. Torrance's theology remains a vast, unexplored and intimidating continent. There are dense passages, steep cliffs, but also rewarding vistas, particularly on the relationship of theology and science and the humanity of Jesus Christ – all the more reason to be thankful for this new handbook and its guides.
There were various things my father didn't like, including flimsy arguments and a refusal to engage with the primary texts. He had a particular dislike of sycophantic would-be disciples who utilised certain of his arguments to construct a scholasticism which he found unrecognisable. This collection of essays provides the informed but distanced engagement he would have welcomed. Watching my father, I used to find myself reminded of the paradoxes expounded by St Paul: simultaneously combative and humble, utterly confident of his vision yet always enquiring. I commend these essays and am most grateful to their editors.
This handbook is an extraordinary secondary resource for anyone interested in Thomas F. Torrance and his theology. Paul D. Molnar and Myk Habets have assembled a global team of scholars to explore the full depth and breadth of topics central to the work of Torrance, the most seminal and prolific theological voice in the English-speaking world of the late 20th century. No one interested in Thomas F. Torrance can avoid reading this handbook, which is destined to be on the shortlist of works crucial for understanding his theology.
