Fred Sanders - Retrieving Eternal Generation

P RAISE FOR R ETRIEVING E TERNAL G ENERATION

The Christian teaching of the eternal generation of the Son has from the beginning engendered detailed scrutiny and fierce opposition, and again in the present, the doctrine is causing great controversy. By way of response, Swain and Sanders have gathered together for this volume a range of experts from the fields of biblical exegesis, church history, and systematic theology to consider this teaching in detail. The result is a powerful and dynamic defence of the doctrine, insisting vigorously upon its scriptural, traditional, and dogmatic importance. At a time of much doctrinal diversity and uncertainty, this book lucidly sets out a salutary and welcome account of this venerable teaching and of its central significance for faithful Christian belief.

P AUL T N IMMO , Kings Chair of Systematic Theology, University of Aberdeen

Retrieval is an important part of the task systematic theology faces today. In Retrieving Eternal Generation, Scott Swain and Fred Sanders, along with their fellow contributors, render a great service to the church and theology. In the midst of a fierce and sometimes confused debate over the doctrine of the Trinity, this excellent collection of essays provides a careful biblical, historical, and conceptual analysis that helps uncover the profound richness of the classic understanding of the Sons eternal generation from the Father. Retrieving Eternal Generation brings together some of the best of biblical, patristic, and doctrinal theology in a convincing case for a doctrine that is unjustly accused of being overly metaphysical or Greek, among other deprecating terms. It shows that, to the contrary, this doctrine is vital for proper confession of the triune God.

D OLF TE V ELDE , assistant professor of systematic theology, Theological University Kampen

This is the best single study examining one of the most important yet neglected aspects of the Christian doctrine of God, namely, the idea of the Sons eternal begottenness, that singular procession of the Son that grounds the Sons earthly mission (incarnation), and hence the ultimate basis (before the foundation of the world) of Christmas. The authors display the wisdom of retrieving theological light from the patristic past, light that is just as valuable and vital today as it was in early Christianity. Retrieving Eternal Generation is an encouraging display of how biblical studies, church history, and systematic theology can work together to the glory of God, recovering from the past and commending for today the confession of Jesus Christ as the only begotten Son of the Father, Light from Light, very God from very God.

K EVIN J. V ANHOOZER , research professor of systematic theology, Trinity Evangelical Divinity School

In contemporary Trinitarian theology, conservative Christians have all too often been moving in one of two directions: either inadvertently undermining the full divinity of the Sonthereby turning Christianity into a unitarianismor inadvertently distinguishing the divine persons in ways that are logically tritheistic. In response, Swain and Sanders have put together an important and profound volume whose timing simply could not be better.

M ATTHEW L EVERING , James N. and Mary D. Perry Jr. Chair of Theology, Mundelein Seminary

Retrieving Eternal Generation is a vital gift to evangelical theology. The various authors provide stimulating biblical exegesis, hermeneutical breadth, historical expertise, and theological depth. Respectfully but courageously engaging the challengers of this classic doctrine, they transcend polemics to contribute fresh dogmatic insight. I will be referring to several of these essays again and again.

D ANIEL J. T REIER , Knoedler Professor of Theology, Wheaton College Graduate School

The heart of the doctrine of the Trinity is not the puzzle of the one and the three, but the eternal relationship between Father and Son. Such is, quite rightly, Sanders and Swains basic claim in the introduction to this book. The stellar essays that follow cogently argue that the doctrine of the eternal generation of the Son constitutes the bedrock of the Christian confession of the triune God. This book presents a compelling and timely retrieval of Nicene Christianity.

H ANS B OERSMA , J. I. Packer Professor of Theology, Regent College

It is essential to our true understanding of the triune God that we be clear about the biblical and dogmatic basis for our confession. This book brings together an impressive array of world-class theologians whose Scholarship is matched by their godliness addressing one of the key components of that task; the basis of our knowledge of relations in God.

D R . L IAM G OLIGHER , senior minister, Tenth Presbyterian Church, Philadelphia, PA

The creedal doctrine that the Son of God was begotten of the Father before all worlds is a notion that is often misunderstood or else maligned by many contemporary theologians. In this context, Swain and Sanders have brought together an impressive collection of essays from across the theological disciplines in order to elucidate and defend this linchpin Trinitarian doctrine. The books coherence lies not only in the sum of its parts but also in the synthetic nature of its individual chapters. This is retrieval theology at its bestcareful in its treatment of the historical sources and relevant in its theological import.

R. L UCAS S TAMPS , assistant professor of Christian studies, Anderson University

ZONDERVAN

Retrieving Eternal Generation

Copyright 2017 by Fred Sanders and Scott R. Swain

Requests for information should be addressed to:

Zondervan, 3900 Sparks Dr. SE, Grand Rapids, Michigan 49546

ePub Edition October 2017: ISBN 978-0-3105-3788-5

Scripture quotations are taken from The Holy Bible, New International Version, NIV. Copyright 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc. Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide. www.Zondervan.com. The NIV and New International Version are trademarks registered in the United States Patent and Trademark Office by Biblica, Inc.

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Cover design: Studio Gearbox

Cover photo: Erich Lessing / Art Resource, NY

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To the Evangelical Theological Society, in gratitude and hope

CONTENTS

Scott R. Swain

Matthew Y. Emerson

Mark S. Gignilliat

D. A. Carson

Charles Lee Irons

Madison N. Pierce

R. Kendall Soulen