Relation Of God Research Articles

Spirit in Creation: Mizo Primal Cosmology and Its Implications for Anthropogenic Climate Change Concern

In the face of an escalating climate crisis, humanity is confronted not only with pressing environmental challenges but also with a profound moral imperative to protect our planet for the sake of generations yet unborn. This paper embarks on an urgent re-examination and expansion of the timeless inquiry into the God—human—world relationship as perceived within Mizo primal cosmology. This unique worldview offers a perspective on God's interaction with creation through the lens of pneumatology. In the midst of our contemporary environmental predicament, this exploration holds the potential to enrich theological discourse by shedding light on alternative perspectives of the God—human—world relationship. The inherited theology, which often revolves around anthropocentrism and other-worldly spiritual concerns, is found wanting in addressing climate change concerns. It tends to limit God's relationship with creation, neglecting its holistic dimensions. In contrast, the Mizo primal cosmology seems to offer a potential viewpoint to bridge this theological deficit, highlighting the intricate interplay between God, humanity and the environment. By bridging the traditional and the contemporary, this paper seeks to contribute to the ongoing dialogue about humanity’s role in safeguarding our planet and nurturing a more harmonious coexistence with the natural world. Ultimately, it endeavours to inspire a renewed sense of responsibility for our shared environment and the intricate web of life it sustains.

ANALISIS PENANAMAN AJARAN TRI HITA KARANA PADA BUKU BAHASA INGGRIS “ENGLISH FOR CHANGE” UNTUK SISWA KELAS XI SMA

The teaching of Tri Hita Karana is seen to be very important for students to have a good character. Even though it is a Balinese local value, Tri Hita Karana has been perceived to be universal and are also exist in textbook used nationally, including English textbook. The purpose of the study was to investigate the Tri Hita Karana teachings found in “English for Change” English textbook for grade 11 students of Senior High School. More specifically, the study investigated the Tri Hita Karana aspects existed in the book and how the aspects were delivered. The study was conducted in the form of content analysis. The instrument used to collect the data was notebook and checklist. The result of the study found that among the three aspects, parahyangan (harmonious relation between human and God) aspect is the least aspect existed in the book. Pawongan (harmonious relation among humans) aspect is the most frequent aspect inserted, followed by palemahan (harmonious relation between human and environment) aspect. The Tri Hita Karana aspects were integrated in pictures, reading text, and students’ activities in the book. The result of the research implied that the English book “English for Change” can be used to instill Tri Hita Karana teaching in instruction. However, since it has not contained much teaching about human and God relation, teachers need to add some teachings and activities which can increase students’ awareness of attitude and action to maintain a harmonious relation with God. Keywords: Tri Hita Karana, textbook, English, character

‘His Favourite People’: John Gill on the Jews, National Israel, and the Latter-Day Glory of the Church

ABSTRACT This article examines the eschatological perspective of John Gill (1697–1771), focusing on his views regarding the future role of ethnic Jews in God's end-times plan. Gill, influenced by his Reformed predecessors, considered the church to be the “mystical spiritual Israel of God,” comprising both Jews and Gentiles. However, as a Judeocentric interpreter of the Bible, Gill also envisioned a distinct eschatological role for ethnic Jews. He argued that the present unbelief of the Jews, whom he referred to as “his favourite people,” was a continuing reality. This article explores Gill's theological framework, highlighting the spiritual reign of Christ within the church and the significant role played by the calling and restoration of ethnic Jews to the land of Canaan. First, Gill's eschatological perspective and his understanding of a latter-day glory are examined, emphasizing the visible manifestation of Christ's kingly office within the church. Gill believed that as the church returned to a baptistic model resembling the early church, this spiritual reign would be experienced. Secondly, Gill's understanding of God's relationship with ethnic Jews is discussed, focusing on their future conversion, inclusion in the church, and restoration to the land. Finally, the article explores Gill's geopolitical perspectives on the implications of the Jews' restoration, particularly in relation to the undoing of the antichrists of the East (the Ottoman Empire) and the West (the Roman Catholic Church). By delving into Gill's eschatological perspective, this article highlights the central role he assigned to ethnic Jews, suggesting a time of spiritual flourishing within the church. The analysis provides insights into Gill's theology and offers a nuanced understanding of his views on the future of the church and the significance of the Jews in God's eschatological plan.

Studi Komparasi Pemikiran Søren Aabye Kierkegaard dan John Hick tentang Makna Kejahatan dan Penderitaan dalam Relasi Manusia dengan Tuhan

The problem of the existence of evil and suffering experienced by humans will always give birth to reflections and philosophical thoughts. This will raise the question of where does the suffering and evil that befell human life in the world come from? These various questions will lead to a discussion of God's relation to the existence of this evil and suffering. Because of course this will bring up contradictions from the attributes of God “Good God”, “Omnipotent”, “Omniscient” when suffering and evil are still rampant as if God is not good, incapable, and does not know suffering exists. Therefore, this study using the library research method will explain the meaning of crime and suffering in the eyes of the characters, namely Søren Aabye Kierkegaard and John Hick. The results of this study indicate that Kierkegaard views crime and suffering as occurring because humans are still in the stage of aesthetic existence, namely humans who only pursue happiness and worldly pleasures so this will lead humans to despair, disappointment, and other suffering. Humans must jump to the ethical stage, namely prioritizing virtue morally, and humans must also reach the religious stage, namely melting into God's consciousness. Meanwhile, John Hick views the suffering and evil that must exist to perfect the human soul, because basically, humans are not perfect when they are born.

‘God corresponds to Godself’: John Webster's doctrine of God ‘after’ Karl Barth

AbstractThe nature and extent of Karl Barth's significance in John Webster's theological formation is widely recognised but remains to be explored in detail. Addressing this lacuna, this essay considers how Barth's doctrine of the triune God animates Webster's teaching on the same. In approaching the topic, I show how Webster carries forward Barth's deep sense of God's aseity in relation to the world and follows Barth in his commitment to the singularity of God's triune being. God's particularity and aseity converge in ‘God's self-correspondence’ (namely, that God ‘in Godself’ corresponds to God ‘for us’), which represents the core of Barth's influence on Webster's theology proper. The final section responds to Katherine Sonderegger's recent criticism of Webster's ‘relationalism’, which counts God's relation to creatures as an integral aspect of God's eternal life. I reframe the issue in terms of Webster's late-career retractions of the language of inclusion and divine self-determination, arguing that the difficulties that Sonderegger identifies in earlier writings are overcome in the final decade of Webster's corpus.

God, Technology, and the Christian Life

God, Technology, and the Christian Life

Developing Islamic Legal Philosophy-Based Assurance of Justice

Justice is the essence of law enforcement. Justice is importan in the legal system at various countries, The absensce of justice was problem because if legal system lack of justice there would be made public believe ruined and legal system would collapse. In the Islamic legal thought, justice was the essence. However, it cannot be denied that the development of Islamic legal thought cannot be separated from the conception of justice. Justice in the explanation is included in the category of substantive law. Justice is defined from a theological point of view, God's relationship with humans is vertical. Allah as the Most Just and Most Right knows the truth and ultimate justice. Humans must always find justice and truth given by God through the process of ijtihad. The principle of justice requires the use of ratios to make comparisons between one case that is not explained by the Word of God or the words of the Prophet with another case that has legal legitimacy. In that way, Islamic law develops and reaches a wider range of legal cases based on the principle of equality.

Equal Legal Treatment for Employers and Employees from a Theological Perspective

One of the parties in industrial relations is employers and employees. Workers are frequently in a weak position as stakeholders. In truth, there is a legally binding relationship between employers and employees in the form of a work agreement, which necessitates approval prior to execution. The word "master" is frequently used in the Bible to describe the connection between employers and employees, while workers are referred to as "servants." It also clarifies the census fidei, or sense of faith, in regard to God's relationship with His church. These stakeholders have a tight bond, with the "master" being the party who performs the labor and the "servant" as the party who receives compensation for their efforts. It is a typical occurrence in today's world, particularly in business partnerships. Wages and termination of employment are generally the source of sensitive issues in the form of disputes between employers and employees. Employees should not be injured, according to the theory, because employers and employees have equal standing under the law. Employess are obligated to seek protection since they rely substantially on their salaries to support their basic requirements and those of their families.

Liberation Theology: A Pragmatist Perspective

Liberation Theology: A Pragmatist Perspective

A Reflection on Joseph Smith's Restorationist Vision of Truth

A Reflection on Joseph Smith's Restorationist Vision of Truth

Biblical Theology

Biblical Theology David A. Bosworth, Christopher T. Begg, Thomas Hieke, Richard A. Taylor, Gerald A. Klingbeil, Todd R. Hanneken, Fred W. Guyette, Robert D. Miller II, Frederick E. Greenspahn, and Joseph E. Jensen David A. Bosworth Catholic University of America Christopher T. Begg Catholic University of America Thomas Hieke Johannes Gutenberg Universität Mainz Richard A. Taylor Dallas Theological Seminary Gerald A. Klingbeil Andrews University Todd R. Hanneken St. Mary's University, San Antonio TX Fred W. Guyette Erskine College and Seminary Robert D. Miller II Catholic University of America Frederick E. Greenspahn Florida Atlantic University Joseph E. Jensen Old Testament Abstracts 883. [Religious Violence] Hector Avalos, The Reality of Religious Violence: From Biblical to Modern Times (The Bible in the Modern World 72; Sheffield: Sheffield Phoenix, 2019). Pp. xiv + 499. $48.75. ISBN 978-1-910928-58-5. In twenty polemic chapters, A. argues that religious violence is a meaningful category of violence and that religion creates needless violence by creating scarce resources (sacred revelations, spaces, people). Religious claims invite counterclaims, which leads to violence. He aligns himself loosely with the "new atheism" and identifies theism as intrinsically unethical. He depicts academic biblical scholarship as complicit in religious violence and calls for academic study of the Bible to undermine biblical claims and bring an end both to biblical studies and religious violence. His book includes reference to the Qur'an and focuses on the Abrahamic religions, but A. does not think the evils of theism are limited to these faiths.—D.A.B. Google Scholar 884. [Incarnation in the Christian Bible] Reinhard Feldmeier and Hermann Spieckermann (Brian McNeil, tr.), God Becoming Human: Incarnation in the Christian Bible (Waco, TX: Baylor University Press, 2021). Pp. xix + 457. Paper $79.99. ISBN 976-1-4813-1354-4. The German original of this volume was published in 2018 under the title Menschwerdung. For an abstract of this German original, see OTA 42 (2019) #793.—C.T.B. Google Scholar 885. [Sexuality in the OT] Irmtraud Fischer, Liebe, Laster, Lust und Leiden. Sexualität im Alten Testament (Theologische Interventionen; Stuttgart: Kohlhammer, 2021). Pp. 176. €19. ISBN 978-3-17-037026-5. F. provides a basic overview of various aspects of human sexuality within the Hebrew Bible. An introductory chapter (I) addresses the language of and for sexuality. The next three chapters (II–IV) deal with sociocultural, anthropological, and pedagogical aspects of sexuality and marriage featured in OT literature (including incest laws, the Primeval History, and Wisdom literature). Chaps. V, VI, and VII reflect on texts about successful and failed sexual relationships, disorders, and irregularities (impotence, infertility, prostitution, etc.). Chap. VIII is dedicated to the aspect of joy in sexual encounters, while chap. IX analyzes the close interconnectedness of sexuality and violence. Finally, chap. X presents issues with the metaphorical use of sexuality for God and God's relationship to Israel (especially in prophetic literature). F. concludes that sexuality affects human life in all its dimensions (chap. XI). The book comes with an index of biblical references.—T.H. Google Scholar 886. [Genesis 2–3] Nathan S. French, A Theocentric Interpretation of : The Knowledge of Good and Evil as the Knowledge for Administering Reward and Punishment (FRLANT 283; Göttingen: Vandenhoeck & Ruprecht, 2021). Pp. 336. €99.99. ISBN 978-3-525-56499-8. This monograph is a revision of the author's doctoral dissertation completed in 2018 at the University of Aberdeen under the direction of Prof. Lena-Sofia Tiemeyer. It seeks to provide a fresh interpretation of the expression hdʿt ṭwb wrʿ ("the knowledge of good and evil") found in Gen 2:9, 17 (cf. 3:5, 22). The book has eight chapters. Chap. 1 provides a brief introduction to the research topic and summarizes F.'s main conclusions. Chap. 2 [End Page 311] traces the history of research on the meaning of the phrase "the knowledge of good and evil," noting certain methodological concerns and clarifying F.'s exegetical methodology. Chap. 3 surveys ANE backgrounds pertinent to the topic, analyzing the theme of divine retribution as an essential part of mšpṭ ("justice") in the Hebrew Bible...

Analisis Pemikiran Teologi Islam Rasional Sutan Takdir Alisjahbana Menuju Peradaban Modern

Humans as religious creatures will always hold their belief in One God. The belief in God is embedded in theological issues. Theology here is a theme related to divine issues, God's relationship with humans, nature and His attributes. Humans are gifted by Allah in the form of reason by which they are able to judge and cultivate what is good and what is right. In addition, with the potential of their intellect, they are also able to prove the existence of God's power and the existence of God in human life. Intellect here does not position it as the highest but is in line with revelation as the source of Islamic teachings. This theology is called rational theology. In rational theology the positions of reason and revelation are parallel. Reason as confirmation and revelation as information. An Indonesian cultural figure who puts his thoughts related to theology, namely Sutan Takdir Alisjahbana. He is of the view that humans with the potential of their intellect are able to compete with the outside world and are able to keep up with the times. However, it is not justified to abandon the values ​​contained in the Qur'an and Hadith. This rational theology of Sutan Takdir Alisjahbana assesses reason as being able to keep up with the times and so that Muslims do not experience setbacks. The setbacks that are happening now are due to those who do not want to be open to the Western world which has been advanced and is only static. Meanwhile, in the teachings of Islam, humans are required to use the potential of reason that has been granted by Allah SWT. This rational Islamic theology is very important for the development of Islam today because there are still human thoughts that are still static and closed to knowledge that comes from outside.

Divine Action, Determinism, and the Laws of Nature

Divine Action, Determinism, and the Laws of Nature

God’s Will as the Foundation of Morality: A Medieval Historical Perspective

Theological voluntarism places the foundation of morality in the will of God. The formulation of such a thesis warrants further refinement. Different formulations of theological voluntarism were put forward in medieval philosophical theology involving the relation of God’s will to the divine intellect (reason) in determining ethical status. The fourteenth century Franciscan Andrew of Neufchateau maintained a purely voluntaristic theory in which it is God’s will alone (and not the divine intellect) that determines ethical status. Subsequently Pierre d’Ailly worked with a divine will which is identical with the divine intellect in a strong sense while still maintaining that it is properly assigned to the divine will to be an obligatory law. Later, Jean Gerson, a student of Pierre d’Ailly, spoke explicitly of God’s will and reason together as involved in God’s activity in the ethical realm. In this paper, we set out these three different formulations of theological voluntarism, tracing the evolution of medieval formulations of theological voluntarism. Although the paper is historical in nature, we conclude with some reflections on how contemporary philosophers and theologians interested in theological voluntarism might profit from study of this historical literature.

Ares and Other "Mothers' Sons" in Greek Mythology: A Structural Analysis

This paper, based on characters such as Hephaestus or Typhon, defines the Greek mythical category of the “mother's son.” It analyses the link between Ares and this type of character through the god's relationships with the female universe, and specifically with Hera, his mother, which help to determine the personality and attributes of the god of war, and his situation within the Olympian family. The similarities between Ares and the “mother's sons” makes it possible to study his mythological figure, explore the consequences of exclusively being “born of woman” or “born of man,” and finally, to consider the situation of the feminine and the masculine in Greek mythology.

Space: A History ed. by Andrew Janiak

Reviewed by: Space: A History ed. by Andrew Janiak Marius Stan Andrew Janiak, editor. Space: A History. Oxford Philosophical Concepts. Series editor, Christia Mercer. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2020. Pp. xiii + 351. Paper, $24.95. This is a book with a purpose: it aims to chronicle the life of a concept (space) from its birth in ancient Greece to its growth into centrality for early modern metaphysics, and its end with Kant, after whom classical space got displaced to a marginal position. The volume is commendable for its good balance of broad scope, depth of insight, and careful exposition. Its chapters impressively combine analytic sharpness with sensitivity to historical context and philological nuance. Moreover, the gender balance among contributors is admirably even. [End Page 343] Barbara Sattler lucidly teaches us how the Greeks juggled a number of related ideas (roughly corresponding to our notions of place, region, position, and interval) yet without arriving at a concept of space qua global carrier of metric structure. Marije Martijn gives a novel account of Proclus's elusive notions, imagination and intelligible matter. That greatly helps us see his enormous influence on posterity. He anticipated strikingly key parts in the space doctrines of Descartes, Newton, and Kant; and his kinematic foundations for geometry overlap much with the analogous views of Hobbes and Kant, who also thought that geometric figures are generated by the motion of points and lines. Medieval doctrines of place and void span some twelve centuries, and presenting them usefully in one chapter would be hopeless. Edith Dudley Sylla wisely restricts her focus to Nicole Oresme and his milieu, but her account teaches a broader lesson. As they grappled with Aristotle's physics, fourteenth-century figures produced doctrines that anticipate visibly the early moderns' absolutism and relationism; strikingly, medieval distinctions and heuristics formed the background to debates about space and place well into the Leibniz-Clarke correspondence. And yet, as Andrew Janiak points out in his chapter, from Plato to Suarez, the concept of space remained marginal; that began to change with Cartesian science. Experiments suggesting that vacua might exist; efforts to rethink the nature of geometry; and a new science of motion that (by the Law of Inertia) appealed to preferred directions in space—all these developments conspired to make space-concepts explanatorily fundamental, and central to theoretical philosophy: "thinkers such as Leibniz and Newton begin to treat space and its structure as worthy of philosophical analysis in a new way" (247). Before Einstein, cognitive access to space was by two channels: geometry and vision. The latter posed serious challenges. It required theorists to reconcile two things: a metaphysics of how material facts (about the size, shape, and distance of things) make cognitive contact with an immaterial mind; and an epistemology of the mysterious inferential processes whereby the mind passes from two-dimensional evidence (patterns on a screen-like retina) to knowledge of three-dimensional spatial relations. Many took these challenges on between Euclid and Berkeley; thus, explaining them well is far from easy. Gary Hatfield does it with admirable skill: he presents the very indispensable elements and key historical junctures in the long quest for a coherent theory of vision. Kant saw himself as the last early modern—the one who moved past difficult dilemmas by a third, better way. Michael Friedman's chapter vindicates that image. He gives a sharp reading of Kant's difficult thought that his doctrine of space fares better than Leibniz's or Newton's, and a quite novel account of God's relation to space (another early modern conundrum). Also difficult, though not for Friedman, was Kant's claim that space does not obtain for the things-in-themselves. This volume will make an excellent companion textbook to a number of courses, especially surveys of the major periods in the history of philosophy, and introductions to the philosophy of space and time. It has two other virtues beyond its pedagogical merits. First, by spanning two millennia of doctrines, it shows nicely how metaphysical reflection feeds off of sources as diverse as basic physics, natural theology, and the physiology of vision—which in turn gave epistemology a chance to reflect on how we reconcile such...

SOME ASPECTS OF THE CONTROVERSIAL NEXUS BETWEEN SCIENCE AND RELIGION

The present paper takes into consideration a few aspects related to the relation between the two disputed domains of knowledge: science and religion. After having pointed out the main eight warfare and nonwarfare models of interaction between science and religion, the study focuses on the motives of Eastern and Western Christianity breach, which resides on the very different attitude to Science and Nature. The main part of depicting the nexus between the two fields of research is focusing on the doctrine of creation, the one Christian theology truly revolutionized. The Christian Weltanschauung was so new in comparison with Greek cosmology that it had to raise new questions and make radical modifications, especially regarding the understanding of space and time. The Fathers of the Orthodox Church were happy to use the science and philosophy of their time in their theological thinking. However, they did not pursue a natural theology in the sense the term is often now understood based on scholastic theology. According to the Orthodox understanding, the intellect provides not knowledge about the creation but rather a direct apprehension or spiritual perception of the divine Logos (Word) incarnate in Christ, and of the inner essences or principles (logoi) of the cosmos components created by that Logos. The arguments of Orthodox Christian theology proof that the quantum universe was created out of nothing and that it is kept in existence only by God's relationship with creation through Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit. In relation to itself, the universe is reduced to nothing, because God is in Himself, while any other created thing is dependent upon Him, into an indissoluble connection with Him. According to creation theology, God gives the world its rational, intelligible structure as described by the laws of nature through the transcendent and eternal act of bringing the world into existence ex nihilo. As immanent creator, God also continues to create (creatio continua) and providentially direct processes and events towards their consummation in the eschaton. Overall, there is a poignant reason for keeping science and religion together once “science without religion is lame and religion without science is blind” (Einstein).

Relasi Manusia, Alam dan Tuhan Dalam Harmonisasi Semesta

<p>Humans and nature are two of the many symbols of the manifestation of God’s love for the universe He created. The form of God’s love for the universe is an indisputable reality because before God created humans, he also thought and understood the survival of human beings in the realm of life as a form of symbiotic relationship between human and natural.<br />All human needs have been fulfilled and provided by God through the supply of natural resources, and vice versa God is preparing humans to help maintain the balance of the universe, both physical, biological and socio-cultural elements.<br />The concept of Tri Hita Karana is the root of people’s happiness in Bali. As a philosophy of life for Balinese people who still exist in the community in Bali, it is also used as a model of happiness in other countries in the world. This concept is a very simple to be implemented in everyday life. Because Tri Hita Karana etymologically is derived from three syllables, Tri which means “three”, Hita means “happiness” and Karana which means “cause”. The three causes of happiness consist of Parahyangan, Palemahan and Pawongan.<br />The relation of God’s relationship with nature according to the Hindu perspective is God as a symbol of the bhuana agung and bhuana alit. God as a symbol of the bhuana agung (universe) is a manifestation of the contents of the universe while God as a symbol of the bhuana alit can be realized that God exists and lives in<br />every human being.</p>

Biblical Theology

Biblical Theology Gerald A. Klingbeil, Fred W. Guyette, John Thomas Willis, and David A. Bosworth 1635. [Pentateuch: P] Michael Emmendörffer, Gottesnähe: Zur Rede von der Präsenz JHWHs in der Priesterschrift und verwandten Texten (WMANT 155; Göttingen: Vandenhoeck & Ruprecht, 2019). Pp. x + 307. $75. ISBN 978-3-7887-3338-4. This is a revised version of E.'s Habilitationsschrift submitted in the summer of 2017 to the Augustana, the theological university of the Evangelical-Lutheran church in Bavaria. Its five chapters and three excursuses focus on God's nearness or presence in the P writings (Priesterschrift/Pg) as a response to the foundational human need of seeking to understand God's relationship to humanity in moments of crisis. Chaps. 1 and 2 focus on the discussion regarding the limits of the Priesterschrift, including also the questions of its textual unity, possible redactions, and theology. E. includes two excursuses here: excursus 1 reviews the idea of the near God from a comparative Mesopotamian and Egyptian [End Page 571] perspective, while excursus 2 discusses the question of whether Israel's religion was truly devoid of cult images. Based on some textual and archaeological data, E. is skeptical about the matter. Chap. 3 is the central part of the study; it discusses God's nearness in eight key texts considered as undoubtedly belonging to the Priesterschrift, i.e. Gen 1:1–2:3; 6:9–9:29; 17; Exod 6:2-8; 24:15–25:1; 29:43-46; 40:1, 2, 17, 33-38; and Lev 9:1-14. This chapter is followed by excursus 3, which reviews the role of high priest and priests in the Priestly writings in relation to the divine presence in Israel. Chap. 4 studies two prophetic conceptions of God's presence during the exile, i.e. Ezekiel and Isaiah 40–55. A concise summary and several indexes follow. E. concludes that for the Priestly authors, humanity, made in God's image, has the task of representing God as his cult image on earth. For these authors, the temple becomes an "image in the mind" as the tent sanctuary intersects with God's salvation history at Sinai, while Israel's relationship to the larger surrounding world should be understood in terms of the divine presence in that larger world (not just Israel) based on P's creation theology (see p. 238) 1636. [Gen 3:15; 3:21] Meik Gerhards, Protevangelium. Zur Frage der kanonischen Geltung des Alten Testaments und seiner christologischen Auslegung (SBS 237; Stuttgart: KBW, 2019). Pp. 208. Paper €28. ISBN 978-3-460-03374-0. G.'s study deals with the meaning and relevance of the "Old Testament" for the Church. He starts with fundamental reflections on the canonicity of the OT and its christo-logical interpretation, e.g., the relationship between the Church and Judaism and between the "Old Testament" and the "Hebrew Bible," as well as the difference between a Christian and a Jewish reading of the Hebrew Bible. Here, G. aims at a combination of modern, historical-critical scholarly exegesis with the "pre-critical" interpretation of the Bible in the early Church. Then G. focuses on Genesis 3 in search of a text that might function as a first biblical hint of Jesus Christ, the so-called "Protevangelium." Traditionally, Gen 3:15 is regarded as such a key text (Martin Luther and the Protestant Orthodoxy); however, G. questions this suggestion (following modern scholarship). Applying a typological interpretation, G. rather points to Gen 3:21 as a typos of the salvation in Jesus Christ. Belief in Christ brings the realization of the new way of life that Gen 3:21 hints at. In his conclusion, G. reflects on the unity of the Christian Bible as Holy Scripture with Jesus Christ at its center. 1637. [Canonical Reading] Mark S. Gignilliat, Reading Scripture Canonically: Theological Instincts for Old Testament Interpretation (Grand Rapids, MI: Baker, 2019). Pp. xvi + 125. Paper $21.95. ISBN 978-0-80010-4911-8. Question: What is the difference between canon and Scripture? Answer: It is possible to approach a "canon" as just a list of the books that are in the...

Ways to God

In this article, I explore how William Desmond recovers Thomas Aquinas's Five Ways by offering a new way for considering the relation of God to being. I do so in the context of Charles Taylor’s reflections on the immanent frame and the possibility of thinking towards God in the secular age. Desmond renews Aquinas proofs by seeing in them a hermeneutic openness to God. Considering each of Aquinas’s five ways through the lens of Desmond’s philosophy, I argue that each proof reveals God’s ways of being within being as a path to recovering an awareness of God’s presence in the world.