"This work addresses a pivotal and controversial area lying at the heart of T. F. Torrance's Christology. Namely, that Jesus Christ assumed fallen and sinful humanity and, living out a sinless life from within our alienated state, healed our human nature. This is a claim that is conceptually basic to Torrance's integration of incarnation and atonement, and thus to his soteriology as a whole. It's pervasive nature and its significance within the overall structure of Torrance's thought is thoroughly and sympathetically set forth. Christ's assumption of sinful flesh is seen to lie underneath a number of disputed areas in Torrance's thought such as the role, or lack thereof, of human responsibility, and the question of universalism. This work not only illuminates, but rigorously examines the claim that ""the unassumed is the unhealed."""

This work addresses a pivotal and controversial area lying at the heart of T. F. Torrance's Christology. Namely, that Jesus Christ assumed fallen and sinful humanity and, living out a sinless life from within our alienated state, healed our human nature. This is a claim that is conceptually basic to Torrance's integration of incarnation and atonement, and thus to his soteriology as a whole. It's pervasive nature and its significance within the overall structure of Torrance's thought is thoroughly and sympathetically set forth. Christ's assumption of sinful flesh is seen to lie underneath a number of disputed areas in Torrance's thought such as the role, or lack thereof, of human responsibility, and the question of universalism. This work not only illuminates, but rigorously examines the claim that "the unassumed is the unhealed."

This thesis examines and critiques the doctrine that Christ assumes our fallen humanity as explicated in the theology of T.F. Torrance. This is done by expounding the theological structures of Torrance's Christology. In addition to analysis of dogmatic concepts, it examines the narrative of Israel's history and the life of Christ up to, and including, the cross as expounded by Torrance. This dogmatic-narrative approach allows us to see, with greater depth and clarity, precisely how Christ's assumption of our fallen humanity works itself out across the whole of Torrance's Christology. The thesis demonstrates, first, that the assumption of fallen human nature is a pervasive and determinative facet of Torrance's Christology, and indeed, for much of his theology. It is either coupled with, or conceptually behind, a number of debated areas in Torrance scholarship. Second, it demonstrates that, on numerous fronts, Torrance has not made the concept fully intelligible. Primarily, through an examination of the human will of Christ, we show that the humanity which he assumed is in an incoherent state, both throughout his historical life and at the cross. Third, and deeply related, by examining the anhypostasia-enhypostasia couplet, we demonstrate that there is a "split" in the assumption of our fallen flesh in Torrance. This, we contend, is a direct result of Torrance's affirmation that Christ assumes fallen humanity. This "split" entails an additional split in the way the hypostatic union works within the incarnate mediator and the way it works in its interaction with others. We conclude that Torrance has presented us with a virtual dogmatics of concept that "the unassumed is the unhealed," yet one which has not sufficiently clarified that status of the humanity of Christ prior to the resurrection.

This landmark volume, the first of two, assesses the prospects and promise of Lutheran theology at the opening of a new millennium. From four continents, the thirty noted and respected contributors not only gauge how such classic themes as grace, the cross, and justification wear today but also look to key issues of ecumenism, social justice, global religious life, and the impact of contemporary science on Christian belief.

This book demonstrates the promise of Christology for developing Scottish theologian T. F. Torrance’s theological anthropology. T. F. Torrance’s Christological Anthropology: Discerning Humanity in Christ engages with several key themes in Torrance’s theological anthropology and considers how each one of these topics—anthropological method, the metaphysics of human nature, the imago Dei, personhood, vocation, human destiny—can be further developed in light of Christ. Christopher Woznicki argues that Christology not only holds promise for the task of developing Torrance’s insights on humanity but also for developing a constructive account of humanity. The volume is valuable reading for scholars of T. F. Torrance’s theology and for those who are interested in the role of Christology in theological anthropology.

Inter-Christian Philosophical Dialogues offers a unique approach to the philosophical exploration of Christianity. Five leading Christian philosophers of religion are brought together to engage in a spirited dialogue, debating and discussing the merits and demerits of the diverse ideas, doctrines and practices found in the Christian tradition. Participants in this dialogue represent and defend the following traditions or movements within Christianity: ‘Naturalist’ Christian theism Ecological Christianity Catholic Christianity (Reformed) Protestantism Orthodox Christianity. This set of volumes uncovers the rich and diverse cognitive and experiential dimensions of religious belief and practice, pushing the field of philosophy of religion in bold new directions.

First published in 1979.

How does one deal with doubt? Are faith and doubt irreconcilable? Does one's understanding of God affect the answers to these questions? Christian Kettler investigates these questions from a christological perspective, drawing implications from the Scottish theologian T. F. Torrance and his doctrine of "the vicarious humanity of Christ." If we take the humanity of Christ seriously, should we not speak of the faith of Jesus as a vicarious faith, believing for us and in our place when it is difficult if not impossible to believe? How Christians know God ("Jesus Knows God for Us and in Our Place"), who God is ("Who is the God Whom Jesus Knows?"), and how to believe in God in a world of suffering and evil ("Providence, Evil, Suffering, and the God Who Believes") receive new insight in light of this christological exploration. Wendell Berry's poignant novel of a humble country barber, 'Jayber Crow,' adds an incarnational context to a discussion with important pastoral and existential dimensions. In the vicarious faith of Christ we are not left, as James Torrance cautions us, to be thrown back upon ourselves, but called to participate by the Spirit in the faith of Jesus.

This is a book for everybody who may be interested in health and happiness in his life here on earth, and in salvation in heaven in the next life. It will be of particular interest to all those involved in the healing ministry in any way. It is aimed especially at those who may be unaware of the very existence of such a ministry, or those who may be somewhat sceptical about it. It is also for all those people in need of physical and mental healing, and who have little or no idea of the important role that the spirit has to play in the healing of the whole person. The book traces the history of the healing ministry in the Church, beginning with Jesus Christ and the apostle. It traces the development of the healing ministry in the early Church, and how this ministry and the sacrament of anointing of the sick gradually became identified with death and dying, and as a result almost died out as a sacrament for those who were sick. It deals with the revival of the healing ministry in modern times, and examines the thorough reformation of the Sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick inaugurated by Vatican II. The author discusses some of the reasons why the healing ministry has not been given the priority it deserves in the pastoral ministry of the Church, and some of the many misunderstandings about this ministry. Finally he discusses how it may be profitable be more fully used in a world that is badly in need of healing.

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.