 
Book Reviews Evangelical Theology in Transition: Theologians in Dialogue with Donald Bloesch Elmer M. Colyer, ed. Reviewed by Robert P. Mills October 8, 1999 |
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The author of more than 30 books and nearly 300 articles, many expressing his concern for renewal in the church, Bloesch has been an influential voice in shaping evangelical theology as it has emerged in the second half of the twentieth century. His theological approach is described as "passionately yet irenically confessional and at the same time intellectually pietistic." The range of those contributing to this volume is impressive: from conservative Baptist Millard Erickson to Clark Pinnock, who pushes the liberal edge of the evangelical envelope and from the Church of Scotland's Thomas F. Torrance to Avery Dulles, one of this country's most respected Roman Catholic theologians. As its title suggests, Evangelical Theology in Transition is not an academic assessment of a theological relic but an active and stimulating engagement with the living and active Word of God, especially as that Word has been mediated through the work of Donald Bloesch. Models of 'unity in diversity' Of particular significance to Presbyterians at the present moment, this book is a model of "unity in diversity," a respectful theological dialogue undertaken within the framework of historic Christian faith and practice. The contributors are uniformly admiring of Bloesch's contribution to evangelical theology, yet they are simultaneously able to question and criticize aspects of his work. For example, in his essay on Bloesch's doctrine of God, Torrance (who has been invited by Presbyterians Pro-Life to speak at the 2000 General Assembly) observes that Bloesch, "unlike many mainline professional theologians today, has his eye on the relevance of theology for the mission of the gospel." He praises "the studied fidelity of Bloesch to the gospel" and approvingly notes that "Bloesch maintains against both mystical and scholastic theology that while we cannot reach God by ourselves, God himself comes to us, addressing us in his Word." Yet Torrance expresses concern with some of Bloesch's writings on the Trinity, at one point asking "Does he not here lean too much to the notion that the doctrine of the Trinity is the product of theological reasoning?" and at another observing "Here I could have wished that he had taken into account the fact that the very concept of 'person' originally derived from the doctrine of the Trinity." Torrance ends his essay with an appreciation for Bloesch's God the Almighty, calling it "a very powerful and welcome contribution to contemporary theology, and not least to evangelical theology, for it is more and more clear that a distorted conception of God lies behind the problems of many Christian people and churches today." Presbyterians looking for a model of theological dialogue would be hard pressed to find a better example than Avery Dulles' "Donald Bloesch on Revelation." Dulles, a Jesuit who has done significant work on this topic, notes the many places in which he and Bloesch are in almost complete agreement. Yet, as one would expect, Dulles also points to places where he finds Bloesch's understanding of the doctrine problematic. I found this essay the highlight of a highly profitable book. Building bridges In the book's final essay, Bloesch briefly responds to each writer. He is as unfailingly gracious as they have been, noting areas of agreement as well as responding gently to criticisms. Bloesch observes, "The goal of my writing and teaching has been to build bridges between various evangelical positions in the search for evangelical and catholic unity in the church today. This book is a modest step toward overcoming the barriers that continue to divide biblical Christians." To be sure, the theological chasms between Presbyterians stretch far wider than those dividing evangelicals. Nonetheless, Evangelical Theology in Transition could prove a useful resource not only for evangelical Presbyterians, but for all who wish to engage in substantive theological dialogue. |
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