Book Review: An Introduction to Torrance Theology

(ed.) Gerrit Scott Dawson, An Introduction to Torrance Theology: Discovering the Incarnate Saviour (T & T Clark, 2007), 179pp (with thanks to T & T Clark for review copy)

The Torrances - Thomas, James and to a lesser extent David - have played a huge part in British theology, especially during the 1960s-1990s. They represent the best of recent Reformed and Barthian theology. The testimony and influence of their theological vision will continue through the many students whom they taught and the many new readers of their books. Andrew Purves, in his chapter, notes there are now seminaries that offering courses in Torrance theology and recently the T.F. Torrance Theological Fellowship was started.  This book is another contribution to the interest in their theology and brings together essays on different aspects of their theology, with an emphasis, which can be found throughout their theology and as the subtitle suggests, on the centrality of christology.

As with an collection of essays there are some really excellent ones. In this collection, Elmer M. Colyer's chapter on Thomas Torrance's doctrine of the atonement is very good. Colyer is probably one of the leading interpreters of Torrance's theology and this is demonstrated in his evident knowledge of Torrance corpus. In this careful argued chapter, Colyer sets out Torrance's emphasis on the Christ as the incarnate saviour, who personally and ontologically embraces our humanity, and his criticism of much Western theology which he believed 'reject[ed] the idea that Christ assumed our sinful, alienated and fallen humanity' (39).   

Alan Torrance (James' son and himself an excellent theologian) writes a wonderful and personal chapter on the themes in his father's theology: covenant not contract, indicatives and imperatives, filial not legal, evangelical not legal repentance, Christ in our place, and ultimately our 'belonging to the Father as his beloved children' (116). James Torrance's emphasis on covenant over contract is so important (see his 1970 and 1973 SJT articles). Alan recalls his father's phrase 'The God of the Bible is a covenant God, not a contract God.' (105).   

Graham Redding writes an interesting chapter which critically discusses the alternative worship movement in the light of the emphasis in Torrance theology of the mediatorial role of Christ. He argues at one point that without a shared tradition and liturgy 'worship has been reduced to an act of the individual and collective self-expression, and the door is open for everyone to do what is right in their own eyes' (127).  The only downside to this chapter is it felt a little short, and it would be interesting to see a larger engagement with the expressions of worship found in alternative scene (Redding engages with Mike Riddell, Mark Pierson and Cathy Kirkpatrick's The Prodigal Project).

The Introduction demonstrates that Torrance theology can be seen as an extended and careful treatise on the doctrine of Christ, in the same way, that arguably Colin Gunton's theology can be seen as an extended and careful treatise on the doctrine of the triune God. It would have been great to see a bibliography (or even an anotated bibliograpy) at the end of their major works. My own knowledge of Torrance theology is limited in the main to James Torrance's Worship, Community and the Triune God of Grace (one of the best short theological works I know). This Introduction is a good encouragement to go and read more from the brothers. And its recent publication is a timely eulogy in wake of the news of Tom Torrance's death. 

 

Comments

[Jason Goroncy]

Thanks Andy for this review. I really enjoyed this book and wrote a review myself on it here: http://cruciality.wordpress.com/2007/10/02/an-introduction-to-torrance-theology-a-review/

BTW: Are you familiar with Colyer's 'How to Read T.F. Torrance: Understanding His Trinitarian & Scientific Theology'?

[andy goodliff]

Jason, I've read and enjoyed your review. In fact, it was the reason I asked for a copy. I've not read Colyer. I've not been able to find a copy in an Oxford library yet.