1st Edition
T. F. Torrance’s Christological Anthropology Discerning Humanity in Christ
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.
Foreword by Oliver D. Crisp
Chapter One – Introduction: Approaching T. F. Torrance’s Theological Anthropology
Relevant Studies of Torrance’s Theological Anthropology
Method and Thesis
Outline of Subsequent Chapters
Discerning Humanity in Christ
Chapter Two – Method: Torrance’s Christological Anthropology and Christ’s Fallen Human Nature
Introduction
Christological Anthropology
Eschatological Christological Anthropologies
Protological Christological Anthropologies
Summary
T. F. Torrance and Christ’s Fallen Human Nature
Motivations for Adopting the Fallen Human Nature View
The Assumption and the Sanctification of Human Nature
Christ’s Life and the Sanctification of Human Nature
Torrance’s Christological Anthropology
A Puzzle Concerning the Movement from Christology to Anthropology
Coda
Conclusion
Chapter Three – Nature: The Metaphysics of Human Beings
Torrance on the Union of Natures and Atonement
At-one-ment: The Once and For All Union of God and Man
Summary
Torrance’s Use of Anhypostasis—Enhypostasis in his Doctrine of Atonement
Anhypostasis and Enhypostasis
Summary
What is Christ’s Human Nature? Three Options
The One and the Many: Torrance’s Metaphysics of Human Nature
The Particularist Option: Concrete Nature Christology and Abstract
Particular Nature Christology
Abstract Nature Christology
The One and the Many: Participation and Instantiation
Conclusion
Chapter Four – Image: The Relational, Dynamic, Ecstatic and Christological Imago Dei
Torrance’s Doctrine of the Image of God
Developing a Theology of the Imago Dei – Torrance’s Method
Creation – What did the Image of God Originally Consist in?
Fall – What has the Fall Done to the Image of God in Humans?
Redemption – Renewing the Image of God in Humanity
Summary
A Christological Puzzle Concerning the Imago Dei
Conclusion
Chapter Five – Personhood: Onto-Relational Christological Anthropology
The Ontology of Persons
Relational Ontology: The Trinitarian Theology of John Zizioulas
Persons and Onto-Relations: Torrance
Torrance vs. Zizioulas on Being Persons
Summary
Christ’s Role in Personalizing Human Beings
Biological and Ecclesial Personhood in Zizioulas
Christ the Personalizing Person
Critical Assessment
Conclusion
Chapter Six – Vocation: Called as Priests to Know and Care for Creation
Love and Order: Creation as Contingent and Rational
The Contingent Universe
The Rationally Ordered Universe
Love, Order, and Disorder
Summary
Contingence and Order in Natural Science
Summary
Priests of Creation
Discerning Order
Instituting Order
Rectifying Disorder
For the Glory of God
Coda – Biological Diversity
The Christological Basis for Acting as Priests of Creation
The Vicarious Priesthood of Christ
Epistemological Changes
The Defeat of Evil
Conclusion
Chapter Seven – Destiny: Christ’s Deification of Human Nature
Describing the Doctrine of Theosis
Theosis in Athanasius
Theosis in John Calvin
Summary
Features of T. F. Torrance’s Doctrine of Theosis
Theosis: An "Intimate Sharing of what is Divine"
Summary
Christ’s Deification of Human Nature
Objective Theosis and Human Nature
Subjective Theosis and Perichoresis
Conclusion
Chapter Eight – Conclusion: A Torrancian Christological Anthropology
The Strengths of Torrance’s Christological Anthropology
The Weaknesses of Torrance’s Christological Anthropology
Conclusion
Biography
Christopher G. Woznicki is an Affiliate Assistant Professor in Theology at Fuller Theological Seminary, USA. He has published various articles in theology and philosophy of religion. His research has appeared in journals such as Calvin Theological Journal, Journal of Reformed Theology, Neue Zeitschrift fur Systematische Theologie und Religionsphilosophie, and Philosophia Christi, among others. His research interests include the doctrine of atonement, theological anthropology, prayer, analytic theology, and the Reformed tradition.
"Torrance’s Christological anthropology is both traditional and unique at the same time and warrants close study, especially when it is brought into a constructive dialogue with contemporary concerns. Laying out the vista of Torrance’s anthropology, situating it within Christology, and extending it into analytic mode, this study goes beyond Torrance to answer the question as to where the trajectory of his thought may have taken him. This is the first full length comprehensive treatment of this aspect of Torrance’s work and is one that delivers on the promise this holds out for addressing a range of modern issues."
– Myk Habets, Laidlaw College, New Zealand
"Dr Woznicki’s book offers an inductive-cumulative argument for how T.F. Torrance’s anthropology can be developed Christologically. The result is an impressively thorough and creative study of Torrance’s corpus as well as a new approach to Christological anthropology. This is essential reading for any students of Torrance or researchers interested in Christological anthropology."
– Dr Joanna Leidenhag, University of Leeds, UK.
"This is a lucid engagement by an analytic theologian with the theology of T.F. Torrance. It will inspire readers to address metaphysical questions raised not only by Torrance but by the New Testament itself - exemplifying a commitment to pursue clarity and semantic hygiene in Christian doctrine where, too often, there is obfuscation."
– Alan Torrance, University of St. Andrews, UK
"Moving beyond vague claims about Jesus somehow revealing what it means to be human, Woznicki draws deeply from Torrance’s fascinating anthropology to offer a clear, generous, and valuable resource for exploring how a Christological anthropology can shed new light on human existence."
– Marc Cortez, Wheaton College and Graduate School, USA