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Divine Teaching: An Introduction to Christian Theology
This innovative work is an introduction to Christian theology with a difference. Not only does it interpret, with clarity and energy, fundamental Christian beliefs but it also shows how and why these beliefs arose, promoting an understanding of theological reflection that encourages readers to think theologically themselves. From Irenaeus and Aquinas to Girard, from Augustine to Zizioulas and contemporary feminist thought, Divine Teaching explores the ways in which major thinkers in the Christian tradition have shaped theology through the wide variety of their encounters with God. It makes theological study adventurous and interactive, not necessarily requiring a faith commitment from all, but allowing readers a thoughtful involvement in the subject that takes seriously the Christian vision of God as the ultimate teacher of theology. Divine An Introduction to Christian Theology is an imaginative and lively analysis of the Christian way of thinking, offering vivid and informing insight into the history and practice of Christian theology.
- GenresTheology
270 pages, Paperback
First published December 4, 2007
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
June 21, 2022
Overall, this is an okay introduction to theology. Thoughtful and interesting sections are strewn throughout, but the book felt weirdly truncated and terse. Though McIntosh tried to structure the whole book as a kind of exitus reditus, the arrangement comes off a bit ad hoc.
I love that the first part of the book is dedicated to describing what a theologian is. Rather than simply being a study of divine things, theology is "an expression of divine life at work recreating the world in the little laboratory of the Church" (12). For McIntosh, theology is about divine teaching and divine living, the dual responsibilities of theologians, taught by God Himself. Unfortunately, there's very little further reflection on the character of the theologian. What was a promising section turns mostly to other (important!) related matters, but nothing more about how/what theology does to the one who comes to share in God's own life.
McIntosh's very idiosyncratic decision to place salvation at the beginning of his theology section was odd, and, in my view, an important misstep. Moreover, his chapter on salvation was frustrating. I felt as if he failed to balance and tie together all of the scriptural metaphors used to describe Christ's work. He also consistently derided penal substitutionary atonement without interacting with Calvin or Owen, which was a bit disappointing.
Fortunately, the book ends strongly with an excellent chapter on creaturely life and an especially strong concluding section on the human calling in creation. According to McIntosh, theology trains us to see God's own delight in creation and calls us to share in His delight by living in ways that correspond to His loving intent for creation. Thus, theology is aimed at giving us a "new vision of the trinitarian generosity that grounds all creation" (226). Christians are not to be those who reduce creation (either other humans or the created order) to that which is useful or consumable. Instead, theology teaches us to see the beauty and dignity in everything around us. In turn, we're led back to God, so we can enjoy Him forever with one another.
I love that the first part of the book is dedicated to describing what a theologian is. Rather than simply being a study of divine things, theology is "an expression of divine life at work recreating the world in the little laboratory of the Church" (12). For McIntosh, theology is about divine teaching and divine living, the dual responsibilities of theologians, taught by God Himself. Unfortunately, there's very little further reflection on the character of the theologian. What was a promising section turns mostly to other (important!) related matters, but nothing more about how/what theology does to the one who comes to share in God's own life.
McIntosh's very idiosyncratic decision to place salvation at the beginning of his theology section was odd, and, in my view, an important misstep. Moreover, his chapter on salvation was frustrating. I felt as if he failed to balance and tie together all of the scriptural metaphors used to describe Christ's work. He also consistently derided penal substitutionary atonement without interacting with Calvin or Owen, which was a bit disappointing.
Fortunately, the book ends strongly with an excellent chapter on creaturely life and an especially strong concluding section on the human calling in creation. According to McIntosh, theology trains us to see God's own delight in creation and calls us to share in His delight by living in ways that correspond to His loving intent for creation. Thus, theology is aimed at giving us a "new vision of the trinitarian generosity that grounds all creation" (226). Christians are not to be those who reduce creation (either other humans or the created order) to that which is useful or consumable. Instead, theology teaches us to see the beauty and dignity in everything around us. In turn, we're led back to God, so we can enjoy Him forever with one another.
September 25, 2012
Definitely got me thinking about theology in ways I never have (i.e. as a student of theology), but it was not an easy read. Very, very good, though! Especially for someone looking to understand the uniquely Christian ideas of Trinity and Salvation from an historical perspective.
September 16, 2010
Redresses the serious dearth of quality introduction to theology texts. I highly recommend it for those teaching on the graduate school level.
June 10, 2014
Well written and engaging though gets very dence towards the end, but that might just be because of the subject matter.
Very steep learning curve.
Very steep learning curve.
March 28, 2025
“God is the best teacher of thinking about God.”
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews