An Ocean Vast of Blessing: A Theology of Grace

by Steven D. Cone

Humans are made in the image of God, and authentically coming to be human means to become like him. This work pursues a robust and renewed theology of grace in conversation with the patristic traditions of Irenaeus, the Cappadocian Fathers, and Augustine, the medieval theology of Maximus and Aquinas, and such modern interlocutors as Soren Kierkegaard, Bernard Lonergan, John Milbank, and John Behr. It thereby regrounds our interpretation of Scripture in the wide tradition of the church. By doing so, it argues that Christ's incarnation, crucifixion, and resurrection form the only possible point of reference by which we can understand the universe, as God creates it and works in it to bring us into union with himself. Inviting us to see grace with new eyes, Cone gathers up numerous--and in many cases neglected--insights from the past, weaving them together with the work of more recent theologians to yield a theological vision that elucidates the purpose of our own lives, of human history, and of created reality in its entirety. For those seeking a robust understanding of the doctrine of grace, this thought-provoking, wide-ranging book will serve as a welcome guide. --J. Michael Stebbins, author of The Divine Initiative Steven D. Cone is Associate Professor of Theology and Chair of the Bible/Theology Field in the Undergraduate School at Lincoln Christian University.

Genres: Theology

254 pages, Paperback

First published July 9, 2014

Reviews

[David Mosley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cone delivers an excellent theology of grace by connecting the doctrine of grace to every aspect of our lived reality: Creation, Fall, Incarnation, Redemption, and Consummation. Utilizing primarily Bernard Lonergan, Søren Kierkegaard, Thomas Aquinas, Maximus the Confessor, and Irenaeus of Lyons (with occasional appearances by Calvin, Luther, Augustine and others), Cone seeks to show how grace is written into the very fabric of our reality; that God created in order to unite that creation to himself.

While there were a few instances where I found myself in slight disagreement with Cone (his almost complete unification of deification and salvation rather than seeing deification as the end for which we were created and salvation necessary only because we have sinned being the most blatant), I believe Cone's book is a great asset in coming to understand the doctrine of grace. Cone's book is largely ecumenical (as noted by his diverse sources, especially as he cites protestant thinkers such as Willard, Webber, Franklin, and Foster toward the end) and also largely catholic (that is respectful of the tradition and the importance of both the tradition and sacraments).

An Ocean Vast of Blessing is certainly written for non-specialists (this is, in fact, the point of the Kalos series in which it appears) and this is a good thing. It would serve well as a church discussion book, and possibly as a textbook for introductory courses in theology, particularly as it seeks to draw together the whole economy of salvation under the rubric of grace. I highly recommend this book.

[Shaun Brown · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cone's volume is an excellent overview of the doctrine of grace. Rather than simply portraying grace as that which covers our sin, Cone discusses sin by going through the narrative of Scripture: creation, anthropology, sin/the fall, human freedom, the cross of Christ, and salvation (by which he means both salvation as we experience it now and eschatology). Cone's dialogue partners include biblical writers, Irenaeus, Augustine, Maximus, Thomas Aquinas, Soren Kierkegaard, and Bernard Lonergan. I would highly recommend the book, which serves as a great stand alone book and beginning to the Kalos series.