What do you think?
Rate this book
The Word of Life: Systematic Theology: Volume Two
A leading American Protestant theologian addresses important Christological concerns in this sequel to The Living God --second volume in a three-volume systematic theology.
608 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1989
2 people are currently reading
72 people want to read
About the author
Thomas C. Oden
159 books78 followersThomas C. Oden was Henry Anson Buttz Professor of Theology and Ethics at Drew University in New Jersey from 1980 until his retirement in 2004. He remained faculty emeritus until his death. He was the general editor of the Ancient Christian Commentary on Scripture and the Ancient Christian Doctrine series as well as the author of Classic Christianity, a revision of his three-volume systematic theology.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
October 31, 2015
This was part two of Oden's three volume work which is spliced neatly using the classical trinitarian formulæ, viz., Father, Son, Spirit that grew out of the Baptismal creed. This second volume offers Oden's ecumenical. systematic approach to Christ, as he is Λογπς ασαρκος, but also spends a nice portion on Jesus earthly ministry—an area that is conspicuously untreated in many systematics which are wont to jump strait to the death of Christ, and the significance/efficacy thereof, etc.
I was surprised and quite pleased with how much Oden referenced Calvin as the predominant, catholic, ecumenical concensus on various issuds, especially in the last section concerning Christs resurrection and rule. This, I believe, bears witness to Calvin's truly catholic spirit and genius as a theologian all protestants can count on, whether one is Reformed, Wesleyan, or Baptist. As always, Oden's treatment is steeped in the Fathers, and that alone makes this book, which could be read independently of the former and latter as a Christology text in itself, truly a delight to read.
Looking forward to the last volume.
I was surprised and quite pleased with how much Oden referenced Calvin as the predominant, catholic, ecumenical concensus on various issuds, especially in the last section concerning Christs resurrection and rule. This, I believe, bears witness to Calvin's truly catholic spirit and genius as a theologian all protestants can count on, whether one is Reformed, Wesleyan, or Baptist. As always, Oden's treatment is steeped in the Fathers, and that alone makes this book, which could be read independently of the former and latter as a Christology text in itself, truly a delight to read.
Looking forward to the last volume.
August 10, 2022
I just finished "The Word of Life: Systematic Theology, Volume Two," by Thomas C. Oden, 1989.
As previously alluded to Oden wrote in Trinitarian form somewhat where V1 is on the Triune God, Son, and Spirit, V2 the Word, the Son, the Messiah, and V3, the Spirit, the Paraclete, the comforter. This format is further broken down to reflect the Apostles Creed in the economy of the Persons of God and their work.
High spots as I go:
Beginning Oden says that before we get to "is He divine" we still can't get away from Jesus of Nazareth being a person we must study because of the change to an untold number of lives beginning with Him. Or even if from naturalistic presuppositions one must study Him. He coerced no one. And likewise His followers should emulate this.
Oden says that Jesus Himself--where the person and work of Christ meet--is the Gospel; He is the Good news. I believe evangelicalisms push for having an elevator pitch that ended up being no more than "Christ dies for your sins" has totally truncated the Good News. The person can't be removed from the work nor the work from the person, and the work has to include the teachings.
When getting into the question of method Oden says that one can't speak of the work of Christ without speaking of the person and one can't speak of the person without speaking of His work. These two are tied so tightly together. A comparison would be His being fully divine and fully human: which is most important; which should lead? Jesus Christ becomes known in His saving work, but only the work of Very God can save. This is the beautiful Theantropic (God-Man) tension that we can rest in.
I'm not writing much specific. Sorry. I'm 75 pp in and Oden is covering LOGOS Christology and is now moving into Kenosis. I will say this: He is very clear, crystal clear. He speaks to what the down-the-road implications of denying the preexistance of the Son is. Why one has to do damage to the flow of scripture to affirm adoptionism. Thats just a couple of vague points. His dedication to the Patristics allows him the insight to see how denial of the preexistance of the Son, for instance, shows back up today. The whole playbook has already been written.
To be honest, I began reading theology mainly for the Trinity and Christology (they are quite entwined) and I wish I would have began with this book. For instance here is a very clear statement that my thoughts conformed to over my life but I've never read anyone just write it: "Without suffering change the very person of the word (LOGOS) became person of the body...., p 113 (quoting Damascene). Though this has to be open to Kenosis or Jesus is disingenuous.
Another interesting point has to do with modern feminine theology. Did God prefer males since the Son is incarnated as male? Oden says no. This is why we need to revisit honoring the Virgin because God's plan cut man out of the incarnation so that a male could be born.
Chapter 6 on the hypostatic union is truly one I have been looking for for quiet some time. I disagree with Oden in places but his work on Christology and specifically the union here is a gem. And his pulling from the Patristics keeps one grounded in the original reasoning or Christo-logic behind a conclusion.
Here is one thing that truly sets this volume apart from others: as a Christology it deals with the person of Christ and the work of Christ but sandwiched in there before (or alongside) the work of Christ are the teachings of Christ--not a ton; not indepth. If we call Him Lord for his "work" proper and ignore His being the new Moses, dropping a new ethic then we have cheapened the totality of the work Christ. It is like one wants a salvific one night stand "to be safe" with no Allegiance as a changed life.
Oden covers the atonement well. He offers satisfaction (with substitution), and Moral governmental as objective options, Moral influence as a subjective and Christus Victor as a dramatic option with the suggestion that one need not lean totally on one. I was glad to see Moral governmental get traction but would have also appreciated it if he had mentioned Recapitulation. Afterwards he moves directly into theodicy which is a proper place for it, alongside the Crucified God. Then he spends quite a few pages on the descent which I found surprising though happily. He follows this up with resurrection but not just Christ's but includes an eschatological aspect showing how He was the first and that an new era has begun which we will follow in.
#PatristicTheology #Wesleyan #ArminianTheology #Arminian #Theology #SystematicTheology #ThomasCOden #ThomasOden #Oden #Christology #Atonement #AtonementTheology #Incarnation #IncarnationalTheology
As previously alluded to Oden wrote in Trinitarian form somewhat where V1 is on the Triune God, Son, and Spirit, V2 the Word, the Son, the Messiah, and V3, the Spirit, the Paraclete, the comforter. This format is further broken down to reflect the Apostles Creed in the economy of the Persons of God and their work.
High spots as I go:
Beginning Oden says that before we get to "is He divine" we still can't get away from Jesus of Nazareth being a person we must study because of the change to an untold number of lives beginning with Him. Or even if from naturalistic presuppositions one must study Him. He coerced no one. And likewise His followers should emulate this.
Oden says that Jesus Himself--where the person and work of Christ meet--is the Gospel; He is the Good news. I believe evangelicalisms push for having an elevator pitch that ended up being no more than "Christ dies for your sins" has totally truncated the Good News. The person can't be removed from the work nor the work from the person, and the work has to include the teachings.
When getting into the question of method Oden says that one can't speak of the work of Christ without speaking of the person and one can't speak of the person without speaking of His work. These two are tied so tightly together. A comparison would be His being fully divine and fully human: which is most important; which should lead? Jesus Christ becomes known in His saving work, but only the work of Very God can save. This is the beautiful Theantropic (God-Man) tension that we can rest in.
I'm not writing much specific. Sorry. I'm 75 pp in and Oden is covering LOGOS Christology and is now moving into Kenosis. I will say this: He is very clear, crystal clear. He speaks to what the down-the-road implications of denying the preexistance of the Son is. Why one has to do damage to the flow of scripture to affirm adoptionism. Thats just a couple of vague points. His dedication to the Patristics allows him the insight to see how denial of the preexistance of the Son, for instance, shows back up today. The whole playbook has already been written.
To be honest, I began reading theology mainly for the Trinity and Christology (they are quite entwined) and I wish I would have began with this book. For instance here is a very clear statement that my thoughts conformed to over my life but I've never read anyone just write it: "Without suffering change the very person of the word (LOGOS) became person of the body...., p 113 (quoting Damascene). Though this has to be open to Kenosis or Jesus is disingenuous.
Another interesting point has to do with modern feminine theology. Did God prefer males since the Son is incarnated as male? Oden says no. This is why we need to revisit honoring the Virgin because God's plan cut man out of the incarnation so that a male could be born.
Chapter 6 on the hypostatic union is truly one I have been looking for for quiet some time. I disagree with Oden in places but his work on Christology and specifically the union here is a gem. And his pulling from the Patristics keeps one grounded in the original reasoning or Christo-logic behind a conclusion.
Here is one thing that truly sets this volume apart from others: as a Christology it deals with the person of Christ and the work of Christ but sandwiched in there before (or alongside) the work of Christ are the teachings of Christ--not a ton; not indepth. If we call Him Lord for his "work" proper and ignore His being the new Moses, dropping a new ethic then we have cheapened the totality of the work Christ. It is like one wants a salvific one night stand "to be safe" with no Allegiance as a changed life.
Oden covers the atonement well. He offers satisfaction (with substitution), and Moral governmental as objective options, Moral influence as a subjective and Christus Victor as a dramatic option with the suggestion that one need not lean totally on one. I was glad to see Moral governmental get traction but would have also appreciated it if he had mentioned Recapitulation. Afterwards he moves directly into theodicy which is a proper place for it, alongside the Crucified God. Then he spends quite a few pages on the descent which I found surprising though happily. He follows this up with resurrection but not just Christ's but includes an eschatological aspect showing how He was the first and that an new era has begun which we will follow in.
#PatristicTheology #Wesleyan #ArminianTheology #Arminian #Theology #SystematicTheology #ThomasCOden #ThomasOden #Oden #Christology #Atonement #AtonementTheology #Incarnation #IncarnationalTheology
February 10, 2020
Not a bad book but after having just read the ancient commentary series, it seems like an over-generalized summation of many of the teachings of the fathers.
October 16, 2014
If you think dogma is dull, this book will prove you wrong. All three books in the series show how vibrant theology can be. The Word of Life focuses on Christ, the Son. The Living God focuses on God, the Father. Life in the Spirit focuses on the Holy Spirit.
December 11, 2007
This one is for Basic Christian Doctrine. It's a pretty good resource to help you understand some of the core beliefs of Christianity.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews