Great Is the Lord: Theology for the Praise of God

by Ron Highfield

In keeping with the classic Christian tradition,  Great Is the Lord  sets out the doctrine of God in a way that illumines the mind, moves the heart, and stirs the soul to praise the triune God. Ron Highfield introduces students, ministers, and others to the “traditional” doctrine of God held by the majority of the church from the second to the twentieth God is triune, loving, merciful, gracious, patient, wise, one, simple, omnipotent, omniscient, eternal, omnipresent, immutable, impassible, and glorious.

Irenically challenging open theism and process theology, Highfield shows that the classical doctrine of God actually preserves our confidence in God's love and his liberating action better than its opponents do. This traditional doctrine, Highfield argues, grounds our dignity and freedom in the center of reality, the trinitarian life of God. Highfield's work maintains the highest intellectual standards throughout even as it offers a true theology for the praise of God.
 

Genres: Theology

487 pages, Paperback

First published August 15, 2008

About the author

I am Professor of Religion at Pepperdine University, Malibu, CA. I teach classes in Christian theology and Christianity and Culture. I write short, popular essays on theological topics on my blog ifaqtheology.wordpress.com (infrequently asked questions in theology). I enjoy running and hiking. And though my thought lies on the opposite end of the spectrum from pantheist Benedict Spinoza we may have one quality in common. Novalis, the German romantic poet called Spinoza “der Gottbetrunkene Mensch,” that is, “the God-intoxicated man.” If you read any of my books you will pick up on this passion (obsession) for God and my passion for others to become as passionate as I am about God. I love teaching, and I view my books as a way to extend my reach as a teacher.

Reviews

[Ethan Adkins · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is without a doubt the best introduction to Christian Theology that I have ever read. The struggle with any introductory text book is to explain things in a way almost anyone can understand while holding the substance of what the author is speaking about. Highfield is masterful at showing how the Classical Doctrine of God is deeply rooted in the Scriptures and Church Tradition while also applying the doctrine of God to life. This book has almost become a devotional for me.

[Wayne · Rating 4 out of 5]

I didn't quite finish all of this book. I had a good majority of it assigned for one of my classes, and that's what I read. I really enjoyed it overall, and there were a few sections in particular that were fantastic. It's a little technical at times so you really have to pay attention and think as you read it. Not a light read at all, but overall it is a good one.

[Theodore Zachariades · Rating 4 out of 5]

An almost perfect theology if it wasn't for the author's implicit commitment to universalism. Although he does not have a chapter entitled, "universalism: God saves us all," he could well have had. It comes through in to many places. Despite this glaring flaw, I enjoyed this book immensely as it is in a vein that seeks to restore the majesty of God in a day when man is at the center once more. You get a sense of an accomplished theologian presenting the Bible, historical insight and sane synthesis in the emerging sections. Indeed, Great is the Lord.