Retrieving Eternal Generation

by Fred Sanders (Editor), Scott R. Swain (Editor)

Although the doctrine of eternal generation has been affirmed by theologians of nearly every ecclesiastical tradition since the fourth century, it has fallen on hard times among evangelical theologians since the nineteenth century. The doctrine has been a structural element in two larger doctrinal Christology and the Trinity. The neglect of the doctrine of eternal generation represents a great loss for constructive evangelical Trinitarian theology. Retrieving the doctrine of eternal generation for contemporary evangelical theology calls for a multifaceted approach. Retrieving Eternal Generation addresses (1) the hermeneutical logic and biblical bases of the doctrine of eternal generation; (2) key historical figures and moments in the development of the doctrine of eternal generation; and (3) the broad dogmatic significance of the doctrine of eternal generation for theology. The book addresses both the common modern objections to the doctrine of eternal generation and presents the productive import of the doctrine for twenty-first century evangelical theology. Contributors include Michael Allen, Lewis Ayres, D. A. Carson, Oliver Crisp, and more.

Genres: Theology, Christian

304 pages, Paperback

Published November 21, 2017

About the author

Fred Sanders is professor of theology at Biola University's Torrey Honors College.

Reviews

[Adam Thomas · Rating 3 out of 5]

"God’s begetting ought to have the tribute of our reverent silence." So said Gregory of Nazianzus. But if you're looking for an alternative to silence, you may enjoy this 304-page book. An excellent lineup of scholars aims to defend (or "retrieve") the historic doctrine of eternal generation, through biblical, historical, theological and philosophical discussion.

The first section, of biblical explorations, is probably the most helpful. This includes Don Carson offering an extended reflection on John 5:26, Charles Lee Irons outlining some of his case for the "traditional" understanding of μονογενής, and Madison Pierce discussing the "today" of the Son's begetting in Hebrews 1. I'm sure section 2 is helpful, but was of less interest for me. Part 3 contains the bewildering chapter by Mark Makin, who explains:

"Smiles essentially depend on mouths. Take Mona Lisa’s smile. Mona Lisa’s smile essentially depends on her mouth. The essence of Mona Lisa’s smile involves her mouth; her mouth is part of what it is to be her smile. In other words, her mouth is a constituent of an essential definition of Mona Lisa’s smile. To be Mona Lisa’s smile is to be her mouth with the corners turned upward. Mona Lisa’s smile, in this way, essentially depends on her mouth."

This book is best for people who already have some understanding of eternal generation and want to dig deeper, although I think it would have been helpful if things had been tied together a bit more, and if some sections had been less baffling. Perhaps there might even have been room for a bit more silence, as Gregory commends?

[Andy Dollahite · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 Stars. Mostly great. In isolation, I doubt any particular chapter would convince a skeptic of eternal generation, but the cumulative case in light of the historical testimony of the church makes this a very compelling apologetic. Part 1 is properly grouped as "Biblical Reasoning" (it's not strictly exegetical). Madison Pierce and Matt Emerson delivered solid chapters. There were some occasionaly puzzlers, including a few lines in D.A. Carson's contribution that seem to make room for ERAS/EFS/ESS. Part 2 covers historical witness. The chapter on Jonathan Edwards struck me as more an attack on his consistency than a "retrieval" of EG. Is there not a scholar who has a more charitable (?) interpretation of Edwards's views such that they hold together? Chad Van Dixhoorn came out swinging at contemporary colleagues and remained fiesty throughout his survey of post-Reformation perspectives. Part 3 discusses contemporary statements.

Overall, my favorite chapters were Michael Allen on EG after Barth and Mark Makin outlining philosophical models of EG, although the latter has potentially potent consequences for how we conceive of "Fatherhood."

[Heinrich DuBose-Schmitt · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book on a very specific and nuanced discussion on the doctrine of the Trinity. The book is divided into three sections: biblical reasoning, historical witnesses, and contemporary statements. I found the second section to be the weakest, but I learned a lot from the other two sections.

[Thomas Creedy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brilliant collection of essays. Sanders superb. Ayres v helpful. Carson typically excellent.

Not too technical to be unreadable, but in-depth enough to be useful.

A strong encouragement to read older books!

[Vincent Lemieux · Rating 4 out of 5]

I don’t really like reading multi authored books, because it’s more like reading a compilation of articles than one long developed thought. But still, this book is great and useful for someone desiring to go one step deeper into the subject.

[Andrew · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic book, and much needed at this point. Today, there is a great deal of theological confusion surrounding the Trinity, and a lot of it stems from a lack of understanding of eternal generation. Fred Sanders chapter is 🔥🔥. I recommend reading the last chapter (by Malone) first, it will help with the framework of the rest of the book.

[John · Rating 5 out of 5]

The doctrine of eternal generation has been affirmed by thinking Christians and theologians of nearly every ecclesiastical tradition since the fourth century. Eternal generation is a foundational component of two vital convictions of the Christian faith concerning Christology and the Trinity. Still, the doctrine of eternal generation has fallen upon difficult times among many evangelical theologians since the nineteenth century. The need for a retrieval is both immanent and timely in contemporary evangelicalism and few theological minds are more capable of facilitating a rescue mission than Fred Sanders and Scott R. Swain.

Retrieving Eternal Generation presents the multifaceted approach needed to establish the biblical necessity of the doctrine of eternal generation for contemporary evangelical theology. Retrieving Eternal Generation is separated into three parts: (1) Biblical Reasoning, (2) Historical Witnesses, and (3) Contemporary Statements. The contributors include D. A. Carson, Charles Lee Irons, R. Kendall Soulen, Michael Allen, and more. Following a brief introduction by Sanders and Swain, there are seven essays focused on building a biblical basis for the doctrine of eternal generation. In this section, the reader discovers three essays that explore aspects eternal generation in the Old Testament and four in the New Testament. The following five essays are historically motivated and trace the conviction of eternal generation from Origen to Karl Barth. The final segment has three theologically oriented essays that bridge the gap between the Bible and history to theological reflection. The volume closes with a number of indexes to help for further reference.

The importance of Retrieving Eternal Generation cannot be overstated. As Sanders and Swain articulate in the introduction, “it is not enough to say that the Son is God; we must see that he is God the Son, not just God in general. Sonship, or eternal generation, is what gives both form and content to the relation between the Father and the Son: the relation has the form of fromness and the content of filiality” (p. 17). The weight of this reality is demonstrated in the initial section of the book and then carried through with clarity into the subsequent sections. The initial section is also the highpoint in the book, in my opinion. Each essay in this initial section transmits its own importance. Nevertheless, the essay on John 5:26 as the interpretive crux of eternal generation by D. A. Carson and the essay on the “only begotten” in the Fourth Gospel by Charles Lee Irons are among the finest in the volume. The shortcomings of the volume are discovered in the variegated nature of the essays and the narrowness of content that occasionally overlooks a fuller portrait of the importance of the doctrine of eternal generation. This is trivial in contrast to the tremendous value the readers will find in Retrieving Eternal Generation.

Retrieving Eternal Generation edited by Fred Sanders and Scott R. Swain is a fascinating set of essays that is both immanent and timely in the context of contemporary evangelicalism. Eternal generation is an inseparable reality of the core convictions of the Christian faith. The thought of eternal generation somehow becoming divorced from the life and wellbeing of the identity of the Christian confession is unimaginable and Retrieving Eternal Generation is a clear example of the need that exists—a need for a doctrinal conviction that is rooted in the Christian Scriptures and expressed in the history of God’s people. If you’re looking for a book that will ignite your heart with a passion for biblical truth that matters, then Retrieving Eternal Generation comes highly recommended.

[E · Rating 4 out of 5]

Although held for nearly all of the history of Christian thought, the doctrine of the eternal generation of the Son has come under much attack these last one hundred years. The volume edited by Sanders and Swain seeks to reverse that trend. I already came in "on their side" so did not need to find the arguments convincing, although they mostly were (see especially Carson on John 5:26). One area in which I did need convincing was on the proper translation of monogenēs. This was traditionally translated "only begotten" (as in John 1 and John 3) but nearly all recent translations render it "only" or "one and only." However, deep spade work by Charles Lee Irons, among others, has shown that the older translation was probably right. That work is presented in one chapter of the book.

The exegetical chapters (aka Part 1) are the strength of the book. Even the one on Proverbs 8 (which I am still not convinced is a reference to the Son) was helpful as it assisted one's understanding of why the Fathers used that chapter to defend their doctrine. The chapters on historical theology were less strong (Van Dixhoorn's is quite dry; the one on Edwards is probably too harsh; etc.). The final three systematic chapters are also worth anyone's time; the last offers three separate yet rigorous paths for arriving at a doctrine of eternal generation. Incidentally, I was also pleased to see Brannon Ellis' published dissertation come up several times in the footnotes--that work offers a swim in deep yet satisfying waters.

Although some glibly reject eternal generation, thinking it somehow diminishes the Son or confuses the idea of the divine essence (which, remember, IS God rather than being some fourth part of the Trinity), this book goes a long way in support of the doctrine. After all, you don't want to have to confess the Nicene Creed with your fingers crossed, do you?

[Brian · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is a collection of thought-provoking reflections and studies related to the issue of the "eternal generation of the Son." Although the topic may not seem to be of immediate interest to many Christ-followers, the implications of "eternal generation" for understanding the relationship that exists (and has always existed) between the first person of the Trinity and the second person of the Trinity are huge. I found many of the essays/articles helpful; stirred me to think more deeply. I found some of the essays to be more "scholar-talk" which renders them relatively inaccessible to those who do not live in that world. The book addresses the topic from three vantage points: Biblical Reasoning, Historical Witnesses, and Contemporary Statements. I found D. A. Carson's essay (on John 5:26) and Charles Lee Irons chapter (on John's use of "only-begotten") in the Biblical Reasoning section both insightful and well-reasoned; they pushed me to think well about texts of Scripture. Keith Johnson's chapter on Augustine (in the Historical Witness section) stirred some great thinking in me, wrestling with Augustine's profound theological reflections. Christina Larsen's historical essay on Edwards was also grounds for fruitful reflection as she unpacked the seeming disparate views within Edwards own writings about how to conceive of eternal generation. Fred Sanders article (in the Contemporary Statements) on the relationship between the doctrine of eternal generation and the doctrine of salvation was a solid reflection on the implications of a robust Trinitarian understanding of our salvation that coheres with a Biblical understanding of eternal generation.

[Mitchell Traver · Rating 5 out of 5]

You know an academic book in the discipline of Trinitarian dogmatics is substantial when it simultaneously elicits wonder and worship. There is much that we are able to know about the Lord, and this simply because He has graciously decided to speak to us through His Word. And yet, we know the Lord only analogically - creatures are “like” God, but God is not like creatures. The doctrine of eternal generation is especially open to the temptation of seeking to peer beyond the veil into eternal mysteries that we simply don’t have access to as finite human beings. It’s also remarkably ancient, ecumenical, exegetically grounded and wildly helpful in articulating the significance of redemptive history and the eschatological hope awaiting the redeemed. If there sounds to be a fine balance evident in this description of the work at hand, there is one and “Retrieving Eternal Generation” fairs quite well. Some chapters were better than others for various reasons, but the best were too wonderful not to give this one five stars.

[Nicholas Campbell · Rating 4 out of 5]

In general this is an fairly solid compilation of works on the subject of eternal generation. I have a few complaints, such as some of the author’s seemingly conflicting ideas on different points. The standout chapter for me was Charles Lee Iron’s on “A lexical defense of..Only Begotten.” Not only was it a great case, but it showed how modern translations unintentionally prove his point or cause issue by ignoring the implication of monogenes. It’s difficult to unsee some of the flaws he pointed out. That said, I wish Charles, or another, would have dedicated a chapter on addressing Kevin Gile’s position regarding patristic use of monogenes. While it’s mentioned in Iron’s chapter, it’s done so in passing while Gile’s dedicates a good chunk of time for his argument.

Overall the book is more academic in his nature and presupposes knowledge to various degrees in its articles.

[John Brackbill · Rating 3 out of 5]

If you are working through the question of eternal regeneration, this is a helpful book though each chapter stands on its own and varies in quality with different authors.

I read this book looking for more exegetical arguments for the doctrine and I found them. Not all persuasive, but all helpful in working through the question. I found chapter five and Carson's treatment of the question most helpful.

These are deep waters. Depending on how much you have waded into them before will determine how helpful this book is for you. I wouldn't start here. The hardest chapters were those dealing with historical expressions of the doctrine through various theologians.

[Matthew McConnell · Rating 4 out of 5]

Helpful biblical, historical, and theological synthesis of the doctrine of the eternal generation of the Son. It can be quite technical at points and may not be the best introductory work on the topic, but will likely be helpful to someone with a theological background wanting to gain a better understanding of the doctrine and why it matters.

I am grateful to be able to confess, with the saints before us and with the authors of this work, that we believe “in one Lord, Jesus Christ, the only-begotten Son of God, who was begotten of the Father before all ages, light from light, true God from true God, begotten, not made, of the same essence as the Father.”

[Zach Barnhart · Rating 5 out of 5]

Anyone who wants to understand the pro-Nicene position on the Trinity should look no further. This volume is a perfect introductory, yet robust exploration of the doctrine of eternal generation, and firmly, why it is more than a “neither-here-nor-there” doctrine. This collection of essays is very compelling and engaging theological study. It is grounded in Scripture, informed by the witness of the Church, and carefully written for a wide audience. Some of my favorite essays were Matt Emerson’s on Proverbs 8, Keith Johnson’s on Augustine, and Fred Sanders on Soteriology. A great resource!

[Derrick Kenyon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent contribution to the conversation around eternal generation. As made clear by the title, the focus of this book is on retrieval rather than on exegesis. In light of that, it won’t answer all of your questions but it will orient you to the doctrine of eternal generation in historical, philosophical, and theological perspective. Also, as is common with essay books, there was a lack of coherence at times and much repetition. Regardless, I enjoyed the book and would recommend to those interested in digging deeper into eternal generation and gaining clarity on the errors of EFS/ERAS.

[Richard Lawrence · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very helpful book against recent modifications and rejections of Eternal Generation. Stand fast to the historic truths of the faith.... because they are true and good.

Excellent but also time bound - as an introductory response to recent debates I doubt this book will last through the generations - but for the time being it is of great worth. Longer more detailed accounts of eternal generation in a modern context written after this should be strengthen by it.

[Matthew Richey · Rating 4 out of 5]

This has given me a lot to think about and given me some reason to reconsider some of my understanding of the Trinity. As with any anthology, not all of the chapters were of equal value, but the chapters by Swain, Carson, and Irons were excellent and make the book worth buying.

[Steve · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fine attempt to recover a doctrine hat has fallen on hard times. This is a solid series of chapters : exegetical, theological, philosophical and practical.

[Lucas Bradburn · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an excellent book on a very worthwhile topic. The chapters by Lee Irons and D.A. Carson are worth the price of the book.

[Jonathan Hatt · Rating 4 out of 5]

There some not-so great article in here, but Irons, Ayres, Van Dixhoorn, and Malone make it extremely helpful.

[Samuel Bierig · Rating 4 out of 5]

really important

[Emanuel Elizondo · Rating 5 out of 5]

Eternal generation is a doctrine forgotten by Evangelicals. This book provides a great historical, grammatical, and theological defense of this beautiful Nicene doctrine.

[Ronni Kurtz · Rating 4 out of 5]

Reviewed for Midwestern Journal of Theology.

[Steve Stanley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Review:
http://wyattgraham.com/review-of-retr...

Interview:
https://www.booksataglance.com/author...
(Related: Matthew Barrett interviews Fred Sanders on "What is Eternal Generation": https://credomag.com/2018/06/what-is-...)

Related: Keith Johnson’s article at TGC on EG: https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/ar...

[Kevin Gray · Rating 4 out of 5]

The highlights of this book were certainly the chapters written by the book’s editors, Swain and Sanders. Throughout, however, were many helpful insights and explications of the Son’s eternal generation by the Father. They argue persuasively—biblically, historically, and dogmatically/philosophically—that the Son is eternally generated without sacrificing His perfection of aseity. While these doctrines (Trinitarianism, eternal generation, etc.) are heady and ineffable, they are glorious. May this knowledge gained lead to worship and love for our triune God!

[Cbarrett · Rating 4 out of 5]

Important volume.

All chapters were worthy, I found the following noteworthy:
Chapter 1: The Radiance of the Father's Glory by Scott Swain
Chapter 3: Eternal Generation and the Old Testament by Mark Gignilliat
Chapter 4: John 5:25: Crux Interpretum for Eternal Generation by D. A. Carson
Chapter 14: Eternal Generation and Soteriology by Fred Sanders

[Tim Hazelbaker · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very helpful.

[Jacob O'connor · Rating 4 out of 5]

This idea came up in Sunday School class a few weeks ago. I'd never given it much thought. After reading this collection of essays, I still need to give it thought. I have a better understanding of eternal generation. I see the Scripture proofs, I'm just not sure I'm buying. In the aforementioned class, I expressed my discomfort. How can the Father, Son, and Spirit be the same substance if the Spirit "eternally proceeds" from the Father? I'll bookmark the topic until I've given it more thought.


Notes:

1) Book jumps right in. Assumes you're familiar with the concepts and terms.

2) Doctrine of Eternal Generation is derived from the names of God (27)

3) Three levels of Interpretation:
(a) exegesis
(b) interrelated texts
(c) (unclear) a meta-philosophical look at the text (27)


4) What is eternal generation? The Father is unbegotten. Son is eternally begotten. Spirit proceeds from the Father and Son (41)

5) Major starting point is taking Proverbs 8 to be about Jesus. (50) Have to admit, I'm a little uncomfortable

6) Good point. If we're uncomfortable with proverbs 8 calling Jesus created, are we good with it calling wisdom created? As if there was a time when God wasn’t wise (51)

7) I agree with the authors that Scripture clearly teaches Jesus is in some way subordinate to the Father (80)

8) Much ink on the meaning of "only begotten" (101)

9) The Father is the "source and cause" of the Son (106)

10) Argues, "today I have begotten you" from Hebrews 1 is an eternal begotten. Points to Hebrews 13:8 as precedent. The "today" is clearly more than one singular day (122)

11) "'You are my son; today I have begotten you' is not just a claim about Jesus reaching and exalted status. It is a declaration of his eternal relationship with the father that is always in effect" (124)

12) Augustine held to Eternal generation (158)

13) "The father begat the son timelessly in such a way that the life which the father gave the Sun by be getting him is co Eternal with the life of the father who gave it" (159)

14) "John 5:26 represents an important scripture witness for Augustine to the Eternal begetting of the Son. This text teaches that while father and son both possess self-existent life, they possess it in different ways. The father possesses "life in himself" from no one while the son possesses "life in himself" eternally from the father" (169)

15) "That Jonathan Edwards held to a doctrine of Eternal generation is without question" (206)

16) Essay by my college professor! (225) Michael Allen

17) Mark Makin's essay is worth the price of the book. He deals with the philosophical objections. For instance, when I was first presented with this idea, I objected because the father and son are the same substance. How could this be on Eternal generation? Makin's response is worth working through, even if I'm not sure I'm convinced
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