The Beauty of the Lord: Theology as Aesthetics

by Jonathan King, Kevin J. Vanhoozer (Foreword)

Why is God's beauty often absent from our theology?

Rarely do theologians take up the theme of God's beauty--even more rarely do they consider how God's beauty should shape the task of theology itself. But the psalmist says that the heart of the believer's desire is to behold the beauty of the Lord.

In The Beauty of the Lord Jonathan King restores aesthetics as not merely a valid lens for theological reflection, but an essential one. Jesus, our incarnate Redeemer, displays the Triune God's beauty in his actions and person, from creation to final consummation. How can and should theology better reflect this unveiled beauty?

The Beauty of the Lord is a renewal of a truly aesthetic theology and a properly theological aesthetics.

Genres: Theology, Christian, Christianity, Nonfiction, Religion, Philosophy

335 pages, Paperback

Published May 30, 2018

Reviews

[Micah Johnson · Rating 4 out of 5]

A brief review is impossible, so here are three important passages that reveal the heart of the work:

The transcendentals of truth, goodness, and beauty in God's work of creation, redemption, and consummation are strongly correlated, I have argued, because these attributes--coordinate with God's knowledge, will, and beatitude--are communicable perfections of God's essential nature and thus are expressed inherently in all his outward works. These transcendentals are mutually reinforcing, for what is true and good is likewise beautiful in form and content, and vice versa. There is therefore perfect correlation and unity between all that is true, good, and beautiful.

Such an ending should bring a smile to our face, a smile that envisions being utterly content simply to bask in the smile of God's countenance upon us. Therein at last will be fully realized for all of God's sons and daughters the yearning of David's heart-to gaze upon the beauty of the Lord Jesus, the beauty of our Redeemer-King. [Ps. 27:4]

It is my conviction that beauty is as true a metaphysical reality in the spiritual realm as it is in the material realm, and the Scriptures corroborate this. As such, theological approaches to the subject of aesthetics should properly include interdisciplinary engagement of systematic theology and the domain of aesthetics. Moreover, theological aesthetics not only is an area of relatively untapped potential for evangelical dogmatics today, but its value extends to theologically enriching and informing Christian praxis and spiritual formation in their fullest expressions. In other words, to speak, act, and live in ways that bear witness to the truth, goodness, and beauty of Christ Jesus.

[Steve · Rating 4 out of 5]

Jonathan King has written a very thorough book on the theological aesthetics. It is solidly grounded in theology, scriptural exegesis and historical awareness. King is firmly grounded in a commitment to scriptural faithfulness, whilst at the same time showing a deep acquaintance with the historical discussion of the three transcendentals. King does not merely turn to the direct references to beauty in Scripture, but views the whole purpose and nature of God from the perspective of beauty as a divine attribute. This enables him to present full and rich discussions of the Cross and the shape of the historical plan of redemption.

The book progresses like this:

1. The Beauty of the Triune God.
King discusses whether beauty ought to be treated as a divine attribute and he makes a biblical case for including it. Substantial weight is given to the scriptural testimony concerning "glory", divine simplicity and then the doctrine of the Trinity. The handling of beauty is more than at the level of God's Being, but also the shape of the drama of the plan of salvation. The very form of that unfolding drama reveals and displays the beauty of the Lord.

2. Creation.
The creation narrative sets the frame for discussing beauty as integral to what God has made. From the Edenic sanctuary model, the "imago dei" and the unfolding of creation.

3. The Incarnation.
here we see Christ as the Image of God, the form of servant or slave, his revelation as the Son, as Israel and Last Adam. The Transfiguration is a window into his future resurrection glory.

4. The Cross has it's own discussion and the glory and beauty of the suffering Saviour is a theme on its own. The beauty of God is revealed in the retributive justice exacted upon Christ on the cross.
The unity and harmony of the body is a revelation of beauty and is bound by beauty.

5. Re-creation.
Each section points to a conversation partner and here it is naturally Jonathan Edwards. Beauty is conformity to Christ and His image in us and us as His image. The formation of the Bride and the glorification of the Church in the Son is the apex of God's glory-beauty-purpose.

This is a good solid introduction to a neglected doctrine.

[Samuel G. Parkison · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is a masterpiece. Virtually flawless. I will have a much more thorough review soon, but for now I’ll just make this prediction: this will probably be the best book I’ll read this year.

[Adelina DiGiacomo · Rating 4 out of 5]

glad this book exists. i appreciated the way beauty was considered primarily in terms of “fittingness” and the way in which the author explored the economy of redemption through that lens. a bit verbose at times but I think that’s understandable. Irenaeus, Edwards, Bavinck, Balthasar, Barth, Aquinas, and Anselm were his featured theologians.

[Scott Meadows · Rating 5 out of 5]

Michael Horton describes this book as “A feast for your soul” and I cannot agree with him more. Enclosed is a high Christology magnifying the glory and beauty of Jesus Christ through the Great Tradition.

[Andy · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a fascinating book, yet one that uses far more academic language than I'm used to reading. Once you get used to this, King opens up some amazing insights from Scripture.

[Jimmy Reagan · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book by Jonathan King is part of Lexham Press’s Studies in Historical and Systematic Theology series. It’s the first volume in the series that I’ve encountered and I was impressed. It’s described as a “peer-reviewed series of contemporary monographs” that cover a wide array of subjects. This volume on the beauty of the Lord sheds light on so many places for me. The advertising blurb on the back cover (“restores aesthetics as not merely a valid lens for theological reflection, but an essential one”) doesn’t really capture what this book has to offer. It’s not so much a book about aesthetics as much it is one that exalts the beauty of the Lord as an overarching pedestal to understand the big picture of God’s word.

The book is well-written, deeply researched, and successful at probing what has been believed. The author never fears to cogently argue his case either. If you’re like me, you may find him easy to agree with whether it’s a topic you’ve deeply studied in the past or not.

The introduction is successful in establishing the goals of this book. By the end of it, there’s a good synopsis of every chapter. The chapter on beauty Triune is especially helpful if you are like me and have not spent a lot of time on the subject before. You will see how this subject ties into the doctrine of God, including His attributes, as well as its connection to the Trinity. I’ve been studying the Trinity lately and found some good information here.

The next chapter approaches creation as beauty’s debut. There’s more excellent theology here, particularly as the glory of the image of God in humans is discussed. The chapter on the incarnation sees it as beauty condescending. Just like its subject, this book is beautiful as it discusses the cross as beauty redeeming. Our salvation comes into view in the chapter on re-creation as beauty’s dénouement. The conclusion ties all these wonderful aspects together and proves the author’s thesis of the importance of the beauty of the Lord and give something of a systematic theology with palpable aesthetic value. There’s a lengthy bibliography as well if you want to look into further study.

There are some quality theological works being written these days and this book is one of them. Mark it down as a great success!

I received this book free from the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.

[Rafael Salazar · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing read. By developing a theological aesthetic, King seeks to understand the whole of redemptive history and the fittingness of the incarnate Redeemer as the Trinitarian endeavor to put forth the beauty and glory of the Son. It is both heady and hearty, even moved me to worship. I mean to reread it sometime.

[Lukas Merrell · Rating 4 out of 5]

King has done an excellent and thorough job at making a case for a theological aesthetic. I finished this book feeling fully convinced that we have dropped the ball lately on including beauty as a fundamental discussion in our theology. What will it take for us to get back to giving all three of the transcendentals our full thought and attention?

I marked off a star because I think King may have actually been a little too thorough for my liking. This book could have been about 50-75 pages shorter in order to pack a more concise punch.

Overall, this book has opened me up to see God and his world through a whole new lens. King has sent me on a quest to read people like Edwards, Aquinas, and Balthasar on Divine beauty and I’m excited about this journey.

I will leave this quote as a summary of the wholistic spiritual life every believer should strive for:

“For it is the highest spiritual calibre in our sojourn with God to not only grow in sound knowledge of God and the revelation of his plan - that is, growing in TRUTH ; and not only to perform more faithfully and reflect in our lives the revelation of his ways and character - that is, growing in GOODNESS ; but equally vital, to delight increasingly in God for who he is and for making us partakers through the person and work of Christ of his eternal Triune life - that is, growing in BEAUTY.”

[Carissa Zwerg · Rating 4 out of 5]

I think I only understand 50% of the this book but the half I did understand was like pure gold

[Jacob Villa · Rating 5 out of 5]

I want to shake this man's hand.

[Mitch Bedzyk · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the best books I've read in 2018. Employing philosophy, systematics, exegesis, and historical theology, King provides a comprehensive treatment of the beauty of the triune God. Each chapter deals with different aspects of God's beauty, beginning with a discussion of the Trinity and the beauty of God ad intra, proceeding to God's beauty seen in his ad extra work of creation, incarnation, redemption, and consummation.

This book left me with a greater understanding and appreciation God's beauty in himself and creation as well as the "fittingness" of God the Son as our incarnate redeemer in the plan of redemption. His consideration of beauty as an attribute of the triune God is excellent. His exegetical analysis of Jesus as the last Adam, true Israel, and suffering (yet beautiful and glorious) servant is enlightening, particularly his discussion of Philippians 2 and Christ's beauty being displayed, rather than concealed, during his life.

Definitely not the easiest read for the average church member, but highly recommended nonetheless. For a more thorough (and actual) review of this excellent book check out Sam Parkinson's review in Credo Magazine: https://credomag.com/article/a-theoce...

[Eric Yap · Rating 5 out of 5]

Theologeek will enjoy it, though I wished there was a 4.5 stars rating available instead of an exact 4 or 5 stars review. Mainly because I think the definition or contours of theological aesthetics need to sharpen or more developed, and the book overall felt like slight awkward crossed between biblical and systematic theology, but the author did concede that his concept of "fittingness" as the axiom of theological aesthetics needed to be improved. I gave a 5 stars review finally because it was an enjoyable read and the author did manage to achieve what he sets out to do - paved the way ahead for a largely underdeveloped discipline of theological aesthetics, and Lexham Press' cover design for this series is the bomb.

[Scott Bielinski · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lexham's Studies in Historical & Systematic Theology series continues to astound me.

King's book is excellent. Rightly recognizing the dearth of recent theological reflection on beauty, he writes that the "intent of this work is to explore and develop a theology of beauty based on God's plan in Christ" (1). Whereas some may feel that this "lack" in the literature may indicate a lack of conceptual resources in Scripture, King says that this "lacuna that exists requires a recovery of and reinvigorated attention to theological aesthetics, but it does not require a methodological 'turn' as such. What is advocated, however, is that the locus of beauty and the subject of theological aesthetics be given wider recognition and inclusion in the work and pedagogy of systematic theology within a broadly evangelical perspective" (1). Elsewhere, he notes that studies in theological aesthetics neglect "specifically biblical- and systematic-theological treatment" (7). Brilliantly, King corrects this methodological error with sustained and rich interaction with Scripture, as well as theologians like Irenaeus, Barth, Bavinck, Edwards, and Balthasar.

First, King establishes God's relationship to beauty. He does this by arguing the relationship between glory and beauty. Rather than glory being an attribute, "the immanent glory of God means the same as the altogether perfection of God" (48). Thus, beauty is an attribute that is demonstrated in the works of God ad extra. This gives both an objective (beauty has an ontological basis in God) and subjective (beauty is something which humans can perceive in God's works ad extra) dimension to beauty. King goes on to relate the beauty humans perceive in the works of God to be related to God's happiness in Himself (Beatitude). To condense greatly: God's beauty is an attribute, the quality of his work ad extra, and "the divine perfection ad extra as it is perceived and experienced by human beings that most clearly evinces that perfection of beatitude and sense of delight that belongs to the Trinity ad intra" (65).

The remainder of the book is aimed at clarifying how the works of God (specifically in creation, the incarnation, the cross, and re-creation) have an aesthetic dimension to them. King refers to Scripture's storyline as a "Sublime Comedy: The Theodramatic Form of the Divine Plan" (88). Sublime to indicate towards the theological aesthetic, though he rightly notes that "comedy" is a tad insufficient since the end isn't a mere reversal into the "happy beginning," but a progression into an ending that is "incomparably and everlastingly more glorious than the creation beginning, and is not simply restored to parity with it" (92).

Naturally, these chapters are filled with (brilliant!) exegetical arguments, as well as extended interactions with biblical studies. Pages 171-191 provides an excellent discussion on Christ's identity as the last Adam and true Israel. King writes, "The parallels between Adam and Christ and between Israel and Christ reflect an important aspect of the beauty of redemptive-history . . . in perceiving the 'beauty of the Lord' in the person of Christ, whose glory reflects all facets of his messianic identity" (192).

King's command of a wide variety of theological disciplines is impressive and greatly enriches the book. King's work is exemplary in demonstrating how biblical studies and systematics can (ought to!) work together. King, also, ought to be commended for being a helpful writer. At the beginning of every chapter, he summarizes and anticipates the course of his argument. This shows a scholar deeply invested in helping his readers to behold the beauty of their God.

"The Beauty of the Lord" is a brilliant work that is worth every second of your time. Come for the rigor and brilliance. Leave encouraged and more in love with the God who is beautiful and who does beautiful things.

[Andy Dollahite · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 Stars

Tapping into the best insights of classical thought, historical theology, and rigorous systematics, this work showcases the objective beauty of the person of Christ in redemption accomplished and applied. Supporting the layered theses are the works of Irenaeus, Anselm, Aquinas, von Balthasar, Jonathan Edwards, and a double portion of Herman Bavinck. Furthermore, dozens of the Reformed Orthodox as well as contemporary theologians of the church catholic are peppered throughout.

I would contend this is a hybrid of biblical and systematic theology. It was not particularly novel (he often reformulates or updates previous work). I think the overall work could have trimmed down 30-40 pages without sacrificing it's essence and greatest strengthens. Most importantly, however, it's a springboard to doxology and delight.

Among the prominent ideas proposed and defended are:
- A theological aesthetic model of the doctrine of God (beauty is a proper divine attribute)
- A rationale connecting God's glory to beauty
- The Son's fittingness as incarnate Redeemer in connection to the imago Dei
- Imago Dei comprehended as a synthesis of royal priesthood, body-soul, and ethical-relational constituents
- Christ as recapitulated Last Adam and True Israel
- A theological aesthetic model of Isaiah's suffering servant
- Theodrama (creation, fall, incarnation, redemption, and consummation) as sublime comedy
- The glory of Christ manifest in the form of a slave was not a veiled glory (His transfiguration is not a peak behind the curtain of His humanity) and we always see it by faith
- The beauty of penal substitutionary atonement (perfect equipoise of God's righteous holy love, justice, and condescending mercy)
- Christian beauty is increasing conformity to the image of Christ, eschatologically realized as we become glorified sons and daughters of God (Christ, the Son, is our elder brother), consummated at the marriage feast of Christ and his bride
- Judgment and damnation of unredeemed sinners results in severance of the imago Dei, stripping of sonship, an altogether glory-less existence

Michael Horton assures us that Jonathan King has prepared a feast for the soul. #truestory

*After my review I subsequently read several of the others here on Goodreads, and Samuel Parkinson's extended piece at Credo. FWIW, many of us share similar thoughts and initial reactions. I did not initially comment on King's exegetical work on Phil 2, but that really was one of the highlights of the entire work. I would also add that Dr. King basically avoids pugilistic tones throughout, which is probably a strength...probably :)

[Thomas]

A fascinating and, in many ways, a ground-breaking work that seeks to explore the aesthetic dimensions of Christian theology. King's arguments are compelling on a number of fronts as he clearly demonstrates the importance of recognizing the aesthetic dimensions of God, creation, humans as made in God's image, Christ's person and work, redemption, sanctification, and eschatology. Throughout he is in conversation with such theologians as Jonathan Edwards, Karl Barth, Hans Ur von Balthasar, Herman Bavinck, and others. Highly recommended.

[Wes Van Fleet · Rating 4 out of 5]

Jonathan King has penned a wonderful work that focuses the readers eyes on the beauty of the Lord. Working through the Scriptures, he entreats us to see how the beauty of the Lord is a theme throughout the Bible and, it could be argued, is in fact an attribute of God. I especially enjoyed his treatment of the Trinity throughout, as well as the beauty of Christ in his life, death, and resurrection.

The one thing to be ready for with Beauty of the Lord is to have your Bible opened and some good time set aside. The book took me a good amount of time to read, but I also walked away with a better grasp of the enjoyment and call to “gaze upon the beauty of the Lord” (Ps. 27:4).

[Zach Barnhart · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is just splendid. Review forthcoming.

[Nick Roark · Rating 5 out of 5]

Incredible

[Daniel Mcgregor · Rating 1 out of 5]

Dry, academic, philosophical arguments for what is by and large obvious about the nature of God and beauty. There are 295 pages of argument and 500 pages of footnotes. That about sums it up.

[Sam Nesbitt · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderful new treatment on theological aesthetics from a Reformed perspective. Robust and biblically faithful.

[Josiah Bates · Rating 4 out of 5]

Highly recommended. Good groundwork. Theological aesthetics. Speaks on topics that I wish other authors would talk about in aesthetics.

[David Bruyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

King takes a tour through biblical theology, and shows the "fittingness" of Jesus in each section. A Ph.D. thesis converts into a book, it retains its academic tone, but still has excellent insights.