The Lord is One: Reclaiming Divine Simplicity

by Joseph Minich (Editor), Onsi A. Kamel (Editor)

After an age of original integrity, the doctrine of divine simplicity fell from grace. Once a cornerstone of orthodox Christianity’s doctrine of God, many modern theologians expelled it from the garden for the sin of employing passé Platonic and Aristotelian metaphysics. But was the doctrine of divine simplicity’s fall deserved? Is it unreasonable to hold that God is metaphysically without parts? Is the Lord really one? Rather than dismiss the challenges leveled against divine simplicity, The Lord is One engages them, presenting exegetical, historical, and theological treatments of divine simplicity. This volume argues that the doctrine of divine simplicity is cogent and indispensable while also making space for historically marginalized or idiosyncratic articulations of it. After all, once expelled from paradise, nothing returns exactly as it was.

Genres: Theology, Philosophy

279 pages, Paperback

Published January 1, 2019

About the author

Joseph Minich is a Ph.D candidate in Humanities at the University of Texas at Dallas, and the Editor-in-Chief of The Davenent Press. His research interests include modern atheism, the nature of modernity, and the role of late modern technology in the formation of religious beliefs. Some of his writings can be found at The Calvinist International, Mere Orthodoxy, and in several edited volumes published by Davenant.

Reviews

[Jordan B Cooper · Rating 4 out of 5]

A solid series of essays on an important topic.

[Andrew · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good collection of essay from various vantage points (exegetical, historical, philosophical, and theological) regarding the doctrine of divine simplicity. This is a collection of articles by various authors so some chapters are better written than others. My three favorite chapters were the following:

Steven Duby: A Biblical and Theological Case for Divine Simplicity

Derrick Peterson: A Sacred Monster: On the Secret Fears of Some Recent Trinitarianism

Nathan Greeley: Divine Simplicity: A Reply to Common Philosphical Objections

Although I differ from Greeley’s chapter where he sides more with Scotus’ modified view of divine simplicity rather than Aquinas it is still an excellent chapter addressing common misconceptions and arguments regarding simplicity and gives ample references for further research.

Peterson’s chapter shows how simplicity relates to development in Trinitarian theology and contemporary debates among reformed theologians regarding classical theism in how we formulate the doctrine of the Trinity.

Duby gives a robust exegetical defense of divine simplicity. In contrast to some allegations that Simplicity is merely a philosophical construct there is ample biblical support of the doctrine in Scripture and this is also confirmed by historical theology and how theologians of the past interpreted scripture with the creator/creature distinction. Duby’s chapter is an excellent antidote to straw man arguments that the contemporary debate regarding classical theism is just a debate over Aristotle and philosophy.

[Benaiah Neetz · Rating 3 out of 5]

This volume addresses an essential doctrine—divine simplicity—one that has been increasingly recovered in recent years after being discarded by much of modern theology. As an edited collection, however, the essays are not all of equal quality.

This is a highly academic book. If you do not already have a working knowledge of Greek, Hebrew, and at points Latin, you will get lost fairly quickly. That said, several essays are genuinely excellent. James Duguid’s case from the Old Testament is strong, Steven Duby provides a careful exegetical and dogmatic treatment, and Steven Wedgeworth’s essay on how Athanasius used divine simplicity to argue for the deity of the Son is particularly well done.

Nathan Greeley’s essay is interesting, especially his discussion of differing orthodox accounts of simplicity—most notably the contrast between Scotist and Thomistic approaches. However, I found his critique of Thomistic analogical predication lacking, as well as his broader defense of simplicity over against alternative views.

One weakness of the volume is how little attention is given to the early church. I would have liked to see more engagement with how the fathers used divine simplicity together with impassibility to safeguard God’s God-ness. There is very little interaction with the Cappadocians, Justin Martyr, Tertullian, or Irenaeus.

There is also minimal engagement with the Reformed orthodox tradition, or with the question of why many modern evangelicals—particularly Arminians and other non-Reformed thinkers—reject divine simplicity today. While I appreciate classical theology, much of it here is not done in a way that can easily be handed to a pastor and translated for people in the pews. James Dolezal’s All That Is in God does this far more effectively.

Overall, this volume contains several important essays that are difficult to find elsewhere, but it is not a comprehensive or accessible one-stop resource on divine simplicity.

[Richard Lawrence · Rating 4 out of 5]

A serious and stimulating set of essays around the theme of Divine Simplicity.

WARNING: Do not start your study of simplicity or the nature of God here. These essays assume familiarity with recent debates and some significant prior understanding of the topic.

Chapters 2, 3 and 4 are a little more accessible than the rest of the book. (2) Duguid considers how Simplicity fits into the Old Testament, (3) Duby makes a broad biblical case for it and (4) Wedgeworth shows that it was key in Athanasius's arguments for Christ's true/full divinity.

Perhaps the most interesting parts of this book are a) David Peterson's two chapters on recent history, how and why modernity has modified the doctrine of God so much and how inaccurate historical work has fed into that; and b) Joseph Minich's concluding proposal for a new way forward arguing that whilst retrieval is essential, and truth is unchanging, christian reflection on God and the doctrine of God has never been a finished task and Modernity's problems should be seen as an opportunity to perform further work not merely a danger to be fled.

Other chapters include:
- Greeley clarifying and responding to a number of modern critiques of simplicity - whilst his piece was interesting I'm unpersuaded by his claim that replacing the (apparently inscrutable) Thomistic doctrine of Analogy with the (inscrutable) Scotist Formal distinction helps us answer these critiques.
- Rigney arguing that Jonathan Edwards is on "team simplicity" contra many modern interpretations of his work.
- Moser summarising the simplicity and divine action in Augustine and Aquinas, I thought this "summary" was rather unclear and I think most people would be better served reading Aquinas or Augustine.

[Steve · Rating 4 out of 5]

Here is a series of essays that aim to address the need, on the one hand, for Biblical exegesis as a grounding for the doctrine of divine simplicity (DDS), and on the other, to defend the outlines of Classical Theism. You won't find a tight-lipped defense of DDS here, but an eagerness to submit all of our thinking to Scripture, and honestly address the arguments of modern opponents of DDS.

How can we hold with integrity careful exegetical work and integrity in how we approach metaphysics?

The highlights for me were entries from James Duguid on the OT and ANE literature, Steven Duby's exegetical defense. The rest of the essays address are largely historical addressing Augustine, Aquinas, the Reformation and Post-Reformation, and modern developments in DDS.

All very worthwhile.

[Pat Phelps · Rating 4 out of 5]

Honestly, “The Lord Is One” is a little more advanced than I am currently ready to take on. I had particular trouble with both of Derrick Peterson’s essays, as well as parts of Stephen Duby’s essay.

Overall, I thought most of the essays were done well, and written to make them accessible to someone at my level. I would recommend this book only to someone with a much more advanced theological knowledge base.

“Take Up and Read” - Saint Augustine

[Andy Dollahite · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pending...