Divinity and Humanity: The Incarnation Reconsidered

Current Issues in Theology

by Oliver D. Crisp

The doctrine of the Incarnation lies at the heart of Christianity. But the idea that 'God was in Christ' has become a much-debated topic in modern theology. Oliver Crisp addresses six key issues in the Incarnation defending a robust version of the doctrine, in keeping with classical Christology. He explores perichoresis, or interpenetration, with reference to both the Incarnation and Trinity. Over two chapters Crisp deals with the human nature of Christ and then provides an argument against the view, common amongst some contemporary theologians, that Christ had a fallen human nature. He considers the notion of divine kenosis or self-emptying, and discusses non-Incarnational Christology, focusing on the work of John Hick. This view denies Christ is God Incarnate, regarding him as primarily a moral exemplar to be imitated. Crisp rejects this alternative account of the nature of Christology.

Genres: Theology, Philosophy, Christianity, Christian

202 pages, Paperback

First published February 15, 2007

About the author

Oliver D. Crisp (PhD, University of London, DLitt, University of Aberdeen) is professor of analytic theology at the University of St. Andrews. He is the author of several books, including Analyzing Doctrine: Toward a Systematic Theology, Saving Calvinism: Expanding the Reformed Tradition, Jonathan Edwards Among The Theologians, and The Word Enfleshed: Exploring the Person and Work of Christ. He is a founding editor of the Journal of Analytic Theology, and co-organizes the annual Los Angeles Theology Conference with Fred Sanders.

Reviews

[Sooho Lee · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just how important is orthodoxy for the doctrine of the incarnation for Christian theology? Well, according to Dr. Oliver Crisp, the answer is very much so.

In the past century, the incarnation has been distorted and dismissed as either contradictory or paradox. Unwittingly, much of these debates are rehashings of earlier heresies, specifically Apollinarianism ("God in a bod") and Nestorianism ("Two persons in one body"). So, in six successive essays, Crisp defends and draws from a 'broadly' Chalcedonian Christology [sic]. Lucid and accessible (with a handful of Superman references), Crisp, in the first half, clarifies the perichoretic problem with the hypostatic union, sifts through various proposals of Christ's human nature, and untangles the anhypostasia-enhypostasia distinction. In the second half, Crisp rides on the momentum of the first half to engage and disarm theological claims of Christ assuming a fallen human nature, divine kenosis, and John Hick's non-incarnational theology.

The reader might be tempted to think that theologians, like Crisp, and their theologies are 'mere word plays.' For example, what's the difference between the incarnation as paradox or mystery? Or God taking on a human body vs. God taking on a human nature? These questions and more are, indeed, tempting to lure one to dismiss the enterprise as a whole. But, allow Crisp to help you to wade through the fog, and, (hopefully) in the process, you'll see and understand that words--especially words about God--matter very much so.

cf. www.sooholee.wordpress.com

[Chakib Miraoui · Rating 3 out of 5]

Concise, modern, and definitive on the questions surrounding the Persons of the Trinity and the nature of Christ.

[Jack Hayne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Enjoyed this immensely. Though dense at times, if you stick with Crisp, you’ll emerge with a sharper and more nuanced grasp of the hypostatic union. He is always an exemplar of clarity in analytic theology, laying out terms and distinctions with precision.

Crisp ultimately defends an abstract-nature view—where Christ assumes a human nature that is abstract in kind but composed of concrete particulars: the contingent elements of human nature such as body, mind, and soul. This is supported by a nature-perichoresis model, which allows for an asymmetrical relation between the divine and human natures. The divine nature interpenetrates the human, but there is no mixing or confusion—Christ does not become a third thing.

While affirming Chalcedonian Christology, Crisp is attentive to later doctrinal developments. He notes that the debate between monothelitism and dyothelitism (one will vs. two wills) only became controversial 250 years later. Crisp sides with the conciliar affirmation of two wills, describing them as “two theatres of action in one person, one qua human and one qua divine,” while preserving unity and avoiding the dysfunction of fallen humanity.

He rejects a fallen-nature view, arguing that fallenness is not essential to human nature. Christ’s humanity is unique, assumed through the generation of the Holy Spirit, and does not entail original sin or corruption.

Crisp’s approach to kenosis is also illuminating. He critiques both functional and ontological kenotic models for compromising the integrity of divine nature. Instead, he proposes a kryptic kenosis: a veiling of divine attributes consistent with the extra Calvinisticum, in which the Word retains all divine properties while operating through the limitations of human nature during the Incarnation.

If any of this interests you—even a little—this book is for you. A good book for Seminary class or first book for a PhD level course.

96% – Two natures, one person.

[Paul · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent discussion of several issues in Christology using the tools of analytic theology as applied to theological issues (known as analytic theology). Crisp discusses perichoresis with respect to the hypostatic union, the human nature of Christ, the an-enhypostsia distinction, kenosis, and non-incarnational Christologies a la Hick. Crisp makes use of a lot of contemporary metaphysics in the model of faith seeking understanding. Some of this is pretty thick, and at least two careful reads are probably required, but there will be some profit even with one read. However, the latter would be made more probable with some knowledge of contemporary metaphysics. Crisp's goal is to stay consistent with creedal Christology, so there's not much speculative philosophy. At points Crisp does take less popular positions (at least within Reformed theology) and argues from philosophical intuitions, but this is done at points where he feels the creeds are silent or ambiguous and where there's no clear biblical case against his view. Here the strength of the Bible on these matters will wane depending on what one thinks the Bible is clear on or not. For example, Crisp seems to have moral problems with aspects of federalism and the imputation of guilt, so he opts for Augustinian realism and for an understanding of original sin inconsistent with much, but not all, of what can be found in Reformed theology. In any event, this is an excellent book on Christology and shows the profitableness of analytic theology.

[Радостин Марчев · Rating 5 out of 5]

Рядко давам петица, но това определено е много добра книга. Материята е трудна, но авторът пише много ясно, обяснява какво има в предвид и препраща към допълнителни материали. Препоръчвам я на всеки, който се интереува от начално, кратко, но задълбочено въведение в христологията на въплъщението разгледана от стриктно халкедонска гледна точка.
Читателят трябва да има в предвид 2 неща (1) Авторът не си поставя за цел да докаже адекватността на халкедонската позиция - той я приема за даденост и на тази основа преценява доколко дадено виждане е съвместимо с наложилият се стандарт за ортодоксалност. (2) Авторът, стриктно казано, не разглежда нещата на библейска основа. Неговото изложение в по-голямата си част може да бъде определено като метафизично или философско богословие.
Името Оливър Крисп досега не ми беше познато. Имам още 3 или 4 негови книги, които не съм чел, но смед тази задължително ще им обърна внимание.

[Andy · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very well written book. Crisp does the work that few other thinkers have taken up. What he proves along the way is that Chalcedon got Christology right and that the further clarification of Chacedonian Christology made at Constantinople III (dyothelitism) is the only workable Christology. Crisp shows quite conclusively how all of the novel attempt to reinterpret Christology ultimately fall into gross error and lead to the heretical stances Chalcedon and Constantinople III strove to protect the Church from.

[Alberony Martínez · Rating 3 out of 5]

Uno de los de temas, que a través de la historia de la iglesia y de los hacedores de teología es el tema de la encarnación, un punto neurálgico en el corazón del cristianismo, si Dios estaba en Cristo, el como se da esta mixtura entra lo divino y lo humano, es objeto de discusión. Con este libro, Oliver D. Crisp hace un paseo a través de los hacedores de teología para abordar los puntos claves de la encarnación, los cuales aunque no nuevos, pues la teología es invariable, por el mismo aparato histórico, podríamos adornarla, pero el punto a donde se dirige siempre será igual, o esta a favor de una postura o este en contra de la postura ya antes planteadas.

Cada vez que leo este tipo de literatura, me recuerda mis días cuando cursaba teología, estudiar temas tales como la pericoresis, la hipóstasis, la kénosis, la encarnación, cristología y demás, el mismo libros me lleva a esos años solo con el fin de refréscame esos temas.

Oliver D. Crisp se describe así mismo como un propagador de la teología analítica, el cual te brinda las herramientas de la filosofía analítica a la practica de la teología. Y con este libro lo que quiere es que tenga una pequeña contribución a la doctrina de la persona de Cristo. Crisp, si tiene claro, es evitar el quehacer teológico adornado, mas bien te encarrila por un teología analítica, buscando claridad del lenguaje y el análisis.

Problemas con la pericoresis, la naturaleza humana de Cristo, la distinción anhipostasia-enhipostasis, ¿Tuvo Cristo una naturaleza caída?, Kénosis divina y Cristología no encarnacional, de tal manera están dispuestos los capítulos en este libro.

Es un excelente libro para aquellos que quieren saber de estos temas que ha sido el alma de la historia de la iglesia y de los teólogos en general, y Crisp lo aborda cuidadosamente.

[Peyton Mansfield · Rating 4 out of 5]

Divinity and Humanity is a good summary of some modern Christological conversations, handled from a classical/conservative view.

I don't have much experience in this particular area of study, but Crisp introduced and explained concisely what you need to know to jump into the dialogue. He spends his time representing views he disagrees with before explaining his disagreement, then he lands generally where I want to be on issues.

The book accomplishes what is sets out to do. So I recommend this book to someone who has some theological education, but wants to know more about recent discussion in any of these areas.

Lightning reviews:
- Chapter 1 on perichoresis in Christ versus in the Trinity was clarifying to me on a topic I've only heard brief allusions to in the past.
- Chapter 2 on concrete/abstract and two-part/three-part Christology made sense, but I kind of lost the forest in the trees.
- Chapter 3 on anhypostasia/enhypostasia is basically the payoff for chapter 2, though I got a little bogged down in the variety of views.
- Chapter 4 on whether or not Christ had a fallen nature was convincing (arguing that He did not), though a bit repetitive by the end.
- Chapter 5 on divine kenosis was satisfying and potentially most useful, explaining the shortcomings of a system I've seen laypeople repeat without considering the repercussions.
- Chapter 6 on Hick's non-incarnational Christology was thorough and stern, demonstrating that Hick's views only hold meaning in an echo chamber.

[K. · Rating 4 out of 5]

An excellent collection of essays, centering around the relation of the two natures of Christ to his person and to one another. It serves well as a defense of a broadly Chalcedonian Christology. In particular, the essays dealing with the taxonomy of approaches to the question of Christ's human nature (chapter 2), the critique of the idea that Christ had a fallen human nature (chapter 4), and in my opinion a devastating takedown of recent "kenotic Christologies" (chapter 5) were especially strong. The chapter on "non-incarnational Christology" critiquing the work of John Hick felt somewhat out of place. Crisp wasn't really playing to his strengths there, and the book would have been just as good with the essay omitted. Overall, a fine and extremely clear introduction to many of the important topics in the field.

[Samuel G. Parkison · Rating 3 out of 5]

I actually really like Crisp’s communicative style. Analytical philosophy is, to me, very helpful and clear. But as a method for developing Christology, this volume is almost useless. Crisp shows the philosophical viability of Chalcedonian Christology, but the exercise seems pretty speculative since it isn’t biblical. Crisp himself seems to write some of his conclusions with a shrug, which isn’t a terrible thing I guess. But any discussion on Christology that ends with a shrug instead of a thundering proclamation *feels* unbefitting.

*Also, that cover, right?! Blue steel, Jesus edition! Kudos to Cambridge University Press for willing to strike their readership with some Mediterranean smolder.

[Simon Field · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a helpful book that provides analysis on issues related to the divine and human natures of Christ. It approaches the topic assuming the trustworthiness of the creed of Nicea and Chalcedon definition in line with Christianity orthodoxy which I think is great but the weakness of this starting point is that the book doesn't treat scripture as a major source for formulating theology. Hence the book is written for an academic audience rather than to inform Christians in general. I do really like Oliver Crisp's writing style- his thinking is clear and logical, giving the impression that no stone is left unturned. This book was well worth the read but it isn't my go-to for Christology.

[Erica · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fasten seat belts. This book is philosophical as much as it is theological. I'd only read this if I was forced to, but that's the whole point of grad school, right? Rich. Helpful. Lots of latin. Read on a kindle where you can quickly lookup the words you don't know.

[James · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fascinating book arguing for the metaphysical, philosophical and theological plausibility of a Chalcedonian Christology.

This book is understandably academically cautious in its conclusions and I would have liked to see more Scripture in the arguments but still a helpful and enlightening read.

[Pete Walker · Rating 3 out of 5]

Another book prompted by WTC. This is relatively inaccessible & dense. In summary Crisp holds to Orthodoxy with discussions on perichoresis & human nature. Wouldn't recommend unless you're you are VERY patient!

[Aneurin Britton · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm not going to pretend to say I fully understood this book.

[Zack Hudson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Typically brilliant.

[Josh · Rating 2 out of 5]

The last two chapters saved this book for me. Crisp is concise and cogent in his deconstruction of kenotic Christology and John Hicks' non-incarnational Christology. But the first four chapters were, in my opinion, not a good model for systematic theology. There was little exegesis of Scripture, and much of I see as philosophical playing with words to propose different "theologically interesting" possible ways of understanding Christ's two natures. On this topic, I felt the book lacked reverence or a definitive argument that was theologically and spiritually edifying.

[Ryan Jankowski · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is my second book of Crisp's, the former being one of his books on the Trinity. This book on Christology was much better, much deeper in analysis, with really solid reasoning. Crisp is very gracious. He interacts with a number of Christological deviations (from Chalcedon and classical Christology), examining their arguments and highlighting their weaknesses.

[David Kakish · Rating 4 out of 5]

Oliver Crisp is a fellow beard with a high frequency Christology. You know it's a top notch book when the author uses Superman to illustrate Alvin Plantinga's Christological position, in a Cambridge press book nonetheless! In some points, highly technical. But overall it's a great read.

[Wyatt Houtz · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the best primers on Christology today. Highly recommended.

[Steve · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent, logical, rigorous and clear.