The Power of the Cross: Theology and the Death of Christ in Paul, Luther and Pascal

by Graham Tomlin

In a postmodern world the church cannot escape the question of power. The contemporary critique of the church suggests that it reigned for so long in Western society not because it was more true than its rivals, but because it was more powerful. Is the Christian claim to truth merely a veiled bid for power? Has not the church regularly abused its power during the years of Christendom? Does Christian theology have the resources to answer these charges? This book argues that it does, in the quiet but recurrent theme of the theology of the cross. It explores the origins and contours of this kind of theology in three of its major exponents -- St. Paul, Martin Luther, and Blaise Pascal -- showing how each of them turned to a theology of the cross to combat the abuse of power within the church. It concludes by considering how such theology might do the same in the postmodern context. Of interest to anyone concerned with the role of the church in a postmodern world, or in the theology of the cross itself, this book explores vital themes for the church's life and thought both today and in the future.

Paperback

First published December 1, 1969

About the author

Graham Tomlin (Ph.D., Exeter University) is dean of St. Mellitus College, London. He taught on Martin Luther and the Reformation in the theology faculty of the University of Oxford for eight years. He is the author, among many other publications, of The Power of the Cross: Theology and the Death of Christ in Paul, Luther and Pascal and Luther and His World.

Reviews

[Glenn Crouch · Rating 4 out of 5]

Two of my favourite historical persons are Luther and Pascal, so I was quite eager to read this. I think the Author's argument for comparing the Theology of the Cross of Paul, Luther and Pascal is quite sound. I must admit I had never really considered that Pascal is quite "independent" of Luther. I also like how the Author concentrates on the early chapters of Paul's First Letter to the Corinthians, as this stops the work from becoming too large.

I was a bit puzzled about the introduction of Michel Foucault and the sections about his views and his critics within the Conclusion. I felt the Author weakened the excellent approach of this book. In fact, the Conclusion drops this from being 5 stars for me, as the Author introduces new aspects of Luther as well as starts probing into Nietzsche as well as introducing Foucault. It is almost an introduction to a second volume rather than a conclusion.

However, I still think it is a good read and time well spent - and there is an excellent bibliography :)