EC Book
Update: The book is about to be sent to the publishers, be ready for its release sometime in late 2011 or very early 2012.
I am really excited to announce that I along with others are involved in producing a book that will be introducing Evangelical Calvinism to the masses. Quite a few months ago, Dr. Myk Habets contacted me via email and asked if I would like to co-edit/author a multi-author book on the tenets of what we are calling Evangelical Calvinism (along with Thomas Torrance who coins this nomenclature in his book “Scottish Theology”); I was taken back, and very excited to say the least. Since then there has been some work put in to securing a publisher (which we have, Wipf & Stock) , and finding authors willing and able to contribute to such work. That work has been done, much and most by Myk; and we are at the stage of research, writing, and eventually, editing. I just wanted to alert all the readers here to this intriguing rather original set of essays that will be compiled in advancing and “robusting” what Reformation Studies and Theology represents.
We have a broad array of scholars contributing to this book: some seasoned, some seasoned in between, and some less seasoned; but a line-up of authors who are worthy for this task, set a hand. The book’s aim is to introduce the Christian church, in general, and the Reformed tradition, in particular to another oft overlooked lineage or strain of developing Calvinism that took place right alongside what we know as Calvinism today (i.e. Federal/Classic/Covenant). It is our belief that there is a rich rich untapped heritage within the heralded halls of Calvinism that we want to tap; we want people to realize that there is a development within the constraints of Calvinism that we believe is much more theologically rich, or more straightforward in ways that are Evangelical, Biblical, and Calvinist (by tradition).
Here is the proposed Title (and biblio), Blurb (that will be on the back cover of the book), and the Table of Contents (the book is about to be sent to the publisher [as of 4.17.11], and we’re hoping for a release date around November 2011):
Evangelical Calvinism: Essays Resourcing the Continuing Reformation of the Church. Princeton Theological Monograph Series. Eds. Myk Habets and Bobby Grow. Foreword by Alasdair Heron. Eugene, OR.: Pickwick Publications, forthcoming.
Blurb: In this exciting volume new and emerging voices join senior Reformed scholars in presenting a coherent and impassioned articulation of Calvinism for today’s world. Evangelical Calvinism represents a mood within current Reformed theology. The various contributors are in different ways articulating that mood, of which their very diversity is a significant element. In attempting to outline features of an Evangelical Calvinism a number of the contributors compare and contrast this approach with that of the Federal Calvinism that is currently dominant in North American Reformed theology, challenging the assumption that Federal Calvinism is the only possible expression of orthodox Reformed theology. This book does not, however, represent the arrival of a “new-Calvinism” or even a “neo-Calvinism,” if by those terms are meant a novel reading of the Reformed faith. An Evangelical Calvinism highlights a Calvinistic tradition that has developed particularly within Scotland, but is not unique to the Scots. The editors have picked up the baton passed on by John Calvin, Karl Barth, Thomas Torrance, and others, in order to offer the family of Reformed theologies a reinvigorated theological and spiritual ethos. This volume promises to set the agenda for Reformed-Calvinist discussion for some time to come.
Table of Contents:
Prologue: Union in Christ: A Declaration for the Church. Andrew Purves and Mark Achtemeier
Introduction
1: Theologia Reformata et Semper Reformanda. Towards a Definition of Evangelical Calvinism. Myk Habets and Bobby Grow
Part 1: Prolegomena – Historical Theology
2: The Phylogeny of Calvin’s Progeny: A Prolusion. Charles Partee
3: The Depth Dimension of Scripture: A Prolegomenon to Evangelical Calvinism. Adam Nigh
4: Analogia Fidei or Analogia Entis: Either Through Christ or Through Nature. Bobby Grow
5: The Christology of Vicarious Agency in the Scots Confession According to Karl Barth. Andrew Purves
Part 2: Systematic Theology
6: Pietas, Religio, and the God Who Is. Gannon Murphy
7: “There is no God behind the back of Jesus Christ:” Christologically Conditioned Election. Myk Habets
8: A Way Forward on the Question of the Transmission of Original Sin. Marcus Johnson
9: “The Highest Degree of Importance”: Union with Christ and Soteriology. Marcus Johnson
10: “Tha mi a’ toirt fainear dur gearan:” J. McLeod Campbell and P.T. Forsyth on the Extent of Christ’s Vicarious Ministry. Jason Goroncy
11: “Suffer the little children to come to me, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” Infant Salvation and the Destiny of the Severely Mentally Disabled. Myk Habets
Part 3: Applied Theology
12: Living as God’s Children: Calvin’s Institutes as Primer for Spiritual Formation. Julie Canlis
13: Idolaters at Providential Prayer: Calvin’s Praying Through the Divine Governance. John C McDowell
14: Worshiping like a Calvinist: Cruciform Existence. Scott Kirkland
Part 4
15: Theses on a Theme. Myk Habets and Bobby Grow
Epilogue: Post Reformation Lament. Myk Habets
Index
Bibliography
11 Responses to “EC Book”
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Is this book already out?
Hello Bernard, and welcome!
No, it won’t be out until late 2011; but we’re working on it
!
Thanks for the visit.
are you and myk including anything on the sacraments??? EC on baptism. EC on the eucharist.
Hey Ashley,
Great to hear from you, and to see that you have a blog, nice!
We have a chapter coming in from Julie Canlis on Calvin’s spirituality, which should hit on some of that. And then Myk has done a brilliant chapter on infant baptism (and dealing with the mentally disabled) included in the volume; so some good stuff to look forward to!
I hope your studies are continuing to go well!
Looks exciting! I’ll definitely keep an eye out for this
Great Jordan!
I’m actually in a class at MBI with Marcus Johnson (Sin, Salvation, and Union with Christ). Phenomenal. Understanding union with Christ has reshaped literally all of my theology, and has done wonders for my understanding of who I am in Jesus. I really hope to see some practicality and application work itself out in a scholarly work like this. Calvinism has always, always been extremely pastoral and helpful to the masses. Thanks for you contribution, I look forward to purchasing.
Hi Matt,
Great to hear from you! You’re blessed to have Marcus as your prof, his contributions to the book are excellent! I think you’ll appreciate the book, glad to hear you’ll be picking one up
! The book has an academic edge, but is geared for Seminary (and motivated Bible College) students (and motivated lay people). We hope to provide another wrinkle to the variegated history of Calvinism. Blessings.
Bobby
Just stumbled on your site while looking for something on Paul Molnar. I’m currently reading his book “Thomas F. Torrance, Theologian of the Trinity” and am very impressed with the Torrance approach. Having read his ” The Mediation of Christ” and some of Baxter Kruger’s stuff, I wanted to get a wider/deeper view and Molnar is providing that.
Having now been made aware of your upcoming book, I just want to encourage you and your colleagues who are trying to bring Torrance to a wider audience. As a long-time Arminian (though I really dislike these categories) and Pentecostal, it is painful to see the ugly words being thrown about between so- called Calvinists and so- called Arminians. This brings me to the main point of this note.
Given the ‘red-flag’ nature of the categories ‘Calvinist’ and ‘Arminian’ it would be great if those seeking a more inclusive approach would find some other ways to summarize their theologies. I know ‘Evangelical Calvinism’ is one of Torrance’s terms, but I wonder if even he would recommend its use in 2011, especially in the USA. Just a thought and in no way meaning to be the least bit negative toward your project.
BTW, just looking at R. Michael Allen’s introduction in his recent book, “Reformed Theology” I read “First the term ‘Calvinist’ ought to be dropped entirely. A name which attaches certain beliefs or practices to a particular figurehead………requires strong footing lest it seem historically or logically idiosyncratic.” This admonition carries even more weight when coupled with the following quote from the early Torrance:
“Constant reading of these many volumes in the course of sermon preparation…….convinced me that Calvin’s own theological position was very different from the hardened system that has long passed under the name of Calvinism. It is a sad reflection that the Reformer’s thought should have been crusted over for so long by a species of Aristotelianism, the very damnosa hereditus against which Calvin himself revolted with the full impetus of his mind and soul.” from the Preface of T.F. Torrance’s “Clavin’s Doctrine of Man” as quoted by Alisdair Heron in Participatio, Vol 2, 2010
Sorry if this is a bit presumptuous coming from an interested lay person with no qualifications in the field whatsoever. I look forward to your volume, regardless of it’s title!
Blessings,
Bev
Hi Bev,
Great to hear from you and your feedback!
I understand the concern about the connotations associated with the term “Calvinist,” but in reality there are always going to be connotations associated with whatever label a theological trajectory takes on as its own (both positive and negative ones). Our usage of the language of Evangelical Calvinist, while mostly inspired by TFT, is not the only inspiration. It is a rhetorical move intended to identify that Calvinism has a multi-variegated history; or that it’s not, monolithic as American Calvinism wants us to think. So while our conceptual matter is very different from Trad Calvinism (or what has become known as such), what we are articulating has developed within the history of what has been called Calvinism. We also believe that Evangelical Calvinism is much more faithful to Calvin’s theology, at least his union with Christ (unio mystica) theology than traditional Calvinism’s appropriation. Of course Calvin can be a wax nose as well, which I have written on here at the blog.
I have moved this blog to a new url, here it is: http://growrag.wordpress.com
Hope to see you there. Thank you, and blessings in Christ!