Description
In the realm of doctrine the Christian Church has always recognised a twofold task: one concerning the Church itself; the other concerning the outside world, the world of doubt and unbelief. Although, at a time like the present, the conflict with unbelief and false ideologies may seem the more urgent one, yet the first task is always fundamental. For how can the Church do justice to her missionary calling in an un-Christian world if she is not herself clear about the content of her message? All down her history the Christian Church has given much thought to the basis, meaning and content of the message she has received – and is bound to proclaim; this process of reflection is what we mean by ‘dogmatics’.
From the Introduction
Available in three volumes, this is one of the great works of 20th Century theology. Brunner presents a profoundly biblical systematic theology, finding a path between the ideas of Barth and Bultmann.
The first volume covers the doctrine of God. After an introduction setting out the nature of Dogmatics, the main topics covered are the nature of God and the Will of God.
The second volume covers the doctrine of creation and redemption, discussing the central themes of the Creator and His Creation, Man’s place in Creation, Man’s sin and its consequences, and the person and work of Jesus Christ.
The third volume covers the doctrine of the Church and of Faith, presenting the nature of the Church as a reflection of God’s self-revelation through the Holy Spirit, and the Consummation in eternity of the Divine Self-communication.
About the Author
Dr. Emil Brunner was made Privatdozent at the University of Zurich at the age of 33, and later was appointed Professor of Systematic and Practical Theology. In 1953 he became Professor of Christian University, Tokyo (Japan) and in 1955 returned to Zurich.
He is also the author of: The Mediator (1934), Man in Revolt (1939), The Divine Imperative (1941), Justice and Social Order (1945), The Misunderstanding of the Church (1952), The Letter to the Romans (1959), The Great Invitation Zurich Sermons (1955) and I Believe in the Living God (1961).
All of the above titles have now been republished by The Lutterworth Press.
Contents
Volume I: The Christian Doctrine of God
Preface
Translator’s Note
Prolegomena: The Basis and the Task of Dogmatics
1. The Position of Dogmatics
2. The Necessity for Dogmatics
3. The Basis of Christianity: Revelation
4. Revelation as the Word of God
5. Doctrine and the Witness of Faith
6. The Norm of Christian Doctrine
7. Dogma and Dogmatics
8. Dogmatics as a Science
9. The Contemporary Character of Dogmatics
10. Faith and Thought in Dogmatics
11. The Concept and the Task of Dogmatics
Part 1: The Eternal Foundation of the Divine Self-Communication
Section One: The Nature of God and His Attributes
12. The Name of God
13. God, the Lord
14. The Holy
15. God is Love
16. The Triune God
17. The Problem of the “Divine Attributes”
18. God, the Almighty
19. The Omnipresence and the Omniscience of God
20. The Eternity, Unchangingness, Faithfulness and Righteousness of God
21. The Wisdom and the Glory of God
Section Two: The Will of God
22. The Eternal Divine Decrees and the Doctrine of Election
23. The Problem of “Double Predestination”
Index of Names
Index of Subjects
Index of Scripture References
Volume II: The Christian Doctrine of Creation and Redemption
Preface
Part 2: The Historical Realization of the Divine Self-Communication
1. The Creator and His Creation
2. Man and Creation
3. Man as Sinner
4. The Consequences of Sin
5. Angels, Spirits and the Devil
6. Of Providence, Preservation, and God’s Government of the World
7. History and Saving History
8. The Law
9. The Fullness of Time
10. The Foundation of the Christian Faith
11. The Saving Work of God in Jesus Christ
12. The Person of Jesus Christ
Index of Names
Index of Subjects
Index of Scripture References
Volume III: The Christian Doctrine of the Church, Faith and the Consummation
Preface
Part 3: God’s Self-Communication as His Seld-Representation Through the Holy Spirit
Section I: Ekklesia and the Church
1. Church and Holy Spirit
2. The Ground and Nature of the Ekklesia
3. The Primitive Christian Ekklesia and the Pauline Idea of the Ekklesia
4. The Development of the Ekklesia into the Church
5. Delaying Factors in the Development of the Ekklesia into the Church, and Attempts to Restore the Ekklesia
6. The Church as Instrument and Shell of the Ekklesia
7. The Crisis of the Church in Europe
8. The Search for the New Form of the Church
9. The Essential Marks of the Church According to the Apostolic Witness of Faith
Section II: The New Life in Christ
10. The Ekklesia as Presupposition of Faith
11. Faith and Unbelief
12. Faith According to the Witness of Scripture
13. The Misunderstanding of Faith
14. The Perfected Form of Faith: The Justification of the Sinner by Faith Alone
15. Justifying Faith in Christ and the Creed of the Church
16. Doctrinal Belief and Belief in the Bible as the Vehicle of Pistis
17. Faith and Knowledge
18. The Certainty of Faith, and Doubt
19. Regeneration as a Special Aspect of Justification
20. Conversion
21. Sanctification
22. The Commandment of Love and the Law
23. The Christian in the World
24. The Theology of Prayer
Part 4: The Consummation in Eternity of the Divine Self-Communication
1. Faith as Hope
2. The Objection of Unbelief to the Christian Hope
3. The Kingdom of God and Eternal Life
4. The Kingdom of God as the Meaning and Goal of History
5. The Christian Understanding of Eternity
6. The Mystery of Death
7. To Depart and Be With Christ
8. The Coming of the Lord in Glory: The Parousia
9. The Resurrection
10. Universalism and World Judgment
11. The Consummation
Postscript
Index of Names
Index of Subjects
Index of Scripture References
