Did Christ assume a fallen human nature? What is not assumed is not healed.
So goes the Chalcedonian maxim articulated by Gregory of Nazianzus regarding the nature and extent of Christ's work in assuming a human nature.
But what is the nature of that assumption? If Christ is to stand in solidarity with us, must he have assumed not merely a human nature, but specifically a fallen human nature? In Sinless Flesh A Critique of Karl Barth's Fallen Christ , Rafael Bello argues against the assertion made by Karl Barth, T.
Torrance, and those who follow them that Christ assumed a fallen nature.
Through retrieval of patristic, medieval, and Reformed orthodox theologians, Bello argues that a proper understanding of human nature, trinitarian inseparable operations, and the habitual grace-grace of union distinction leads to the conclusion that the assertion that Christ assumed a fallen human nature is at odds with faithful theological and historical understandings of the incarnation.
Readers interested in theological retrieval for issues in contemporary theology will find a faithful model and way forward for a thorny issue in modern dogmatics.
About author(s): Rafael Bello (PhD, The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary) is Academic Editor at Editora Fiel (Brazil) and Professor of Theology at Martin Bucer Seminary.
He has previously served as a Research Expert in Theology at The James P.
Boyce Centennial Library.
| Author(s) | Rafael |
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Lexham Press Sinless flesh: a critique of karl barth's fallen christ, paperback/rafael nogueira bello
