A Tapestry of Global Christology

Isuwa Y. Atsen

Description

Who is Jesus Christ in a context of violence and bloodshed, such as that experienced by Christians in Northern Nigeria? This is the question at the heart of Dr. Isuwa Atsen’s study of global Christology. His aim, however, is not to develop a Christology that is unique to Northern Nigeria, but a Christology that is contextually and conceptually relevant to the real concerns of Nigerian Christians, while maintaining a catholic and scriptural understanding of the person of Jesus Christ. In order to do so, he weaves together three diverse christological approaches, examining the intersection of contextual theology, analytic theology, and the theological interpretation of Scripture. The approach thereby presents some helpful insights for theological methodology in general. This is an excellent resource for theologians, students, and all those involved in the task of global Christology.

Sujets

• Religion
• Christianisme
• Christian Theology
• Philosophie et théologie
• Christology

Informations

• Publié par: Langham Creative Projects
• Date de parution: 16 décembre 2022
• Nombre de lectures: 0
• EAN13: 9781839737947
• Langue: English
• Poids de l'ouvrage: 1 Mo

Extrait

This book is an ambitious undertaking. By engaging the resources of contextual theology, analytic theology, and the theological interpretation of Scripture, Atsen adroitly draws together strands of theological discourse which have proceeded all too often in isolation from one another. The result of the inquiry is a robust and richly integrative contribution to the church’s reflection upon the doctrine of Christ. Atsen’s proposal is essential reading for all students of Christian thought, and especially for those who lament the phenomenon of fragmentation in contemporary theology.
David Luy, PhD
Associate Professor of Systematic Theology,
North American Lutheran Seminary, Pennsylvania, USA
“A cord of three strands is not easily broken” (Eccl. 4:12). This may not be an African proverb, but in Atsen’s hands it becomes a compelling image for doing theology – for reading Scripture theologically – that is simultaneously catholic, conceptually precise, and sensitive to cultural context. Especially important are Atsen’s explanations as to why neither creedal Christology or ontology are examples of Western theological colonialism. Here is theology that is as biblical as it is global, which is to say, a theology for the church today, and tomorrow.
Kevin J. Vanhoozer, PhD
Research Professor of Systematic Theology,
Trinity Evangelical Divinity School, Illinois, USA
Isuwa Atsen’s A Tapestry of Global Christology demonstrates faithfulness to orthodox Christianity and incredible knowledge, wisdom, and insight. Astute in the way he engages the task of Christian theology from a Majority World perspective, Atsen develops a Christology that is canonical, catholic, analytic, and contextual. It is filled with fresh insights and opens new vistas of theological engagements. This book is a breath of fresh air in Christological analytic theology. It will be useful to Western and Majority World theologians alike. I highly recommend this book.
Bulus Y. Galadima, PhD
Former Provost, Jos ECWA Theological Seminary, Nigeria
Dean, Cook School of Intercultural Study,
Biola University, California, USA
This book is a theological response to Christological controversies tormenting the African Church. It provides a theological treatise to answer the catalogue of Christological misinterpretations, misrepresentations, misapplications, and misleadings. The author provides a sure way through these errors by using Scripture as the standard of our faith and authority. The book concludes with a pragmatic application of Christology to our worship and confession in the midst of danger and violence. I strongly recommend this book.
Rev. Gyang D. Pam, PhD
Provost, Gindiri Theological Seminary, Nigeria

A Tapestry of Global Christology
Weaving a Three-Stranded Theological Cord
Isuwa Y. Atsen

© 2022 Isuwa Y. Atsen
Published 2022 by Langham Monographs
An imprint of Langham Publishing
www.langhampublishing.org
Langham Publishing and its imprints are a ministry of Langham Partnership
Langham Partnership
PO Box 296, Carlisle, Cumbria, CA3 9WZ, UK
www.langham.org
ISBNs:
978-1-83973-236-2 Print
978-1-83973-794-7 ePub
978-1-83973-795-4 Mobi
978-1-83973-796-1 PDF
Isuwa Y. Atsen has asserted his right under the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act, 1988 to be identified as the Author of this work.
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted, in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without the prior written permission of the publisher or the Copyright Licensing Agency.
Requests to reuse content from Langham Publishing are processed through PLSclear. Please visit www.plsclear.com to complete your request.
All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission of Zondervan.
Scripture marked (NASB) taken from the New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission.
British Library Cataloguing-in-Publication Data
A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library
ISBN: 978-1-83973-236-2
Cover & Book Design: projectluz.com
Langham Partnership actively supports theological dialogue and an author’s right to publish but does not necessarily endorse the views and opinions set forth here or in works referenced within this publication, nor can we guarantee technical and grammatical correctness. Langham Partnership does not accept any responsibility or liability to persons or property as a consequence of the reading, use or interpretation of its published content.

Converted to eBook by EasyEPUB

To Anya,
who now beholds Him face-to-face
Contents

Cover


Acknowledgments


Chapter 1 Introduction


Problem and Thesis


The Thread of the Theological Interpretation of Scripture


The Thread of Analytic Theology


The Thread of Global Theology


Rethinking the Western Versus Non-Western Bifurcation


Scope and Delimitation


Significance of the Study


Summary of Chapters


Chapter 2 Use of Scripture and the Nature of Christian Theology


The Idea of Using Scripture in Theology


The View and Use of Scripture in Christian Theology: A Historical Survey


Construing and Using the Bible Theologically


Situating Scripture and Its User within the Divine Economy


From Theological Interpretation to Theological Theology


Conclusion


Chapter 3 Using Scripture in Analytic Theology


Understanding Analytic Theology: Its Story


Understanding Analytic Theology: Its Nature and Method


The Use of Scripture in Analytic Theology: Revelational Control


Explicating the Person of Christ in Analytic Theological Discourse


Between Analytic Theology and Theological Theology


Analytic Style and Scriptural Form


Philosophical Versus Theological Reason


Accessibility of Content and Attention to Context


Chapter 4 Christ in Global Theological Perspectives


From Context to Text: Method in Global Christology


The Quest for an African Christology: An Overview


Some Constructive Christologies in Nigeria


Decolonization as De-Missionarization: The Final Word


Conclusion


Chapter 5 Tow ard a Global Analytic Christology


A Theological Analytic Contextual Approach to Christology


Scripture as Canon


Tradition as Guide


Context as Theater


Conceptual Analysis as a Tool


Conclusion


Chapter 6 Christ in the Context of Violence


Encountering the Son of God in an African Windstorm


Confessing Jesus Christ as Lord of and in All Contexts


Conclusion


Chapter 7 Summary and Conclusion


Summary


Conclusions and Recommendations


Bibliography

Endnotes
Acknowledgments
This book is my doctoral dissertation submitted to the faculty of Trinity Evangelical Divinity in Deerfield, Illinois, USA. The work has gone through moderate revisions based on the recommendations of my dissertation committee and the peer reviewer of Langham Publishing. I wish to begin by thanking Langham for accepting my work for publication. I deeply appreciate the efforts of Vivian Doub, who was my primary contact person at Langham, for her timely responses to my initial inquiries and subsequent exchanges. Many thanks to Dr. Mark Arnold who took over from her and continued working with me to this stage of the project. I especially and sincerely thank Langham’s peer reviewer for pointing out quite a number of issues related to both substance and style that I needed to revise. Their work has helped to improve mine significantly.
My doctoral journey was tortuous both for me and for my family. But at the same time, it was a wonderful opportunity for intellectual and spiritual growth. I wish to acknowledge all the people who, at different stages of the journey, helped me with their intellectual, financial, moral, and spiritual support. Without them, I would not have made it to the end. First, my dissertation committee – it has been the privilege of my academic life to have worked on my dissertation under the expert and kind supervision of Dr. Kevin J. Vanhoozer. I have learned so much and have been changed in many ways through my interactions with him, thus enriching this study from its conception to its delivery in the present form. In addition, his incisive and multiple feedback, and usually in a very timely manner, have helped to make this work better than what it would have been. Dr. David Luy was not only my second reader, but also graciously gave me the opportunity to serve as his Graduate Assistant for more than four years. I have benefited immensely from this relationship with him. A number of the lectures I gave during some of his classes were portions of this dissertation and that provided me with an avenue for feedback, which informed some revisions of my earlier submissions. My third reader, Dr. Tite Tiénou, completely transformed my understanding of Africa and the practice of global Christianity and Christian theology. His influence has made me a better thinker, particularly with respect (but not limited) to contextual matters. I could not have asked for a better dissertation committee, which also included my Program Director, Dr. Richard Averbeck. I thank them all most sincerely.
Finances were always a challenge for me from the beginning to the end of my program. But the Lord was faithful through it all and raised many financial supporters along the way, which are too numerous to mention here. However, I must mention Calvary Orthodox Presbyterian Church, La Mirada, California, together with Immanuel Church, Gurnee, Illinois, for consistent monthly support to my family from 2014 to 2019. I must also mention the “abov