Tuesday, November 13, 2012

Updating Bavinck?

One of the best things to happen to Reformed theology in years is the recent translation of Bavinck's four volume Reformed Dogmatics set. Bavinck goes into a great deal of historical detail on the major doctrines he discusses, and I've found that to be very helpful. But one drawback to Bavinck is that the set is more than a hundred years old.

Now Zondervan has announced a major 15-volume project in constructive theology. The series is called New Studies in Dogmatics and is edited by Michael Allen (Knox Theological Seminary) and Scott R. Swain (Reformed Theological Seminary). Volumes and authors will include:
Holy Scripture: Donald Wood, University of Aberdeen
Trinity: Fred Sanders, Torrey Honors Institute of Biola University
The Divine Names: Scott R. Swain, Reformed Theological Seminary Orlando
Election: Oliver D. Crisp, Fuller Theological Seminary
Creation: Marguerite Shuster, Fuller Theological Seminary
Divine Action and Providence: Kevin J. Vanhoozer, Trinity Evangelical Divinity School
Humanity: the Image of God: Matt Jenson, Torrey Honors Institute of Biola University
Person of Christ: Michael Allen, Knox Theological Seminary
Redemption: Accomplished and Applied: Henri Blocher, Faculté Libre de Théologie Évangélique
Holy Spirit: Christopher R. J. Holmes, University of Otago
Justification: Michael Horton, Westminster Seminary California
Sanctification: Michael Allen, Knox Theological Seminary
Church: Gerald Bray, Knox Theological Seminary
Sacraments: J. Todd Billings, Western Theological Seminary
Last Things: Ivor J. Davidson, University of St. Andrews

I have to say, I'd question the addition of Marguerite Schuester of Fuller Theological Seminary on the topic of creation seems to be a letdown in advance. She is an ordained PCUSA minister (This is not to say she's not a leading scholar in this topic. However, her background seems to hint that the presuppositions she brings to the project won't necessarily be in line with Reformed presuppositions). Something like this could sour the series before it gets started (for me, it was much like the notion that James Dunn doing Romans had on the Word Biblical Commentary series).

Some of the other authors in the series are exceptional, however.

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