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Theological Retrieval for Evangelicals

Why We Need Our Past to Have a Future

Gavin Ortlund

wheaton, illinois

Theological Retrieval for Evangelicals: Why We Need Our Past to Have a Future

Published by Crossway

1300 Crescent Street

Wheaton, Illinois 60187

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopy, recording, or otherwise, without the prior permission of the publisher, except as provided for by USA copyright law. Crossway® is a registered trademark in the United States of America.

Cover design: Jordan Singer

Cover image: Procession of the Knights of the Bath, Canaletto (Giovanni Antonio Canal) (1697–1768) / by courtesy of Dean & Chapter of Westminster Abbey, UK / Bridgeman Images

First printing 2019

Scripture quotations are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Trade paperback ISBN: 978-1-4335-6526-7

ePub ISBN: 978-1-4335-6529-8

PDF ISBN: 978-1-4335-6527-4

Mobipocket ISBN: 978-1-4335-6528-1

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Names: Ortlund, Gavin, 1983- author.

Title: Theological retrieval for evangelicals : why we need our past to have a future / Gavin Ortlund.

Description: Wheaton : Crossway, 2019. | Includes bibliographical references and index.

Subjects: LCSH: Theology—History. | Theology—Methodology. | Evangelicalism. Reformed Church—Doctrines.

Classification: LCC BR118 (ebook) | LCC BR118 .O785 2019 (print) | DDC 230—dc23

LC record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2019000335

Crossway is a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.

For Mom and Dad,

who are not only my wonderful parents,

but my dear friends

Contents

Preface

PART 1: A MANIFESTO FOR THEOLOGICAL RETRIEVAL

1 Can Evangelicals Retrieve Patristic and Medieval Theology?

2 Why Evangelicals Need Theological Retrieval

3 Benefits and Perils of Theological Retrieval

PART 2: CASE STUDIES IN THEOLOGICAL RETRIEVAL

4 Explorations in a Theological Metaphor: Boethius, Calvin, and Torrance on the Creator/Creation Distinction

5 God Is Not a Thing: Divine Simplicity in Patristic and Medieval Perspective

6 Substitution as Both Satisfaction and Recapitulation: Atonement Themes in Convergence in Irenaeus, Anselm, and Athanasius

7 Cultivating Skill in the “Art of Arts”: Gregory the Great on Pastoral Balance

General Index

Scripture Index

Even if history were judged incapable of other uses,

its entertainment value would remain in its favor.

—Marc Bloch

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About Theological Retrieval for Evangelicals: Why We Need Our Past to Have a Future

Evangelicalism is not commonly known for mining the rich theological heritage handed down from previous generations. Instead, it tends to follow what, in the worst cases, can look like a “me and my Bible” approach to theology. But lately there has been a restlessness among evangelicals—an aching for theological rootedness that has led some to abandon Protestantism altogether. This book aims to set forth a vision for how engaging historical theology can enrich and strengthen the church today—and highlight how it can be done without abandoning a Protestant identity. By addressing two key doctrines—the doctrines of God and the atonement—and drawing from neglected theologians—Boethius, Gregory the Great, and John of Damascus—this book charts a course for evangelicals eager to draw from the past to meet the challenges of the present.

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Table of Contents