Divine Tension

Conwy, Wales

Divine Tension

From my PhD work on empirical theology; an interesting point made in regard to the tension between divine omnipotence and divine love. 

Additional 

Expiation: The idea that sin is covered over, through Christ’s death on the cross, his atoning work. The debt of sin is cancelled. Grenz, Guretzki, and Nordling (1999: 50). 

Propitiation: The atonement offering that turns away God’s wrath. Christ’s atoning work serves as propitiation. Grenz, Guretzki, and Nordling (1999: 96). 

PhD Edit

Related to this issue, according to van der Ven, is the tension between divine omnipotence and divine love.[1] Christ is seen as both a representative of the divine judge,[2] and the expiatory sacrifice and sufferer for humanity.[3] Expiation is the idea that Christ’s atoning death covers sin in believers and cleanses followers from corruption, according to Erickson.[4] Professor van der Ven is wise to suggest that an empirical analysis of how the ideas of God’s justice and love work together would be useful.[5] Understanding these concepts may be a struggle to many within the Church that are suffering, and ministers and leaders need to be aware of these difficulties in order to be of greater assistance.[6] 

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[1] van der Ven (1993: 161). 

[2] van der Ven (1993: 161). Mounce (1990: 365-366). 

[3] van der Ven (1993: 161). 

[4] Erickson (1994: 811).

[5] van der Ven (1993: 160).

[6] van der Ven (1993: 159).

ERICKSON, MILLARD (1994) Christian Theology, Grand Rapids, Baker Book House.

ERICKSON, MILLARD (2003) What Does God Know and When Does He Know It? Grand Rapids, Zondervan. 

MOUNCE, ROBERT H. (1990) The Book of Revelation, Grand Rapids, William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company. 

MOUNCE, ROBERT H. (1995) The New American Commentary: Romans, Nashville, Broadman & Holman Publishers. Pocket Dictionary Of Theological Terms (1999) Downers Grove, Illinois, InterVarsity Press. 

VAN DER VEN, JOHANNES (1993) Practical Theology, Translated by Barbara Schultz, AC Kampen, Netherlands, Kok Pharos Publishing House. 

VAN DER VEN, JOHANNES (1998) God Reinvented?, Leiden, Brill.

VAN DER VEN, JOHANNES (2005) ‘Theodicy Items and Scheme’, in a personal email from Johannes van der Ven, Nijmegen, Radboud University, Nijmegen. 

VAN DER VEN, JOHANNES (2006a) ‘Dates of Nijmegen authors’, in a personal email from Johannes van der Ven, Nijmegen, Radboud University, Nijmegen. 

VAN DER VEN, JOHANNES (2006b) ‘Symbols versus Models’, in a personal email from Johannes van der Ven, Nijmegen, Radboud University, Nijmegen.

VAN DER VEN, JOHANNES, PAUL VERMEER, AND ERIC VOSSEN (1996) ‘Learning Theodicy’, in Journal of Empirical Theology, Volume 9, pp. 67-85. Kampen, The Netherlands, Journal of Empirical Theology. 

VAN DER VEN, JOHANNES AND ERIC VOSSEN (1996) Suffering: Why for God’s Sake? Grand Rapids, Eerdmans.