C.E.B. Cranfield: Romans (PhD Edit)

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I owned a copy of Cranfield’s Roman’s commentary from my Columbia Bible College course work days, and during my Doctoral work one of my advisors at The University Wales opined it was one of the finest commentaries on Romans in print.

The Problem Of Evil

C.E.B. Cranfield (1992) comments that although God can will grievous and evil things to occur,[1] God in Christ works these things towards the greater good,[2] in particular in the context of salvation for those that know Christ.[3] Evil and sin are not to be confused with goodness and obedience[4] within Reformed traditions, but as God willingly allows evil things to occur, his purposes and motives are pure. 

David Ray Griffin (1976) critically disagrees with this concept of John Calvin and others,[5] but correctly defines the idea that God’s will must be regarded as righteous, even when we as human beings cannot fully understand the rightness of his judgments, since God is the definition of righteousness.[6] 

Wright reasons the problem of evil can be solved in a straightforward manner by proposing that God predestines evils to occur for a particular purpose,[7] and that persons do not have an answer back for God.[8] 

This comment from Wright[9] is accurate from a Reformed perspective. I can interject and state that academically solving the logical and gratuitous problems of evil by tying them back to God is an ultimate intellectual solution,[10] but there are still practical ramifications to deal with, such as why certain evils occur. The fact that a sovereignty theodicy can logically and reasonable solve its problem of evil, does not mean that suffering often comes with an explanation.[11] 

Creation

Romans, Chapter 1 indicates this idea and C.E.B. Cranfield explains that since creation persons have viewed within that creation God’s eternal power and his divine nature. Cranfield (1992: 32). 

CALVIN, JOHN (1539)(1998) The Institutes of the Christian Religion, Book II, Translated by Henry Beveridge, Grand Rapids, The Christian Classic Ethereal Library, Wheaton College.

CALVIN, JOHN (1539)(1998) The Institutes of the Christian Religion, Book IV, Translated by Henry Beveridge, Grand Rapids, The Christian Classic Ethereal Library, Wheaton College.

CALVIN, JOHN (1540)(1973) Romans and Thessalonians, Translated by Ross Mackenzie, Grand Rapids, Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Company.

CALVIN, JOHN (1543)(1996) The Bondage and Liberation of the Will, Translated by G.I. Davies, Grand Rapids, Baker Book House.

CALVIN, JOHN (1550)(1978) Concerning Scandals, Translated by John W. Fraser, Grand Rapids, William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company.

CALVIN, JOHN (1552)(1995) Acts, Translated by Watermark, Nottingham, Crossway Books. 

CALVIN, JOHN (1553)(1952) Job, Translated by Leroy Nixon, Grand Rapids, Baker Book House.

CALVIN, JOHN (1554)(1965) Genesis, Translated by John King, Edinburgh, The Banner of Truth Trust.

CRANFIELD, C.E.B. (1992) Romans: A Shorter Commentary, Grand Rapids, William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company.

GRIFFIN, DAVID RAY (1976) God, Power, and Evil, Philadelphia, The Westminster Press.

WRIGHT, R.K.McGREGOR (1996) No Place for Sovereignty,  Downers Grove, Illinois, InterVarsity Press.  

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[1] Cranfield (1992: 204).

[2] Cranfield (1992: 204).

[3] Cranfield (1992: 204).

[4] Cranfield (1992: 204).

[5] Griffin (1976: 129).

[6] Griffin (1976: 129).

[7] Wright (1996: 197).

[8] Wright (1996: 197).

[9] Wright (1996: 197).

[10] Wright (1996: 197).

[11] This is where practical and empirical theology can be very helpful when they offer practical assistance to those suffering under the problem of evil.