Daniel L. Migliore

Summary: An introduction to theology, covering all the major topics of systematic theology.

Over the years, I’ve been tempted several times to pick up this volume. The seminary I attended used different introductory texts for its systematic theology sequence, which is the primary audience for this work, though hardly exclusively so. I would observe that the clear and highly readable coverage of all the major theological topics makes this a great introduction for any layperson willing to invest the effort to work through its pages. Since I have not read or have access to earlier editions, all I can note is that the author claims to have updated the text throughout, including the bibliographies at the end of each chapter. The text evidences engagement with current questions of the environment, global Christianity, and relating to other religious beliefs.

In my review, I will not attempt to discuss every chapter or topic in this work but rather make some basic observations. One is that the title Faith Seeking Understanding reflects the overriding approach of this book, shaped by the profound influence of Karl Barth interpretation of the Reformed tradition on the author. He contends that a mature faith is a questioning faith, turning to God’s self-disclosure in Christ and the scriptures for understanding.

Those who hold to conservative beliefs on the inspiration and infallibility of scripture will take exception with Migliore who would call this “biblicist.” He would argue for scripture as a witness to the living Word, especially through the narratives concerning Jesus, through which God encounters us authoritatively and transformatively.

The chapter on the Triune God is one of the best in the book and left me pausing to worship. With elegance, clarity, and concision, Migliore discusses the development of belief in the Triune God, the errors to which the councils responded, the attributes of God and election in light of the doctrine of the Trinity. He is emphatic that for Christians to speak of God, we must speak of the Triune God. In the following chapter on creation, the transcendence and immanence of the Triune God provides grounds for our care for a good but groaning creation.

The chapter on the person and work of Christ masterfully discusses both past and present issues of Christology. I was surprised to find that he collapses the discussion of models of the atonement to three: Christus Victor, satisfaction, and moral influence, collapsing the substitionary model under satisfaction. He notes that no single model is supported by the creeds, and commends that all be drawn upon. He offers a helpful response to the critique of violence and the cross in framing the cross as God’s response to human violence, to reconcile the violent to God. The author also includes a chapter on contextual Christologies, outlining Latin, Mujerista, Asian American, feminist, and Black Christologies. A new addition to this edition is a “Christ and Cosmos” addressing the critique of Christianity as detrimental to ecological concern, considering the implications of the incarnation, cross, and resurrection for our care of creation.

One of the highlights of the chapter on “The Holy Spirit and the Christian Life” is a succinct identification of the marks of Christian maturing: as hearers of the Word, in prayer, in the exercise of Christian freedom, in solidarity with all creatures, in thankfulness and joy, and in hope. Similarly, he offers a trenchant exposition of the marks of the church as one, holy, catholic, and apostolic. He offers a thoughtful discussion of Christian faith and other religions and the approaches of inclusion, exclusion, and pluralism. He contends that we ought relate with those of other faiths in confidence that God’s grace in Christ through the Spirit is at work, recognized or not. This requires both genuine dialogue and gospel faithfulness and ought happen at the grassroots, as part of everyday life.

Finally, eschatology is framed around Christian hope. He considers the hope of the resurrection, both in time and in the eschaton. He discusses judgment and hell, contending we cannot be presumptuous in speaking for God or beyond what scripture discloses but also that we ought to hope in God.

One of the interesting features carried over from previous editions is found in the appendices, each of which are fictional dialogues between Karl Barth and other interlocutors on natural theology, the resurrection, political theology, and atheism. A fifth appendix is devoted to a theological glossary. Once again, Migliore excels in saying a lot with clarity in very little space.

I can see why this work is popular in seminary use. Migliore, while admittedly Barthian, writes a work that is generally fair-minded to different perspectives and represents these where Christians differ. His coverage of majority world theologies as well as western, classical approaches reflects our global Christian world. I do wish that he would not throw around the term “biblicist” for those whose view of scripture is more conservative than his and that he would have dealt with substitutionary atonement in greater depth. Yet this is a work that exalts God, is centered in Christ, envisions the greatness of Christ’s work in us, and the beauty of our future hope. For those who hunger to know what they believe as Christians, or to even understand what Christians believe, this is a good introduction, remarkably elegant and concise for the breadth it must cover. I’m glad that a copy finally came my way and to have read it and to have it for future reference.

________________________________

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received a complimentary review copy of this book from the publisher.… (altro)