God Without Measure - by John Webster (Hardcover)

About the Book

"This second of two volumes assembling a selection of the author's essays and papers features material on Christian dogmatics and morals. John Webster, in this the companion volume to The Domain of the Word, collates related studies on topics in dogmatic and moral theology. The volume begins with an introduction to the dominant themes of the book and its distinctive approach to them. This is followed by part one, which consists of three studies of the theology of God in himself: one on the neglected topic of divine aseity, and two on the theology of the eternal Son. The second part of the book treats the outer work of God in providence (chapter 5) and redemption (chapters 6 and 7). The third part features studies in the theology of created being, concentrating especially upon the moral nature of creatures, and concluding with a substantial treatment of the theology of the Christian society. The essays present a coherent understanding of the content, structure and proportions of Christian dogmatics, in which Christian teaching is understood as an extension of the Christian doctrine of God, and engage in critical conversation with classical and contemporary theological texts"--

Book Synopsis

In this second volume, Webster progresses the discussion to include topics in moral theology, and the theology of created intellect. An opening chapter sets the scene by considering the relation of christology and moral theology. This is followed by a set of reflections on a range of ethical themes: the nature of human dignity; mercy; the place of sorrow in Christian existence; the nature of human courage; dying and rising with Christ as a governing motif in the Christian moral life; the presence of sin in human speech.
Webster closes with studies of the nature of intellectual life and of the intellectual task of Christian theology.

Review Quotes

"Well worth reading, dwelling upon, and discussing." --Princeton Theological Review

"Webster's untimely death prevented him from completing his larger systematic project, and these two volumes can only whet the appetite of those who looked forward to that project. Yet, they may also stir up a thirst for something much greater than his dogmatics or any work of pilgrim theology for that matter. They may stir up a thirst for the living waters, and in so doing encourage pilgrims on their journey toward the visio Dei." --Theology and History

"John Webster has few peers, and this book serves further notice to the extraordinary breadth and calibre of his theological project. Always in service to Jesus Christ, Webster lays our basic components of the moral life, seamlessly and astutely drawing upon the Fathers, Aquinas, Calvin, John Owen, and Barth. One reads Webster with amazement and appreciation that theology, in a time of much superficiality, can again be so deeply and richly theocentric. This is a work of a contemporary master to whom all Christians must attend." --Matthew Levering, Mundelein Seminary, USA

"Written with the luminous clarity, scholarly depth and intellectual rigour for which John Webster is renowned, this collection reflects on the practical and ethical settings of the Christian life. Pursuing a resolutely theological approach to the dispositions and practices of faith, the various essays here will repay careful study and consideration." --David Fergusson, University of Edinburgh, UK

"Despite the diversity of the topics covered there is a very clear and distinctive unity of argument that is exhibited here." --Reviews in Religion and Theology

"These articles are indeed those of a genuine Christian theologian at his prime." --Regent's Reviews

About the Author

John Webster is Chair of Divinity at St Mary's College, University of Aberdeen, UK.