A Brief Systematic Theology of the Symbol

Mobley, Joshua/ McFarland, Ian A. (Editor)/ Davidson, Ivor J. (Editor)/ Webster, John (Editor)/ Ziegler, Philip G. (Editor)

ISBN 10: 0567702510 / ISBN 13: 9780567702517

Published by Bloomsbury T & T Clark, 2023

About this Item

232 pages. 9.21x6.14x1.00 inches. In Stock.

Seller Inventory # x-0567702510

Bibliographic Details

• Title: A Brief Systematic Theology of the Symbol
• Publisher: Bloomsbury T & T Clark
• Publication Date: 2023
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0567702510
• ISBN 13: 9780567702517
• Binding: Paperback
• Condition: Brand New
• Weight: 0.45 kilograms

About this title

Synopsis

How do Christians understand the Trinity? How does this understanding relate to other Christian teachings? In conversation with key thinkers in contemporary and classical theology, particularly Henri de Lubac, Karl Rahner, Thomas Aquinas and Augustine, this book argues that a theology of symbols can help us glimpse the mystery of the Trinity and see how this central Christian teaching corresponds to Christian understandings of creation, humanity and the church. A symbol is not here understood as an arbitrary sign, but as a sign that mediates the presence of the symbolized. Joshua Mobley examines the understanding of the Father as “symbolized” in the Son who is the “symbol” of the Father by the “symbolism” of the Spirit, the personal agent of unity between Father and Son. These trinitarian relations then structure creaturely relations to God: God is symbolized in creation, which is a symbol of God by participation in the Son, and the church is symbolism, the union of creation with God by the power of the Spirit. Mobley thus argues that a theology of symbol helps coordinate trinitarian theology with key themes in Christian dogmatics.

About the Authors

Joshua Mobley is a Lecturer at Baylor University, USA.

Ivor J. Davidson is Honorary Professor at the University of Aberdeen, UK. He was previously Professor of Theology at the University of Otago, New Zealand.

Philip G. Ziegler is Chair in Christian Dogmatics at the University of Aberdeen, UK.

John Webster (1955-2016) was one of the world's leading systematic theologians. His distinguished career saw him publish over 20 books and 100 major articles, solidifying himself as an expert on systematic theology as well as the works of Karl Barth and Eberhard Jüngel. He was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society of Edinburgh in 2005 and, along with Colin Gunton, he co-founded the International Journal of Theology. Ultimately, he rose through the ranks of academia to become the Chair of Divinity at University of St Andrews, UK.