Original Sin: Illuminating the Riddle (New Studies in Biblical Theology)

Blocher, Henri

ISBN 10: 0802844111 / ISBN 13: 9780802844118

Published by Eerdmans Pub Co, 1999

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Bibliographic Details

• Title: Original Sin: Illuminating the Riddle (New Studies in Biblical Theology)
• Publisher: Eerdmans Pub Co
• Publication Date: 1999
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0802844111
• ISBN 13: 9780802844118
• Binding: Soft cover
• Condition: New

About this title

Synopsis

The twentieth century has witnessed suffering and human cruelty on a scale never before imagined. Yet, paradoxically, the doctrine of original sin has undergone neglect in recent years. In this sophisticated treatment of the biblical evidence for original sin, Henri Blocher offers a robust study that interacts with the best scientific, literary, and theological thinking on the subject. Building his argument on a detailed analysis of the scriptural evidence for original sin, especially looking at key texts in Genesis and Romans, Blocher shows, with due consideration to current intellectual objections to the doctrine, that while the nature of original sin is certainly a mystery, only belief in it makes sense of evil and wrongdoing.

Reviews

Blocher, who teaches systematic theology at the Faculte Libre de Theologie Evangelique, Vaux-sur-Seine, France, approaches original sin as a riddle. As he sees it, the riddle arises not so much from original sin as from the widespread denial of the concept in a century marked by unprecedented violence and cruelty. After a general survey of biblical material, Blocher turns to Paul's discussion in Romans 5 of the relationship between Christ and Adam. He contends that a close reading of the fall of Adam does not bear the interpretation that Adam's sin and guilt were transferred to later generations. Rather, he asserts, the freedom of Adam's will to choose evil represents "an inborn state" that results in alienation from God. Freedom of the will is part of the human condition and that freedom entails a hereditary separation from God. However, Blocher sees this state as a "gate of hope" that opens humanity to compassion rather than despair. "Recognizing our radical separation from God and our potentail to choose evil should lead not to condemnation but to compassion." says Blocher. His account of original sin goes far in rehabilitating the doctrine of original sin from its traditionally negative associations.
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