Wordery is one of the fastest growing online booksellers. This is a collection of four lectures that Carson has put in book form. Though brief, this was a very helpful book. Why the Doctrine of the Love of God Must Be Judged Difficult There are at least five reasons. Carson does what Carson does best by taking on some of the common, unbiblical, but wildly popular views of God's love and clears away all of the false notions to help the reader come to a more accurate understanding of this critical doctrinal issue. He has been at Trinity since 1978. My Growth Group at church has, for this year, been going through Cedarville University's Old Testament Literature course by Dr. Chris Miller. Scripture urges us to contend for the faith that was once and for all entrusted to the saints. At first thought, understanding the doctrine of the love of God seems simple compared to trying to fathom other doctrines like that of the Trinity or predestination. He has served as assistant pastor and pastor and has done itinerant ministry in Canada and the United Kingdom. Carson addresses the fact that we water down the word love and lose the nuance and thus lose the power of God’s love. Carson is just a short book (96 pages) that is drawn from four lectures he delivered in 1998. In this treatment of many of the Bible’s passages regarding divine love, noted evangelical scholar D. A. Carson not only critiques sentimental ideas such as “God hates the sin but loves the sinner,” but provides a compelling perspective on the nature of God and why He loves as He does. Fix that problem! This is a brief book and is not meant to be a detailed exposition of this doctrine but rather offer doctrinal sketchings. A God of Many Understandings. Within the circle of that love is God’s “particular, effective, selecting love toward his elect." [xrr rating=4.5/5] Carson addresses a topic which has been so poorly handled so many times that many would find it difficult to imagine it as a “difficult doctrine.” He does a good job of explaining cultural definitions of love over against the Bible's definition of love. In this treatment of many of the Bible's passages regarding divine love, noted evangelical scholar D. A. Carson not only critiques sentimental ideas such as "God hates the sin but loves the sinner," but provides a compelling perspective on the nature of God and why He loves as He does. Carson blends his discourse with discussion of how God’s sovereignty and holiness complete the biblical picture of who He is and how He loves. The author, D.A. I read this book basically a page at a time, and it still felt short. Just a moment while we sign you in to your Goodreads account. Husbands are to love their wives as Christ loves the church (Ephesians 5:25). There is a real need for preachers to make the necessary qualifications here so that the gospel can be understood. Compared to other dialogs in theology, one may be tempted to relegate this teaching as material which is mastered in the early days of Sunday School. The good: I love the way Carson writes. In the first chapter, his reflection on the five ways the love of God can be defined in the Bible is the most helpful contribution. At first thought, understanding the doctrine of the love of God seems simple compared to trying to fathom other doctrines like that of the Trinity or predestination. To see what your friends thought of this book. Carson is just a short book (96 pages) that is drawn from four lectures Carson delivered in 1998. I recommend this for everybody interested in learning more about the Old Testament. The Difficult Doctrine of the Love of God by D.A. The content of The Difficult Doctrine of the Love of God is no exception. To me this was a frustrating read because I take Carson to be a brilliant expositor, but his generalizations and inconsistencies seemed fairly patent. It's not an easy read but one that would be certain to stimulate deep thought for any person who dares to tread into the pages. He has written or edited about sixty books. The Difficult Doctrine of the Love of God: D. A. Carson (9781844744275): Free Delivery when you spend £10 at Eden.co.uk The Difficult Doctrine of the Love of God seeks to restore what we have lost. Dr. Carson came and spoke at my Church recently, and I was very impressed with his preaching, so I decided to give this little book a try. An excellent book on the love of God. Donald Arthur Carson is a Canadian theologian currently serving as the Professor of New Testament at Trinity Evangelical Divinity School in Illinois. What I liked: D.A. The Next 500 Years: 2017 National Conference. In this treatment of many of the Bible’s passages regarding divine love, noted evangelical scholar D. A. Carson not only critiques sentimental ideas such as “God hates the sin but loves the sinner,” but provides a compelling perspective on the nature of God and why He loves as He does. I do think what Carson does well in this book is to show that God's love and wrath aren't necessarily incompatible. Share a Testimony, The mission, passion and purpose of Ligonier Ministries is to proclaim the holiness of God In Leaving Dirt Place, Jonah Haddad explores a multitude of philosophies and religions whose flawed accounts of love must ultimately yield to the truth of Christianity. December 10th 1999 Perfectly short and selective. In today’s world, however, it is a theme that has been taken for granted and treated as easily understood. About Wordery. And finally, at the center is God’s provisional love of the obedience of his children. There is much more that he could say on the subject, and I wish he had. Refresh and try again. I enjoyed the book. But what of God? Especially since the overwhelming majority of those who believe in God view Him as a loving being. But having read this book I believe it now. Those pieces also made it easier for me to understand the concepts. in all its fullness to as many people as possible. At first thought, understanding the doctrine of the love of God seems simple compared to trying to fathom other doctrines like that of the Trinity or predestination. While God's love is God's essence - i.e. intra-Trinitarian love,love for the world, and love for the elect). In the first chapter, his reflection on the five ways the love of God can be defined in the Bible is the most helpful contribution. He is a founding member and currently president of The Gospel Coalition. Carson is an outstanding exegete, in my opinion, and this study of God’s Love displays this for all to see. Publisher's Description A noted evangelical scholar presents a serious treatment of the doctrine of the love of God in an honest, biblically sound handling of questions it raises, misconstrued sentimentalities, and difficult passages. In some ways I felt like he had things just a bit too well figured out though - as though he had God and God's love and wrath figured out so that it fit his theological viewpoint. Carson received the Bachelor of Science in chemistry from McGill University, the Master of Divinity from Central Baptist Seminary in Toronto, and the Doctor of Philosophy in New Testament from the University of Cambridge. In this treatment of many of the Bible’s passages regarding divine love, noted evangelical scholar D. A. Carson not only critiques sentimental ideas such as “God hates the sin but loves the sinner,” but provides a compelling perspective on the nature of God and why … The Difficult Doctrine of the Love of God seeks to restore what we have lost. But here there is more: in eternity past, the Father loved the Son, and the Son loved the Father. The theme of the love of God is inexhaustible, both in our experience and our theology. It was excellent! They focus on some of the superficial paradoxes of God's love. In his book. Carson sets forth in this book to outline how Christians should proceed toward an understanding of this great doctrine. For example, the guiding principle of his book was to nuance the word 'love' (agapao), yet when juxtaposing John 3:16 with 1 John 2:15-17 he failed to do that for the word 'world'. The Difficult Doctrine of the Love of God, Carson finds five distinct ways that the. (1) If people believe in God at all today, the overwhelming majority hold that this God—however he, she, or it may be understood—is a loving being. His holiness, His sovereignty, His wrath are often rejected as being incompatible with a “loving” God. A friend loaned this to my daughter and the title intrigued me. I wish I had seen it when I was a knew Christian, but I equally recommend it for those long in the faith, as there is always more to learn! I will summarize the direction and purpose of the book and then point out some startling statements made by Carson himself in relation to his perspective on the love of God. They have two adult children. But that is what makes the task of the Christian witness so daunting. The eternal nature of God - that is another difficult or impossible one. It is the Christian God alone whose divine and perfect love was revealed in all its splendor in the cross of Jesus Christ. 1896 Ratings. A central doctrine to Christian belief would be that of the holy trinity. I studied it in Bible Study! For example, the guiding principle of his book was to nuance the word 'love' (agapao), yet when juxtaposing John 3:16 with 1 John 2:15-17 he failed to do that for the word 'world' (kosmos) [pp 79-80], which changes the meaning considerably between the two texts. intra-Trinitarian love,love for the world, and love for the elect). The doctrine of the love of God is not an easy doctrine. Very thought provoking short, 84 page book that covers a variety of issues related to the love of God. In doing away with trivialities and cliches, this work gets to the heart of this all-important doctrine from an unflinching evangelical perspective. In this way, The Difficult Doctrine of the Love of God combines the deeply and profoundly theological with the pastoral. His ideas here could be extended with some synthesis of the doctrine of union with Christ. People who have embraced modernism will have problems with it. The Difficult Doctrine of the Love of God (Book Review) The Difficult Doctrine of the Love of God - DA Carson - IVP 2000 - £4.99 Pb 111pp - ISBN 0851119751 One of the most frequent arguments against Christianity that my non-Christian friends cite is the difficulty of reconciling God's love with his judgment. It is a non-prejudice, non-selective love. The only reason it is 4 stars instead of 5 stars is due to the length. The best thing Carson did is exactly what the title of the book says : the love of God isn’t a easy doctrine to understand and articulate. D.A. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of, Published Carson came to Trinity from the faculty of Northwest Baptist Theological Seminary in Vancouver, British Columbia, where he also served for two years as academic dean. The Doctrine Of The Holy Trinity 853 Words | 4 Pages. We’d love your help. I do think what Carson does well in this book is to show that God's love and wrath aren't necessarily incompatible. This will make us all better exegetes as we follow Carson's example and properly clarify what we mean when we discuss the Love of God for us in Christ. The Difficult Doctrine of the Love of God by D.A. Anyone who possesses such a love must, like Christ, be ever-ready to live it out. ignoring the variance in the Bible's presentation of the love of God. Donald A. Carson is research professor of New Testament at Trinity Evangelical Divinity School in Deerfield, Illinois. Nottingham: Inter-Varsity Press, 2000. There was a small amount of editing performed, but the conversational nature of the speech carries through the … This book will yield many insights for all those who are willing to consider thoughtfully what he has to say. Its objects may be moral, immoral, tolerable or obnoxious. Highly recommended. Most useful is the way he delineates between the love God has for his Church and the love he has for all mankind, such that the gospel is som. That is precisely what makes this doctrine so difficult. In this treatment of many of the Bible's passages regarding divine love, noted evangelical scholar D. A. Carson not only critiques sentimental ideas such as "God hates the sin but loves the sinner," but provides a compelling perspective on the nature of God and why He loves as He does. The difficult doctrine of the love of God by Carson, D. A. I should have read this book years ago. Carson addresses the fact that we water down the word love and lose the nuance and thus lose the power of God’s love. Looking for a fictional meet-cute in the new year? This book isn’t long but it isn’t light reading either. Very good reminder of God's love for us, though undeserving. Because pop culture has so distorted and secularized God’s love, many Christians have lost a biblical understanding of it and, in turn, lost a vital means to knowing who God is. This is an excellent, level-headed reflection upon the God of love as He is revealed in Scripture. I will definitely be looking for other books by Dr. Carson. The Bible says that we are to love others the way that God loves us. There has, See 1 question about The Difficult Doctrine of the Love of God…. The Difficult Doctrine of the Love of God seeks to restore what we have lost. But the love of God? I recommend this for everybody interested in learning more about the Old Testament. Dr. Carson came and spoke at my Church recently, and I was very impressed with his preaching, so I decided to give this little book a try. DA Carson does a good job breaking the topic into distinct portions. Within that circle is God’s love of the fallen world. God's love is broken down into 5 distinguishable characteristics in this book. It was excellent! For us there was no other name fitting for this child of God’s sovereignty than to name her “grace”. This book was originally lectures given at a variety of seminaries, so his vocabulary is not basic, and many parts will over the head of laymen, but Carson has a beautiful way of communicating deep truths with comedy and levity, and then in the next sentence, solemn seriousness and pastoral care. It treats the four types of love of God : 1) God's intratrinitarian love (especially between the Father and the Son) 2) God's providential love for Creation 3) God's redemptive love for mankind 4) God's particular love for the elect 5) God's conditional love for those who obey him It deals him with classic cliché like difference between eros and agape, modern views on God's nature, God's love in relation with his other … Especially since the overwhelming majority of those who believe in God view Him as a loving being. Carson is an active guest lecturer in academic and church settings around the world. The only reason it is 4 stars instead of 5 stars is due to the length. However, D. A. Carson has masterfully displayed that the doctrine of God’s love is indeed difficult, and as such, is worthy of careful attention. This will make us all better e. The good: I love the way Carson writes. This book is classic Carson. Find helpful customer reviews and review ratings for The Difficult Doctrine of the Love of God at Amazon.com. This is a theological book that will need to be read slowly by those who are not used to such writings, but it would be thoroughly worth you effort. Carson who can handle the Bible with care, intelligently yet with real feeling, and who are brave enough to hold to the difficult doctrines of word of God. There were some things I really liked about this book, in particular how he talked about five aspects of God's love, and the danger of absolutizing any one of them. Truly, the love of God is difficult to understand. 2010. He’s doing a good job describing at least 5 different ways the Bible speak about God’s love. That is precisely what makes this doctrine so difficult. Especially since the overwhelming majority of those who believe in God view Him as a loving being. This was my 2nd reading of this little book, and it was even better this time around. I've really enjoyed going through these lectures each week, and despite having read the Bible many times, there is plenty that I have missed. Donate Now. The love of Allah is providential, which, as we saw in the first chapter, is one of the ways the Bible speaks of God. However, D. A. Carson has masterfully displayed that the doctrine of God’s love is indeed difficult, and as such, is worthy of careful attention. The author reminds us that focusing on any one to the exclusion of the others misrepresents who God declares to be in His Word. Carson (PDF) $2.99. “Christian faithfulness entails our responsibility to grow in our grasp of what it means that God is love.” The doctrine remains central to the message of Christianity and therefore, especially in light of its complexity, should be the focus of disciplined study. Please check back soon to purchase this item. His ideas here could be extended with some synthesis of the doctrine of union with Christ. Just how to define or describe the love of God may be difficult if not impossible. Donald A. Carson is research professor of New Testament at Trinity Evangelical Divinity School in Deerfield, Illinois. Carson shows that the word 'love' has semantic range, but I found his way of categorizing texts to be fairly subjective and strongly guided by Reformed presuppositions. Through this book, it is my first time to gaze into the intra-trinitarian love, from which all love emanates. We need more theologians like D.A. Read honest and unbiased product reviews from our users. In some ways I felt like he had things just a bit too well figured out though - as though he had God and God's love and wrath figured out so that it fit his theological viewpoint. The Ligonier Ministries site requires Javascript, but you’ve got Javascript disabled. This made it easier for me to read at a pace that suited my schedule. In today’s world, however, it is a theme that has been taken for granted and treated as easily understood. Carson articulates well the problems we have when we talk about the love of God. Though Christian doctrine recognizes the existence of only one true God, the doctrine of the trinity describes this God as being “three in one”, meaning that there are three entities to compose the singular God. God is love; and we are the friends of God. Within that love is “God’s providential love over all that he has made.” This is God’s love as a Creator. We are to love the family of God (1 Peter 2:17). The Difficult Doctrine of the Love of God seeks to restore what we have lost. Carson came to Trinity from the faculty of Northwest Baptist Theological Seminary in Vancouver, British Columbia, where he also served for two years as academic dean. The only aspect of God’s character the world still believes in is His love. To paraphrase one of my favourite writers, good theology is always immensely practical for it is meant to be lived out. It would have helped me understand the love of God in a time when I was wrestling with various aspects of his love (I.e. Your gift enables our worldwide outreach. In The Difficult Doctrine of the Love of God Carson tackles what is perhaps the most difficult issue for Reformed thinkers to grapple with: if the God of the Bible is sovereign, can he really be loving? The Difficult Doctrine of the Love of God seeks to restore what we have lost. A noted evangelical scholar presents a serious treatment of the doctrine of the love of God in an honest, biblically sound handling of questions it raises, misconstrued sentimentalities, and difficult passages. “Christian faithfulness entails our responsibility to g. The doctrine of the love of God is not an easy doctrine. A helpful and thought-provoking analysis of the part love plays in God's character, Carson's careful exegesis and insight provide food for thought in a context where the love of God is taken for granted, set in opposition to any idea of wrath, and caricatured easily. There is much more that he could say on the subject, and I wish he had. But that truth, which is never separated from other attributes of God, is rich and more powerful than a simple gushy feeling God is often projected as having. He has been at Trinity since 1978. Has this product helped you? Welcome back. We are to love our enemies—that is, we are to actively seek what is best for them (Matthew 5:44). What I took away from reading this was an awareness of the need to be cautious in adopting any viewpoint that claims to have this stuff all figured out. We've got some steamy novels for you to snuggle up with, including Casey McQuiston's... At first thought, understanding the doctrine of the love of God seems simple compared to trying to fathom other doctrines like that of the Trinity or predestination. "We have been incalculably privileged not only to be saved by God's love, but to be shown it, to be informed about it, to be let in on the mind if God. There is nothing that God has made that he does not love. Agape love has its origin from God, “God is love” (1 John 4:8). I learnt this in Sunday School! It appears from certain scriptures (1 John 3:16; John 3:16) that the love of God is of such a nature that it betokens a constant interest in the physical and spiritual welfare of His creatures as to lead Him to make sacrifices beyond human conception to reveal that love. It is easy to read right past the title, for it seems like God's love would be one of the easiest of doctrines to grasp. There are no discussion topics on this book yet. A noted evangelical scholar presents a serious treatment of the doctrine of the love of God in an honest, biblically sound handling of questions it raises, misconstrued sentimentalities, and difficult passages. I wish I had seen it when I was a knew Christian, but I equally recommend it for those long in the faith, as there is always more to. I read this book basically a page at a time, and it still felt short. This book isn’t long but it isn’t light reading either. His discussion of how the wrath of God relates to the love of God is legitimately thrilling. I've really enjoyed going through these lectures each week, and despite having read the Bible many times, there is plenty that I have missed. We will reflect on it and adore him for eternity. DA Carson is one of the clearest and deepest thinkers in the Reformed evangelical world. 96 pages. Especially since the overwhelming majority of those who believe in God view Him as a loving being. He is a remarkable man with the understanding and confidence to tackle the most complex theological issues of our time such as evangelizing to post-moderns and the Emergent Church. There were some things I really liked about this book, in particular how he talked about five aspects of God's love, and the danger of absolutizing any one of them. This is a theological book that will need to be read slowly by those who are not used to such wri. D. A. Carson has written a decisive rebuttal to those who make the mistake of. I wouldn't have believed it. Author: Todd Miles. Because it is based off of a lecture series, it is easy to read, while still including deep theological content. Compared to other dialogs in theology, one may be tempted to relegate this teaching as material which is mastered in the early days of Sunday School. The Difficult Doctrine of the Love of God seeks to restore what we have lost. A helpful and thought-provoking analysis of the part love plays in God's character, Carson's careful exegesis and insight provide food for thought in a context where the love of God is taken for granted, set in opposition to any idea of wrath, and caricatured easily. I will definitely be looking for othe. “The Difficult Doctrine of the Love of God” is the title of a book by prolific author D. A. Carson, professor of New Testament studies at Trinity Evangelical Seminary. The theme of the love of God is inexhaustible, both in our experience and our theology. My Growth Group at church has, for this year, been going through Cedarville University's Old Testament Literature course by Dr. Chris Miller. Most useful is the way he delineates between the love God has for his Church and the love he has for all mankind, such that the gospel is something that may be extended freely to all persons in good conscience. The Difficult Doctrine of the Love of God seeks to restore what we have lost. People who love Gods word will love this book. “If this were all the Bible discloses about God, we would read in its pages of a holy God of impeccable justice. His discussion of how the wrath of God relates to the love of God is legitimately thrilling. The Trinity is a difficult doctrine to understand - impossible even. A short book that is long on challenging doctrinal thoughts and clarifications on the love of God. Certainly, God loves and is love; toddlers and adults alike can taste this truth with ease. Carson, D. A. I sang about it in meeting! One Holy Passion: 2002 Portland Conference, Amazing Love: 1998 Los Angeles Conference, Communion with God: Fellowship with the Father, Son and Holy Spirit, Naming Ligonier the Beneficiary of a Bank or Investment Account, Gifts That Provide Income and Tax Benefits, The Difficult Doctrine of the Love of God. Many see It's simple and easily understood; or is it? Certainly, God loves and is love; toddlers and adults alike can taste this truth with ease. The Difficult Doctrine of the Love of God seeks to restore what we have lost. We will reflect on it and adore him for eternity. In this short, yet remarkably dense volume, Carson does not put forward a unifying theory of God’s love, but rather he embraces the multifaceted nature of this doctrine, as presented to us in scripture. What I took away from reading this was. Goodreads helps you keep track of books you want to read. It would have helped me understand the love of God in a time when I was wrestling with various aspects of his love (I.e. ", I should have read this book years ago. Carson shows that the word 'love' has semantic range, but I found his way of categorizing texts to be fairly subjective and strongly guided by Reformed presuppositions. Carson and his wife, Joy, reside in Libertyville, Illinois. God is love, God's wrath is only a functional quality of His holiness; if there is no sin, there will be no God's wrath, and God will still be God. This book was originally lectures given at a variety of seminaries, so his vocabulary is not basic, and many parts will over the head of laymen, but Carson has a beautiful way of communicating deep truths with comedy and levity, and then in the next sentence, solemn seriousness and pastoral care. He has served as assistant pastor and pastor and has done itinerant ministry in. To me this was a frustrating read because I take Carson to be a brilliant expositor, but his generalizations and inconsistencies seemed fairly patent. Start by marking “The Difficult Doctrine of the Love of God” as Want to Read: Error rating book. That is precisely what makes this doctrine so difficult. At first thought, understanding the doctrine of the love of God seems simple compared to trying to fathom other doctrines like that of the Trinity or predestination. Publication date 2000 Topics Christian mission & evangelism, Nature & existence of God, Religion, God, Theology, Doctrinal Publisher Leicester, England : Inter-Varsity Collection inlibrary; printdisabled; internetarchivebooks; china Digitizing sponsor Put another way, God exercised His love for us in sovereignly bringing circumstances about the way He chose. I'd recommend it to anyone wanting to dig deeper into Christian faith-based studies. 'God is love.' Yet it does so without losing its personal emphasis: for in understanding more of the comprehensive nature of God’s love as declared in His Word, you will come to understand God and His unending love for you more completely. Dr. Carson did a good job of making sure the reader was sober in their understanding of God’s love in multiple facets, and defended essential truths of God’s love such as His immutability, wrath, holiness, etc. The Difficult Doctrine of the Love is a great read and it’s … The Difficult Doctrine of the Love of God By D.A. I’d recommend the book as a good primer to obtaining a foundation for this doctrine. The Difficult Doctrine of the Love of God seeks to restore what we have lost. The idea that we only keep such love … by Crossway Books, The Difficult Doctrine of the Love of God. The Difficult Doctrine of the Love of God. Could say on the love of God is not meant to be detailed... 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