Beth. This is exceptionally helpful. Thank you. I really struggled with the title of the book. The very assumption that God wasn't merciful enough as it was at the cross smacks of some odd theological contortions. But, then again, haven't read the book. Keep doing the work you do, friend.
Thank you for reviewing this book. I am in the middle of reading it and SO appreciate many aspects of the book but also struggle with many aspects.
I really appreciated RH saying he might have gotten a few things wrong in his earlier work, 'The Moral Vision of the New Testament'. RH wants to ‘explore a new way of listening to the story that scripture tells about the widening scope of God’s mercy.’ I so appreciate any academic, any theologian, who says – maybe I did not get it right last time around, or probably I did a poor job of explaining my thinking.
I also appreciated the fresh readings of old Biblical texts such as Genesis, Deuteronomy and Numbers! Genesis is one of my favorite books to teach – I have read and thought and studied and pondered and discussed this ancient text A LOT and CH gave me some food for thought.
I also appreciate that some of this book “troubles me” – I need to be troubled at times, to have my own thinking and theology challenged. It refines me. It took courage to write this book. Yes, there are troubling ideas presented by the authors – God’s mercy widens, so was it EVER narrow? Maybe it is our understanding of God’s mercy that needs to widen? Maybe it is our understanding of his goodness and commitment to humanity that has been too narrow? ‘Humans, however, really like to put God in a box.’ (Pg 62). That rings so true. Does God have something new to say?
I too looked for more on gender and sexuality issues, but so far there is not much specifically there. I haven’t finished the book, saw this post and wanted to comment. What really excites me about this book is learning together as a community even if it is just with RH and CH because some things I see clearly but there is much I do not!
Thank you for "complaining" with intelligence and faithfulness. You've helped me, and I assume other readers, identify specific elements that bother us about the argument Hays and Hays put forth.
This is great review, I too am appreciative of the direction of this book but felt uneasy about the focus on God changing God's mind. Thank you for putting into words an even my more beautiful theology.
If we start with all things finding their telos in Christ - and then read backwards we can began to see a grace that is deeper and wider than we dared imagine.
Beth. This is exceptionally helpful. Thank you. I really struggled with the title of the book. The very assumption that God wasn't merciful enough as it was at the cross smacks of some odd theological contortions. But, then again, haven't read the book. Keep doing the work you do, friend.
thank you
Thank you for reviewing this book. I am in the middle of reading it and SO appreciate many aspects of the book but also struggle with many aspects.
I really appreciated RH saying he might have gotten a few things wrong in his earlier work, 'The Moral Vision of the New Testament'. RH wants to ‘explore a new way of listening to the story that scripture tells about the widening scope of God’s mercy.’ I so appreciate any academic, any theologian, who says – maybe I did not get it right last time around, or probably I did a poor job of explaining my thinking.
I also appreciated the fresh readings of old Biblical texts such as Genesis, Deuteronomy and Numbers! Genesis is one of my favorite books to teach – I have read and thought and studied and pondered and discussed this ancient text A LOT and CH gave me some food for thought.
I also appreciate that some of this book “troubles me” – I need to be troubled at times, to have my own thinking and theology challenged. It refines me. It took courage to write this book. Yes, there are troubling ideas presented by the authors – God’s mercy widens, so was it EVER narrow? Maybe it is our understanding of God’s mercy that needs to widen? Maybe it is our understanding of his goodness and commitment to humanity that has been too narrow? ‘Humans, however, really like to put God in a box.’ (Pg 62). That rings so true. Does God have something new to say?
I too looked for more on gender and sexuality issues, but so far there is not much specifically there. I haven’t finished the book, saw this post and wanted to comment. What really excites me about this book is learning together as a community even if it is just with RH and CH because some things I see clearly but there is much I do not!
A helpful review to take alongside my own reading. Thank you.
This is the best engagement I've read with the book so far, thanks for this.
thanks Aimee
Thank you for "complaining" with intelligence and faithfulness. You've helped me, and I assume other readers, identify specific elements that bother us about the argument Hays and Hays put forth.
I just read another review by a very different author who had a similar complaint. Thank you for your analysis.
Excellent analysis. I so appreciate your work. Thank you.
This is great review, I too am appreciative of the direction of this book but felt uneasy about the focus on God changing God's mind. Thank you for putting into words an even my more beautiful theology.
If we start with all things finding their telos in Christ - and then read backwards we can began to see a grace that is deeper and wider than we dared imagine.
Thank you for doing beautiful theology.
Chad Miller