The Doctrine of the Incarnation Opened: An Abridgement with Introduction and Response

by Edward Irving, Alexander J. D. Irving (Editor), Graham McFarlane (Introduction), Daniel Jordan Cameron (Afterword)

Overview

Edward Irving's Christological thought was at the center of a theological storm in the early nineteenth century. For Irving, that God the Son assumed a fallen human nature was of the upmost importance. Without this, he believed, the reality of salvation was questioned, the trinitarian grammar of the work of God was neglected, and the basis of Christian discipleship in the power of the Spirit was emptied of its power. Irving's views on this matter went on to inform the thought of John McLeod Campbell, Thomas F. Torrance, and Karl Barth. This abridgement presents Irving's distinctive views regarding the person of Jesus Christ in an accessible format. Readers will be further assisted in engaging with Irving's views with an introduction and a critical response.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781725291843
Publisher:	Wipf & Stock Publishers
Publication date:	08/31/2021
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	254
File size:	4 MB

About the Author

Edward Irving (1792–1834) was an influential Scottish clergyman based in nineteenth-century London.

Alexander J. D. Irving is Lecturer and Tutor in Theology, St Mellitus College, London.

Edward Irving (1792-1834) was a dynamic and controversial Scottish preacher. After serving as assistant to Thomas Chalmers in Glasgow (1819-22), Irving was called to the Caledonian Church, London, where his speaking brought him much attention. As his preaching began to emphasize the supernatural and the imminence of the second coming of Christ, criticism arose, especially over his views on the human nature of Christ. In 1832 he was debarred from the Regent Square Church; in 1833 he was deposed from the ministry of the Church of Scotland.

Irving had, from 1826, been meeting with a group gathered together by Henry Drummond to study the prophecies of the Scriptures. From this "school of the prophets" was developed the Catholic Apostolic Church, of which Irving was a bishop.
Alexander Irving is Lecturer and Tutor in Theology, St Mellitus College, and serves as curate at St. Stephen’s Norwich. He is the author of T. F. Torrance’s Reconstruction of Natural Theology: Christ and Cognition (2019).
Graham McFarlane is Lecturer in Systematic Theology at London Bible College. He is author of Christ and the Spirit: The Doctrine of Incarnation according to Edward Irving, and in the same series as this title, Why Do You Believe What You Believe About the Holy Spirit?
Daniel J. Cameron earned his BA in Theology from The Moody Bible Institute and his MA in Systematic Theology from Trinity Evangelical Divinity School. He is currently a Ph.D. candidate at the University of Aberdeen studying the ecclesiology of T.F. Torrance. He serves as an adjunct instructor of theology at The Moody Bible Institute (Chicago, IL). He is a full-time high school Bible teacher and Bible department head at Chicago Hope Academy on the West Side of Chicago and serves as the Pastor of English ministry and Youth ministry at Promise and Fulfillment Community Church in Wheeling, Il. Daniel's desire is to use his passion for theology to help people grow in maturity and intimacy in their relationship with God. Daniel and his wife Sarah currently live on the west side of Chicago.

Table of Contents

Contributors Editor's Preface Introduction Author's Preface Dedicatory Epistle 1. The Origin of the Incarnation Introduction to the Text Text 2. The End of the Mystery of the Incarnation Is the Glory of God Introduction to the Text Text 3. The Method Is by Taking up the Fallen Humanity Introduction to the Text Text Part 1: The Composition of the Person of Christ Part 2: Universal Reconciliation and Particular Election Part 3: The Removal of the Law Part 4: Conclusions 4. The Preparation For, and Act of, the Incarnation Introduction to the Text Text 5. Synopsis of "The Fruits of the Incarnation" 6. Conclusions Concerning Divine Being and Created Being The Fallen Humanity of Christ and the Work of the Spirit in the Thought of Edward Irving - Daniel Jordan Cameron Recommended Resources

What People are Saying About This

From the Publisher

“This outstanding book on the radical theology of Edward Irving is based on his handwritten sermons on the incarnation. For those people who have neglected or forgotten Irving, the collection of sermons is augmented by an excellent introduction to his life and work by Graham McFarland and a response to Irving’s view of the sinfulness of Christ’s human nature by Daniel Cameron These two chapters act as essential book ends to Irving’s sermons.”


—Andrew Walker, emeritus professor, King’s College, London, and writer for The Angel of Regent Square, a dramatized documentary of Edward Irving for BBC radio





“Edward Irving’s idea of redemption as centered on the training of the human will of Christ by the Spirit in the incarnation has usually offended his critics. So perhaps understandably and helpfully, the sermons—which read like theological treatises with a blessed rage for pulpit clarity—are sandwiched by the largely ‘pro’ accounts by the doyen of Irving studies, Graham Macfarlane (he highlights Irving as a Trinitarian, inspired by Hooker and Owen) and by Daniel Cameron. . . . Even if one is not completely convinced, the combination of the great man’s pulpit eloquence and these explanatory apologies, which has seen the light of a new day through a pleasing team effort, deserves to be savored and appreciated.”


—Mark W. Elliott, professor, Universities of Glasgow and Toronto





“Did Christ become incarnate in a fallen human nature? This helpful abridgement of Edward Irving’s sermons on the incarnation, along with orienting introductions and a response essay, opens the door to his deeply theological and practical reasons for answering ‘Yes.’ Take it and read, and judge his arguments for yourself!”


—Jerome Van Kuiken, professor, Oklahoma Wesleyan University

Editorial Reviews

"This outstanding book on the radical theology of Edward Irving is based on his handwritten sermons on the incarnation. For those people who have neglected or forgotten Irving, the collection of sermons is augmented by an excellent introduction to his life and work by Graham Mc Farland and a response to Irving's view of the sinfulness of Christ's human nature by Daniel Cameron These two chapters act as essential book ends to Irving's sermons." Andrew Walker, Emeritus professor, King's College, London, and writer for The Angel of Regent Square, a dramatized documentary of Edward Irving for BBC radio "Edward Irving's idea of redemption as centered on the training of the human will of Christ by the Spirit in the incarnation has usually offended his critics. So perhaps understandably and helpfully, the sermons - which read like theological treatises with a blessed rage for pulpit clarity - are sandwiched by the largely 'pro' accounts by the doyen of Irving studies, Graham Macfarlane (he highlights Irving as a Trinitarian, inspired by Hooker and Owen) and by Daniel Cameron. Even if one is not completely convinced, the combination of the great man's pulpit eloquence and these explanatory apologies, which has seen the light of a new day through a pleasing team effort, deserves to be savored and appreciated." Mark W. Elliott, professor, Universities of Glasgow and Toronto "Did Christ become incarnate in a fallen human nature? This helpful abridgement of Edward Irving's sermons on the incarnation, along with orienting introductions and a response essay, opens the door to his deeply theological and practical reasons for answering 'Yes.' Take it and read, and judge his arguments for yourself!" Jerome Van Kuiken, professor, Oklahoma Wesleyan University

From the Publisher