The Theology of Reinhold Niebuhr

by Edward J Carnell

Overview

""Here is a clear presentation of the salient features of Niebuhr's thought and, at the same time, a very acute appraisal of it from the standpoint of early Reformation theology. . . . This book is written by a disciplined mind. Its thought is sharp and clear. It offers the reader an adequate summary, and a very cogent criticism of an influential, contemporary school of theology. A wide audience could profit from its reading."" --John Wild, former Professor of Philosophy, Harvard Divinity School and Northwestern University ""Edward John Carnell was--in my estimation--the brightest and the best of the neo-evangelical leaders. He was a courageous thinker who was not afraid to think new thoughts in the service of biblical orthodoxy."" --Richard J. Mouw President, Fuller Seminary ""[Carnell's] fertile mind and ready pen blazed fresh theological trails as he sought to defend and proclaim the Christian faith as a world and life view."" --David Allan Hubbard Former President of Fuller Theological Seminary Edward John Carnell was one of evangelical Protestantism's most gifted younger minds. His books have long been a bulwark of evangelical Christian faith. Not only did he unmask weaknesses of liberal and neo-orthodox views, but he also effectively displayed the power and relevance of evangelical orthodoxy. --Christianity Today ""In this welcome collection of Carnell books, we are offered an inside view of a radical shift in American religious thinking -- the emergence of twentieth-century evangelicalism out of Protestant fundamentalism."" --Rudolph Nelson, author of The Making and Unmaking of an Evangelical Mind: The Case of Edward Carnell Edward John Carnell was an ordained Baptist minister, born in Antigo, Wisconsin. For three years he served as Associate Professor of Philosophy of Religion at Gordon Divinity School. He was appointed as the second president of Fuller Theological Seminary from 1954 to 1959. Carnell resigned his position in 1959 to give himself fully to teaching, serving as Professor of Apologetics at Fuller for eight additional years. Dr. Carnell contributed to many religious journals and authored several books including An Introduction to Christian Apologetics, Television: Servant or Master?, The Theology of Reinhold Niebuhr, A Philosophy of the Christian Religion, and Christian Commitment.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781556352652
Publisher:	Wipf & Stock Publishers
Publication date:	10/01/2007
Series:	Edward Carnell Library
Pages:	256
Product dimensions:	5.53(w) x 8.49(h) x 0.55(d)

About the Author

Edward John Carnell was an ordained Baptist minister, born in Antigo, Wisconsin. For three years he served as Associate Professor of Philosophy of Religion at Gordon Divinity School. He was appointed as the second president of Fuller Theological Seminary from 1954 to 1959. Carnell resigned his position in 1959 to give himself fully to teaching, serving as Professor of Apologetics at Fuller for eight additional years. Dr. Carnell contributed to many religious journals and authored several books including An Introduction to Christian Apologetics, Television: Servant or Master?, The Theology of Reinhold Niebuhr, A Philosophy of the Christian Religion, and Christian Commitment.

Table of Contents

Background for the Dialectical Theology
Why Neo-Orthodoxy?     13
The Spirit of the Theology of Immanence     13
The Structure of the Theology of Immanence     17
The Decline of the Theology of Immanence     21
The Emergence of Dialectical Theology     30
The Construction of Dialectical Theology
Starting Point: Man     43
The Double Environment     43
The Christian Balance     54
The Predicament of Man     65
Elements in Man's Predicament     65
The Emergence of Sin     70
Alternative Explanations for Sin     85
The Inevitability of the Dialectic     94
The Necessity of Religion     94
Corruptions of the Dimension of Depth     96
The Dialectical Synthesis     103
The Dialectical Relevance of the Christ     107
The Redemptive Relevance of the Christ     115
The Christian Dialectic
Thesis: The Wisdom of the Cross     127
Original Righteousness     127
The Locus of Original Righteousness     137
The Second Adam     144
Antithesis: The Foolishness of the Cross     160
The Nature of Foolishness     160
The Wisdom ofFoolishness     168
Synthesis: The Power of the Cross     185
The Final Problem of the Cross     185
Pro Nobis and In Nobis     188
Corruptions of the Paradox of Grace     204
The Final Synthesis     211
Concluding Implications
Agape and the Realm of Culture     215
The Inevitability of Dualistic Ethics     215
The Inevitability of Government     226
The World Brotherhood     238
Index     245

What People are Saying About This

From the Publisher

"Here is a clear presentation of the salient features of Niebuhr's thought and, at the same time, a very acute appraisal of it from the standpoint of early Reformation theology. . . . This book is written by a disciplined mind. Its thought is sharp and clear. It offers the reader an adequate summary, and a very cogent criticism of an influential, contemporary school of theology. A wide audience could profit from its reading."

—John Wild, former Professor of Philosophy, Harvard Divinity School and Northwestern University



"Edward John Carnell was—in my estimation—the brightest and the best of the neo-evangelical leaders. He was a courageous thinker who was not afraid to think new thoughts in the service of biblical orthodoxy."



—Richard J. Mouw

President, Fuller Seminary





"[Carnell’s] fertile mind and ready pen blazed fresh theological trails as he sought to defend and proclaim the Christian faith as a world and life view."



—David Allan Hubbard

Former President of Fuller Theological Seminary





Edward John Carnell was one of evangelical Protestantism’s most gifted younger minds. His books have long been a bulwark of evangelical Christian faith. Not only did he unmask weaknesses of liberal and neo-orthodox views, but he also effectively displayed the power and relevance of evangelical orthodoxy.



—Christianity Today





"In this welcome collection of Carnell books, we are offered an inside view of a radical shift in American religious thinking — the emergence of twentieth-century evangelicalism out of Protestant fundamentalism."



—Rudolph Nelson, author of

The Making and Unmaking of an Evangelical Mind: The Case of Edward Carnell

Editorial Reviews

"Here is a clear presentation of the salient features of Niebuhr's thought and, at the same time, a very acute appraisal of it from the standpoint of early Reformation theology. . . . This book is written by a disciplined mind. Its thought is sharp and clear. It offers the reader an adequate summary, and a very cogent criticism of an influential, contemporary school of theology. A wide audience could profit from its reading."

—John Wild, former Professor of Philosophy, Harvard Divinity School and Northwestern University



"Edward John Carnell was—in my estimation—the brightest and the best of the neo-evangelical leaders. He was a courageous thinker who was not afraid to think new thoughts in the service of biblical orthodoxy."



—Richard J. Mouw

President, Fuller Seminary





"[Carnell’s] fertile mind and ready pen blazed fresh theological trails as he sought to defend and proclaim the Christian faith as a world and life view."



—David Allan Hubbard

Former President of Fuller Theological Seminary





Edward John Carnell was one of evangelical Protestantism’s most gifted younger minds. His books have long been a bulwark of evangelical Christian faith. Not only did he unmask weaknesses of liberal and neo-orthodox views, but he also effectively displayed the power and relevance of evangelical orthodoxy.



—Christianity Today





"In this welcome collection of Carnell books, we are offered an inside view of a radical shift in American religious thinking — the emergence of twentieth-century evangelicalism out of Protestant fundamentalism."



—Rudolph Nelson, author of

The Making and Unmaking of an Evangelical Mind: The Case of Edward Carnell

From the Publisher