Christ's Humanity in Current and Ancient Controversy: Fallen or Not?

Was Christ’s human nature fallen, even sinful? From the 18th century to the present, this view has become increasingly prominent in Reformed theological circles and beyond, despite vigorous opposition. Both sides on the issue see it as vital for understanding the nature of salvation. Each side’s advocates appeal to or critique the Church Fathers. This book reviews the history and present state of the debate, then surveys the connections, distinctions, and patristic interpretations of five of the modern fallenness view’s proponents (Edward Irving, Karl Barth, T. F. Torrance, Colin Gunton, and Thomas Weinandy) and five of its opponents (Marcus Dods the Elder, A. B. Bruce, H. R. Mackintosh, Philip Hughes, and Donald Macleod). The book verifies the views of the ten most-cited Fathers: five Greek (Irenaeus, Athanasius, Gregory Nazianzen, Gregory Nyssen, and Cyril of Alexandria) and five Latin (Tertullian, Hilary of Poitiers, Ambrose, Augustine, and Leo the Great). The study concludes by sketching the implications of its findings for the doctrines of the Immaculate Conception, sin, sanctification, and Scripture.

Orthodox Christology affirms that Jesus is fully - though not merely -human. But how are we to understand that humanity - especially as it relates to ours, and especially as it matters for salvation? Differing views of Christ's human nature have emerged, and recently the debates have heated up once again. In this learned study, Jerome Van Kuiken offers well-informed, judicious, and charitable guidance on these matters. I know of no work on this topic so thorough and careful as this impressive book, and all work on these issues should go through it., Jerome van Kuiken's adapted dissertation, Christ’s Humanity in Current and Ancient Controversy, is thorough and learned…[he] has achieved his goal of providing clarity to this debate. His examination of the language used for Christ's humanity and his call for unity in the usage of these concepts should be heard on both sides of this debate so that neither side continues talking past the other., In his analysis of the various positions in this debate, [E. Jerome Van Kuiken] is a master of precision. He elucidates the often subtle distinctions in the arguments of the theologians he treats …a valuable resource for in-depth study in an advanced graduate seminar, as well as for the scholarly enrichment of those who teach Christology., Van Kuiken’s contribution to the debate is essential for those interested. His clear and careful reading of the ten modern and ancient theologians as well as his prolific engagement with secondary literature makes his account quite compelling not to mention even-handed … all interested in this ongoing debate will greatly benefit from this incisive and judicious book.

E. Jerome Van Kuiken is Assistant Professor of Religion and Philosophy at Oklahoma Wesleyan University, USA.