The Eternal Son

An impressive book, indeed, that has freshness about it. Bob Letham is clear and helpful everywhere one looks. Whether discussing the Chalcedonian debates or recent kenotic Christologies, he is pertinent and wise. Letham does not just recycle respected sources. He exercises critical evaluation in a way that honors both Scripture and the confessions of the church. In so doing, he leads us to worship the one who alone could be Mediator because he is God and man.--Paul Wells, Professor Emeritus, Faculté Jean Calvin, Aix-en-Provence, France

Christology is not simply one among many points of doctrine. The triune God's saving work through Jesus Christ is the heart of the gospel. To the degree that we displace Christology in the system of doctrine, we disfigure, if not transfigure, the gospel itself. Letham's treatment of the eternal Son is full of biblical and historical insights into the person and work of Jesus Christ. Particularly noteworthy is the author's extended attention to medieval Christological developments, since many Protestants today are unaware that most of our Christological heritage is based in the medieval rather than the earlier church. Vitally, Letham contrasts classical Christology to modern tendencies to treat Christ as the adopted Son as well as the natural Son of God, which are growing in popularity in biblical studies. Anyone desiring deeper insight into who and what Jesus is as the foundation of how he saves will find an excellent introduction here.--Ryan M. McGraw, Morton H. Smith Professor of Systematic Theology, Greenville Presbyterian Theological Seminary

I do not know of any contemporary theologian more eminently qualified to write a trilogy on the Trinitarian persons than Robert Letham. In this second of a projected three-volume work, Letham tackles the challenging task of Christology proper, the doctrine of the person of the eternal Son, who 'for us and for our salvation, came down from heaven, and was incarnate' (Nicene Creed). No topic in theology is more important or difficult than that of the identity of the second person of the Holy Trinity. Drawing on his intimate acquaintance with the history of the church's engagement with Scripture's teaching on the eternal Son of God, who, in fulfillment of God's promises, assumed our human nature in its fullness, Letham painstakingly sets forth the truth concerning this 'great . . . mystery of godliness' (1 Tim. 3:16). In the course of his tour de force through the history of theological reflection on the doctrine of Christ's person as the incarnate Son of God, Letham's theological method views Christological doctrine as the fruit of a long conversation that belongs to the whole church--not only to its great creedal and conciliar documents but also to its best theologians, both Eastern and Western. Letham makes his own contribution to this conversation, but unlike many other contemporary theologians, he does so in a manner that eschews a biblicism that exhibits little appreciation for theological inheritances from the past. Old and new Christological errors are persuasively refuted, and the consensus teaching of the church is articulated in a magisterial fashion. Though some may find fault with some feature or another of his exposition, readers will nonetheless be challenged to maintain the great confession of the church about the eternal Son who assumed our flesh in order to accomplish the triune God's purposes in creation and redemption. Among contemporary books on the doctrine of Christ, Letham's should have a preeminent place.--Cornelis P. Venema, Emeritus President and Professor of Doctrinal Studies, Mid-America Reformed Seminary

In this concise, reliable, and comprehensive study of the doctrine of Christ, Robert Letham shows us how central our understanding of God's self-revelation in his Son is, and must be, for a robust Christian faith. From the earthly ministry of Jesus to the present day, our Lord's great question to Peter, 'Who do you say that I am?' (Mark 8:29), has been the cornerstone of our belief and experience of salvation. This book is the perfect introduction to that vital subject, which remains as relevant today as it has always been.--Gerald L. Bray, Research Professor of Divinity, Beeson Divinity School

It is rare to find works of Protestant systematic theology that show both a profound understanding of the history of the church's reflection and a deep appreciation for the Great Tradition. In particular, too many Protestant works on Christology regard that subject in merely formulaic terms (as though its whole significance lay in the formula 'two natures united into one person') and treat the Council of Chalcedon in 451 as the final word on the subject. Against the background of such reductive treatments, Robert Letham's work on Christology is one such rare find. He pushes us beyond a formulaic understanding to the Jesus Christ whom the historic church has found in the Scriptures: the eternal Son of God who has taken human nature into his own person so that he might live, die, and be raised as a man for us and for our salvation. The details of patristic Christology--especially of post-Chalcedonian Christology--are complex and daunting, but Letham is a reliable guide both to the importance of these details and to their interpretation. I recommend that modern systematic theologians drink deeply from Christological history under Letham's tutelage.--Donald Fairbairn, Robert E. Cooley Professor of Early Christianity, Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary; Professor of Historical and Systematic Theology, Union School of Theology

Robert Letham, in writing a volume on the second person of the undivided Holy Trinity, returns to something that has concerned him throughout his whole career: the Lord Jesus Christ, who became incarnate in the virgin's womb, was born, suffered, died, rose again, ascended on high, and is in session--all for us--and is properly said to be the same yesterday, today, and forever (Heb. 13:8). Though the Reformed may remain skittish about talk of deification/theosis (Letham gives that his best shot), our author brings to this whole subject that which the Reformed are, at least, not always as clear about: the integrity of the theanthropic person. Cyril of Alexandria and other fathers were crystal clear here, and Letham argues for Cyril's witness, as well as allied witnesses (Maximus the Confessor, John of Damascus, Thomas Aquinas, et al.), to the two natures of Christ in one person (the hypostatic union) that militates against all practical Nestorianism and upholds the real genius not only of the first four councils but of the additional two that followed to round out the church's great witness to God's revelation of the person of the eternal Son. Then the author proceeds to Reformational developments, especially the presence of Christ in the Eucharist and John Calvin's view of Christ as autotheos. Letham treats Christ's work, including the atonement, with surprising brevity, explaining that this book is about the Son himself, 'rather than a complete account of all his work.' Letham has also treated the subject of his work at length elsewhere, including a particularly fine treatment of definite atonement. All in all, a first-rate work on the great object of our faith, the Lord Jesus Christ.--Alan D. Strange, President, Mid-America Reformed Seminary, Dyer, Indiana

Robert Letham's series on the doctrine of the divine persons of the Holy Trinity continues with this volume that treats the eternal Son. This new work in Christology exhibits what theology is supposed to be--historically sensitive and biblically grounded, theologically inquisitive, and confessionally responsible, engaging modern proposals with intellectual rigor and not afraid to enfold the insights of contemporary theologians within well-traveled lines of thought. Letham offers an erudite analysis of the doctrinal history surrounding the person of Christ, with an examination of the varied heresies that have forced the church to dogmatic clarity concerning the mystery of the incarnation. Our author handles these materials with integrity and sober assessment, as he takes up the mantle of the Reformation and its own diverse wrestlings with the mystery of Jesus Christ in the flesh. He also offers a chapter on the work of Christ. Given Letham's serious interactions with post-Enlightenment criticisms of Chalcedon, including older and new versions of kenosis doctrine, this volume proves itself to be most up-to-date. Letham's book drives us back to Scripture and to the great theologians of the past and present. Highly recommended!--J. Mark Beach, Professor of Doctrinal and Ministerial Studies, Mid-America Reformed Seminary

The doctrine of the person of Christ is one of the church's greatest treasures. Thus, this subject is well worth careful theological reflection for the purpose of the sober reception and protection of biblical orthodoxy. Robert Letham has already established himself as a leading contemporary theologian on the doctrine of the Trinity. He once again proves to be an expert guide to the Christological views of a plenitude of theologians, including giants such as Athanasius, Cyril of Alexandria, Thomas Aquinas, Martin Luther, and John Calvin, as well as influential modern theologians--all the while offering his own trenchant analysis of this most precious topic. This is an outstanding book for anyone who wants to understand the view of Scripture and church history on the teaching of who Jesus Christ is.--Joel R. Beeke, Chancellor and Professor of Systematic Theology and Homiletics, Puritan Reformed Theological Seminary; pastor, Heritage Reformed Congregation, Grand Rapids, Michigan

The fruit of a career-long research interest in Christology, Robert Letham's The Eternal Son ably navigates the history of the church's reflection on Scripture's witness to the person of Christ from the patristic period to the present day. Rightly challenging the conventional view that the Council of Chalcedon settled the Christological question, he engages contributions from across the Christian tradition--there is nothing parochial about this book! Pastors and seminary students will find here a reliable guide to these crucial, and indeed technical, debates. There is also a doxological thread running through this volume; all this is to the end that our understanding of salvation in Christ will be deepened and our worship of God encouraged.--William B. Evans, Eunice Witherspoon Bell Younts and Willie Camp Younts Professor of Bible and Religion Emeritus, Erskine College, Due West, South Carolina