In advancing Edwards’ theology as fundamentally <i>Trinitarian</i>, we start with God <i>in se</i>, as the “fountain” from which history and reality flows.  Second, we place God’s economic movement in creation in parallel with the saints’ participation in the beatific life of the Godhead in eternity.  God’s act and purpose in creation parallels his act and purpose in consummation, thereby bracketing and governing the work of redemption.  Lastly, we broadly answer the question: “How does God redeem the elect?”  by addressing spiritual knowledge, regeneration and affection. The first chapter addresses Edwards’ doctrine of the Trinity in light of its polemical context.  We argue that a sufficient development of Edwards’ understanding of the immanent Trinity must be an account of persons, delighting in their own infinite beauty and perfection.  This is the source of history and, as is shown, the goal of history oriented towards eternity. God’s purpose in creation is the second ground of theological reflection, and is exposited in parallel with God’s uniting believers to himself for eternal union and communion.  Redemptive history, therefore, is understood as God enacting his ends in creation towards consummation.  History, as Edwards conceives it, is both teleological and cyclical; it is always aiming towards a given end, God’s end, and flows back to God through cyclical movements of time.  Creation and consummation, therefore, serve to locate and govern Edwards’ doctrines of redemption. In short, God creates for his own glory, which he brings to pass through creaturely participation in his own beatific-delight. Furthermore, we suggest that this beatific self-glorification of God serves as a heuristic key to God’s redemptive activity.  We apply this interpretive scheme in the final chapter.

Thesis (Th. M.)--Trinity Evangelical Divinity School, 2006. / Abstract. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 156-166).

Thesis (Th. M.)--Dallas Theological Seminary, 2008. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 50-52).

Thesis (Th. M.)--Dallas Theological Seminary, 2008. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 50-52).

Diss.-- Franeker (R. Andala, respondent)

Thesis (D. Min.)--Austin Presbyterian Theological Seminary, 2005. / Abstract. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 119-127).

Thesis (D. Min.)--Austin Presbyterian Theological Seminary, 2005. / Abstract. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 119-127).

The Trinitarian Perspectives of the Theology of Religions. The Outline of the Approache to the Non-christian Religions in Gavin D'Costa. This thesis presents an analysis of the theological work of British Catholic theologian Gavin D'Costa in the field of theology of religions. The goal of this study is the presentation of D'Costa's huge contribution to the theology of religions and critical examination of his constructive theological concept of Trinitarian Theology of Religions. In the first chapter we provide an introduction to the thought of Gavin D'Costa. We point out his philosophical and theological presuppositions, we go through his most important books and above all we introduce preliminary remarks about his theology of religions, i.e. conception of the relationship between systematic theology, theology of religions and religious studies and the notion of religion in D'Costa. The second chapter classifies D'Costa's approach within the context of contemporary theology of religions. We deal with D'Costa's critique of pluralism, inclusivism and exclusivism. Especially, the D'Costa's polemic with his former teacher John Hick is at the centre of our attention. In the third chapter we consider D'Costa's own paradigm of theology of religion which is based on the Trinitarian faith as well as respectful...