In an influential, mid-twentieth century article, Langdon Gilkey noted that traditional forms of a Christian doctrine of providence had suffered a serious loss of credibility. Karl Barth had argued earlier that, in spite of a failure by many theologians to link a doctrine of providence explicitly to a doctrine of the Trinity, if a doctrine of providence is to be Christian, it should also be trinitarian, since orthodox Christianity understands God to be triune. In view of these assessments, this thesis examines the doctrine of divine providence, and argues that many systematic formulations of it have failed to capture its specifically Christian, which is to say trinitarian, nature, but that when they do they provide a more adequate framework for the doctrine and the hope it offers. Chapter One of this thesis will examine the present status of a doctrine of providence, noting especially those problems that have led to its demise. The thesis will focus on the question as to whether a doctrine of providence can still function as a framework of meaning for human history, and therefore as a source of hope for human endeavour. In view of the intrinsic link between a doctrine of God and a doctrine of providence, addressing problems with traditional forms of providence requires one to respond to contemporary critiques of Christian Classical Theism. This Chapter raises the question as to whether, in addressing problems with a Christian doctrine of providence, the doctrine can be credibly reconstructed within the framework of a trinitarian model of God. Criteria are then suggested by which to evaluate the Christian models of providence reviewed in subsequent chapters. Chapter Two evaluates two Christian theologies of providence by theologians who are not trinitarian, but who address key problems with traditional versions of providence. Chapter Three looks at two theologians who are trinitarian in theology, but who do not apply an explicitly trinitarian structure to their doctrines of providence. Reasons for this are explored, and illustrative options are presented as suggestions for ways one might make this connection. Chapter Four reviews two models of providence which are constructed with explicit connections to a relational model of the triune God. Chapter Five summarises key ideas arising from previous chapters, noting the areas of commonality among the authors reviewed, as well as key differences. This summary constitutes an agenda for further work on a doctrine of providence, and a beginning outline is offered as a suggestion toward developing a trinitarian model of providence within the context of an overarching model of the Trinity-world relation conceived as a divine-human community.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:bl.uk/oai:ethos.bl.uk:705289 |
| Date | January 2003 |
| Creators | Gavel, Kenneth F. |
| Publisher | University of Edinburgh |
| Source Sets | Ethos UK |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Electronic Thesis or Dissertation |
| Source | http://hdl.handle.net/1842/19780 |
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