Tartan Christology

On Thursday evening I attended The Gunning Lecture at New College, Edinburgh University. The Lecture was given by Prof Alasdair Heron, Erlangen University, it’s title Shifting Patterns in Scottish Christology in the Nineteenth Century: Erskine, Irving and McLeod Campbell. It was an event that I think Jim would have revelled in, perhaps he will read it when it’s published.

What struck me about Prof Heron’s account of these three Scottish figures of Nineteenth Century theology was their currency in the present debate(s) surrounding the nature and meaning of the atonement.

Erskine I lay theologian offered a critique of penal substitution in his book The Brazen Serpent. In this he was also critical of forensic justification. The Cross has a positive meaning and positive meaning and effect. As the second Adam Jesus is head of the whole human race, not an external substitute but identification is solidarity. In his scheme then the atonement, rightly in my view, is found in the incarnation not in substitution.

Irving, a Church of Scotland minister who came to prominence as a society preacher in London at Regent Park Square church had similar concerns to Erskine. Perhaps of interest to Andy would be Prof Herons comment that the late Colin Guntton was fascinated and perhaps influenced by Irvings Christology. In Irving there was a recovery of the Patristic principle that the unassumed is the unredeemed. Therefore Christ assumed our human nature as it really is, not in some pristine form. This obviously raises issues over Christ's sinlessness and this among other things lead to Irving being expelled from the Kirk.

J McLeod Campbell formed a Christology similar to Irvings and this can be read in his work "The Nature of the Atonement". Prof Heron’s introduction to McLeod Campbell was sufficiently stimulating that it has wetted my appetite to track this work down and read it at some point. McLeod Campbell stressed the link between the incarnation and the atonement stating that the atonement was an organic development of the incarnation. He also put forward the motif of divine grief as a means to understand the Cross in his rejection of penal substitution.

Comments

[andy goodliff]

Yeah Irving was important for Gunton, although he went back further to John Owen, who influenced Irving. See Graham MacFarlane's book Christ and Spirit (PhD completed under gunton) for more. Sounds like the studies are going well

[jim gordon]

Just read this post Brodie - after posting on Macleod Campbell this afternoon! One of the best ways into Macleod Campbell is the book So Rich a Soil, by George Tuttle. This is a study of Macleod Campbell's theology by an appreciative critic. Just checked on Amazon and there are several very cheap copies - don't link cheap price to value of book - this is a good book. All best wishes for your study in Edinburgh.

[Margaret]

what are you studying in Edinburgh?

[brodie]

Margaret - the post above explains a little more. Thanks for asking.

[Stuart Weir]

Hi Brodie,
Let's do that jar or dram soon! I need to chat to you! BTW, did I never tell you of my real love of MacLeod-Campbell's, Irving's, & PT Forsyth's (a quality Aberdonian theologian who contended against penal substitution in his Christology too!) christologies? Maybe this should dominate our next chat, amongst other personal matters. Blessings min.