Description

In this important examination of T.F. Torrance’s reading of the Church Fathers, Radcliff explores how Torrance reconstructs the patristic tradition, producing a Reformed, evangelical, and ecumenical version of the ‘Consensus Patrum’ ‘Consensus of The Fathers’. ‘Thomas F. Torrance and the Church Fathers’ investigates how Torrance uniquely understands the Fathers and the Reformers to be mutually informing and how, as such, his approach involves significant changes to both standard readings of the Fathers and to Torrance’s own Reformed Evangelical tradition. Torrance’s approach is distinctive in its Christocentric rootedness in the primary theme of the Nicene homoousion ‘of one essence [with the Father]’ and its champion, Athanasius of Alexandria. The book explores Torrance’s inherently broad ecclesiology and his constructive achievements, both of which contribute to his ongoing ecumenical relevance. Jason Robert Radcliff PhD, University of Edinburgh teaches at The Stony Brook School in New York. He also serves as Assistant Editor for ‘Participatio: The Journal of the Thomas F. Torrance Theological Fellowship’. ‘T.F. Torrance’s theology developed in large measure through conversation with the early Church Fathers, especially Athanasius, Cyril of Alexandria, and Gregory Nazianzen. As such, his theology provides an exercise in both retrieval and creative appropriation. Jason Radcliff ‘s study now offers an invaluable commentary on this reading of early Church thought. It is a welcome and significant contribution to the growing literature on Torrance.’ David Fergusson, Professor of Divinity and Principal of New College, University of Edinburgh.