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Rating: 
Summary: America's Finest Theologian
Review: At a lecture in Chicago, Wolfhart Pannenberg pointed to a man in the audience and announced that the gentleman was the finest systematic theologian in the United States. That man was Robert W. Jenson. Jenson is not an easy theologian to read. His writing style is unique. His erudition overwhelming. His commitment to a catholic presentation of the Christian faith is emphatic; but he is also creative and original. What is perhaps most refreshing about Jenson is his refusal to surrender to the ideologies and fashions of the day. I have been reading Jenson's works for the past twenty years, and he remains one of the most intellectually exciting theologians that I know. If you want to understand Jenson, you must understand that that he truly believes that Jesus of Nazareth is the Second Person of the Holy Trinity, that the historical man Jesus is constitutive for the identity of God. Few will agree with Jenson at all points; but all will be creatively challenged by him. Jenson is sometimes compared to Moltmann. Moltmann is of course far more popular; but he cannot hold a candle to Jenson's erudition, originality, and creativity. This volume in particular is profitably read in conversation with the first two volumes of Wolfhart Pannenberg's *Systematic Theology*. Whether you are Protestant, Catholic, or Orthodox, read and learn. Your mind and soul will be sanctified.
Rating:
Summary: Outstanding
Review: Jenson's work is truly an originaly approach to theology that attempts to completely shrug off the vesitges of Greek thinking. He continually hammers away at the concepts of an immutable God, even questioning sacred cows such as Chalcedon - yet in doing so is able to remain entirely orthodox.
This is an example of theology that truly takes a narrative appraoch to scripture - move heralded by such earlier theologians as Hans Frei.
A warning to new theologians: this is no easy read! Jenson's systematic thoelogy is jam-packed with philosophy and intellectual gymnastics that makes theology breakthtaking and exciting.
Read and enjoy!
Rating:
Summary: Outstanding
Review: Jenson's work is truly an originaly approach to theology that attempts to completely shrug off the vesitges of Greek thinking. He continually hammers away at the concepts of an immutable God, even questioning sacred cows such as Chalcedon - yet in doing so is able to remain entirely orthodox.
This is an example of theology that truly takes a narrative appraoch to scripture - move heralded by such earlier theologians as Hans Frei.
A warning to new theologians: this is no easy read! Jenson's systematic thoelogy is jam-packed with philosophy and intellectual gymnastics that makes theology breakthtaking and exciting.
Read and enjoy!
Rating:
Summary: Listening In - Hearing the Gospel in Robert Jenson
Review: Robert Jenson's systematics are just that: systematic. They are not for those American who are not willing to enter into his efforts and categories. (If you are struggling with him and believe he is only hampering your efforts toward the Triune Creator (if that's possible) then start with his "Story and Promise"). Anyway, these two volumes are the great work of a rare breed here in the states. The attention and work is so good that he has already inspired the reaction from scholars all over the world (see "Trinity, Time, and Church"). Jenson continues expressing the dialogical foundations of theological reflection and exercise so apparent in the work of Karl Barth. In a land so theologically and systematically empty the long fought meditations, reflections and articulations of this great theologian may just be the very hope for the church in America. Robert W. Jenson, in the words of his great father Martin Luther, is a true bulwark. I hope people are listening.
Rating:
Summary: Listening In - Hearing the Gospel in Robert Jenson
Review: Robert Jenson's systematics are just that: systematic. They are not for those American who are not willing to enter into his efforts and categories. (If you are struggling with him and believe he is only hampering your efforts toward the Triune Creator (if that's possible) then start with his "Story and Promise"). Anyway, these two volumes are the great work of a rare breed here in the states. The attention and work is so good that he has already inspired the reaction from scholars all over the world (see "Trinity, Time, and Church"). Jenson continues expressing the dialogical foundations of theological reflection and exercise so apparent in the work of Karl Barth. In a land so theologically and systematically empty the long fought meditations, reflections and articulations of this great theologian may just be the very hope for the church in America. Robert W. Jenson, in the words of his great father Martin Luther, is a true bulwark. I hope people are listening.
Rating:
Summary: an extraordinary work
Review: The review of Jenson's text by "a customer from St. Paul" ought to be a sure indication that such reviews are both useless and insulting. Amazon ought to remove them. Jenson's text--for anyone not burdened by an "almost M.Div."--is brilliant and a joy to read.
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