A Free Corrector: Colin Gunton and the Legacy of Augustine

by Joshua McNall

Publisher:

Fortress Press

, 2015

Overview

A Free Corrector evaluates Colin Gunton’s treatment of Augustine’s legacy on the Trinity and the doctrine of creation. Gunton claimed that Augustine’s work ultimately contributed to a host of problems for the Western tradition. Joshua McNall addresses this in conjunction with Gunton’s argument regarding Augustine’s “afterlife.” In the end, A Free Corrector argues that while Gunton was far too “free” in his correction of Augustine, it is also true that isolated aspects of his Augustinian narrative remain viable.

Key Features

• A fresh analysis of the thought of a modern and an ancient theologian
• Provides a compelling examination of the theological questions surrounding the afterlife
• Puts forward new insight into Augustine's influence on the Western theological tradition

Contents

• A Free Corrector: Colin Gunton on the Trinity, Creation, and the Legacy of Augustine
• Critiques Of Colin Gunton: Challenges on the Trinity, Creation, and the Legacy of Augustine
• Gunton and Augustine’s God: The Question of Monistic Imbalance in Augustine’s Trinitarianism
• Gunton and Augustine’s World: The Question of Dualism in Augustine’s Doctrine of Creation
• Gunton and Augustine’s Medieval Afterlife (Part One)
• Gunton and Augustine’s Medieval Afterlife (Part Two)
• Gunton and Augustine’s Reformation Afterlife
• Gunton and Augustine’s Modern Afterlife
• Gunton and the Triune Corrective (Part One): Irenaeus as an “Antidote” to Certain Augustinian Imbalances
• Gunton and the Triune Corrective (Part Two): The Cappadocian Fathers as the “Antidote” to Certain Augustinian Imbalance
• On “Fruit” and Free Correctors: Conclusions on Colin Gunton and the Legacy of Augustine

Praise for the Print Edition

In this well-written and insightful work, Joshua McNall helps us gain a better evaluation of Colin Gunton's criticisms of Augustine. . . and thus a better understanding of Augustine and his influence in the Western theological tradition. This is an important work by a young scholar who has a lot to offer.

—Thomas H. McCall, Trinity Evangelical Divinity School

The deep influence of Augustine on our theology today was severely criticized by the late Colin Gunton, but Gunton has been severely criticized by others. Joshua McNall provides here an informed analysis of Gunton's criticisms and the criticism of his critics, and helps us to come to an assessment of Augustine's influence on our thinking today. This clear and judicious work is of value not only to historians but also to contemporary theology.

—Thomas A. Noble, Nazarene Theological Seminary, Kansas City and Nazarene Theological College, Manchester, UK

Product Details

• Title: A Free Corrector: Colin Gunton and the Legacy of Augustine
• Author: Joshua McNall
• Series: Emerging Scholars
• Publisher: Fortress Press
• Publication Date: 2015
• Pages: 224
• Resource Type: Monograph
• Topic: Historical Theology

About Joshua McNall

Joshua McNall is assistant professor in the School of Ministry and Christian Thought at Oklahoma Wesleyan University in Bartlesville, Oklahoma. This volume represents an expanded version of his doctoral thesis, done under Thomas A. Noble at the University of Manchester, UK.