Supralapsarian Christology and the Progressive Work of Christ: Christus Dominus
Ebook
In Supralapsarian Christology and the Progressive Work of Christ: Christus Dominus, Thomas G. Doughty Jr. produces a fresh theological narrative presenting the work of Christ progressively. Through both biblical and systematic theological lenses, Christus Dominus explains how the incarnate Son of God accomplishes multiple benefits for humanity and the cosmos. This model articulates a supralapsarian motivation for the incarnation of divine-human co-dominion but also accounts for the infralapsarian motivation of atonement for human sin. In doing so, Christus Dominus demonstrates that supralapsarian Christology is compatible with objective approaches to atonement, showing also how penal substitutionary atonement fits within the more holistic motif of Christus Victor. This book addresses weaknesses in infralapsarian Christologies which deem the incarnation primarily contingent on the human fall into sin. By exploring God’s creation intentions and his faithfulness to realize those intentions in the incarnate Christ through eschatological promises, Christus Dominus encapsulates the biblical revelation relating the work of Christ to humanity’s progressive vocation. Then, by drawing on the strengths of recent work of Christ frameworks, the author systematically arranges an objective atonement model within that progressive work of Christ. Christus Dominus thus upholds the unique necessity of the crucifixion within a supralapsarian Christology as the incarnate Christ’s work progressively unfolds.
Acknowledgments
Introduction: For Us and Our Salvation
Chapter 1: Supralapsarian Christology and the Benefits of the Incarnate Christ
Chapter 2: Christus Dominus I: Creation Intentions
Chapter 3: Christus Dominus II: Eschatological Expectations
Chapter 4: Recent Atonement Frameworks and Traditional Objective Approaches
Chapter 5: The Progressive Work of Christ
Conclusion: Christus Dominus as a Worldview Story
Appendix: Atonement Frameworks and Models
Bibliography
About the Author
The key idea argued cogently here is that the primary purpose of the incarnation of God the Son was logically prior (supra) to the fall of humanity into sin, and that therefore God’s original intent for his creation was that there would be within it a divine-human co-dominion shared between the Son and his people (Christus Dominus). For Thomas Doughty, this is the primary motivation for the work of Christ. In that it echoes the patristic idea of Christ as the recapitulation of the first Adam; and in that it upholds the kingpin of orthodox atonement theology—that atonement must be considered as transpiring within the person of Christ; in that it clarifies the ontological nature of the salvific purpose of God, placing in context the models of the atonement (“contingent motivations”) without jeopardizing them; and in that it exalts God’s benevolent purpose for creation, I heartily recommend this work.
The Nicene Creed rightly says that “for us men and for our salvation” Christ came down from heaven. But what if the mission of the incarnation was broader in its scope and intent? Thomas G. Doughty asks and answers this provocative question with a brilliant exploration of what it means for God to be made man and what it means for image-bearers to be made like God. Doughty makes the compelling argument that humanity cannot truly understand what God intended for it to be apart from the incarnation.
While supralapsarian Christology holds appeal for some, there is still widespread hesitation about the view. It is too speculative or it forces a wholescale reinterpretation of atonement. Doughty does the necessary work to dispel these reservations by providing a biblical theology of human vocation, co-dominion, and divine presence. The result is a robustly scriptural supralapsarian Christology—which is compatible with several objective accounts of atonement, including Penal Substitution—dubbed Christus Dominus.
- Title: Supralapsarian Christology and the Progressive Work of Christ: Christus Dominus
- Author: Thomas G. Doughty
- Publisher: Lexington Books
- Print Publication Date: 2024
- Logos Release Date: 2024
- Language: English
- Resources: 1
- Format: Digital › Ebook
- ISBNs: 9781666955163, 9781666955156, 1666955159, 1666955167
- Resource ID: LLS:9781666955163
- Resource Type: Monograph
- Metadata Last Updated: 2024-08-01T02:42:58Z
Thomas G. Doughty Jr. is assistant professor of theology and Christian worldview at New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary.