The Providence of God (Contours of Christian Theology)
Overview
In this concise and accessible introduction, Paul Helm outlines for students and interested readers the doctrine of divine providence. Unlike many doctrinal treatments, his approach is not historically oriented. Instead Helm focuses on the underlying metaphysical and moral aspects of God’s providence, paying particular attention to the ideas of divine control, providence and evil, and the role of prayer in relationship to providence.
Top Highlights
“summary, the essential elements of divine providence are these. God preserves his creation and all that it contains.” (Page 22)
“An important part of our faith as Christians is that God cares for us, and that the detail and direction of our lives are under the purposeful control of God. We draw comfort from the fact that nothing is too small to escape the attention of God, nor too minute for him to bother about. We draw inspiration from the fact that God has the power to make difficulties disappear. But we are also aware that often when we pray God does not appear to answer, and that personal tragedy, sickness and bereavement can be allowed by God without any alleviation. Much that happens seems pointless or purposeless.” (Page 18)
“Does God’s providence, according to Scripture, extend to all that he has created, including the choices of men and women? Or is his providence limited, perhaps limited by God himself, so that he does not infallibly know how the universe is going to unfold?” (Page 39)
“Not only is mankind subject to logic, God is as well. As it is impossible for a person to be forgiven who has not committed a fault, so it is impossible for God to forgive, to show mercy, in a universe in which there is no fault. If one supposes that it is a good thing for God to display his mercy and grace, and that both the universe and its creator benefit if God manifests his forgiveness and grace, then this also provides a reason for permitting evil. That is, any Christian theodicy must not only have a manward emphasis but also, and perhaps predominantly, a God-ward aspect as well. In the permission of moral evil lies the prospect of God’s own character being revealed in ways which, but for the evil, it could not be.” (Page 215)
- Title: The Providence of God
- Author: Paul Helm
- Series: Contours of Christian Theology
- Publisher: IVP
- Print Publication Date: 1993
- Logos Release Date: 2017
- Era: era:contemporary
- Language: English
- Resources: 1
- Format: Digital › Logos Research Edition
- Subject: Providence and government of God
- ISBNs: 9780830815333, 0830815333
- Resource ID: LLS:PRVDNCGDHLM
- Resource Type: Systematic Theology
- Metadata Last Updated: 2022-09-30T02:27:16Z