Christ, Creation, and Colossians 1

This is short notice, but the paper outlined below sounds very interesting. It’s scheduled to take place next Tuesday at King’s College London.

KCL RIST ‘SUMMER THEOLOGY’ 2014, Session 3 on 15th July

Brian Curry will be presenting his paper

Title: Things Hold Together: The Grain of the Universe According to Colossians 1

Abstract:

As Colin Gunton points out, although the New Testament says surprisingly much about Christ and Creation, much ancient and modern theological ontology derives its categories more from interaction with philosophy (Graeco-Roman and otherwise) than from the Bible. Recent NT scholarship has brought the NT’s own categories into better focus again, and none more so than Sean McDonough’s monograph, Christ as Creator. This paper draws on McDonough’s extensive exegetical work to begin to show what difference it makes for theology if we allow the grain of the New Testament to shape our account of the grain of the universe. The result is that our doctrine of creation becomes centered on the person of Jesus the Messiah, rather than on an abstract principle such as ‘wisdom’ or ‘logos.’ Focusing on Colossians 1, we see how messianic categories and scriptural echoes help to clarify ontology. Things hold together, Colossians teaches, because the Creator-Messiah wants them to. Broadly, we are encouraged to consider a Christotelic ontology in which the universe was made (and made new) for covenant relationship between God and creatures.

At 11.15 am in Room VB 3.01, 22 Kingsway.