Hendrikus Berkhof was a professor of Systematic Theology at the University of Leiden. Berkhof's work-titled 'Science and the Biblical World-View'-appears as a chapter in part I (Introduction) of Science and Religion: New Perspectives on the Dialogue (1968), pages 43-53, ed.
Download 'General Resources. Above All Earthly Powers: Christ in a Postmodern World. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, Whitehead, A.N. 'Integrating a. Oct 15, 2012 - McGrath, Alister E. The Christian Theology Reader. Books for your selection (students are free to choose other texts, but in. Berkhof, Hendrikus. Will apply to all assignments for which no application for extension has been made. (g) Divine omnipotence and the two powers (CT pp.209-212).
Ian Barbour Christian Faith: An Introduction to the Study of the Faith, Hendrikus Berkhof (Translated by Sierd Woudstra), 2002, Wm. Eerdmans, ISBN 0-8028-0548-5 Two Hundred Years of Theology: Report of a Personal Journey, Hendrikus Berkhof (Translated by John Vriend), 1989, Books on Demand, ISBN 0-7837-7945-3 Christ and the Powers, Hendrikus Berkhof, (Translated by John Howard Yoder), 1977, Herald Press, 80 pages, ISBN 0-8361-1820-0 Christ the Meaning of History, Hen Hendrikus Berkhof was a professor of Systematic Theology at the University of Leiden. Berkhof's work-titled 'Science and the Biblical World-View'-appears as a chapter in part I (Introduction) of Science and Religion: New Perspectives on the Dialogue (1968), pages 43-53, ed. Ian Barbour Christian Faith: An Introduction to the Study of the Faith, Hendrikus Berkhof (Translated by Sierd Woudstra), 2002, Wm. Eerdmans, ISBN 0-8028-0548-5 Two Hundred Years of Theology: Report of a Personal Journey, Hendrikus Berkhof (Translated by John Vriend), 1989, Books on Demand, ISBN 0-7837-7945-3 Christ and the Powers, Hendrikus Berkhof, (Translated by John Howard Yoder), 1977, Herald Press, 80 pages, ISBN 0-8361-1820-0 Christ the Meaning of History, Hendrikus Berkhof, 2004, Wipf & Stock Publishers, 224 pages, ISBN 1-5924-4638-8.
. Recent Posts. Categories. Archives.
Follow Blog via Email Enter your email address to follow this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email. Join 1,695 other followers. @ @ We might qualify for worst parents ever with that tweet.
But glad we could clear up any confusion.:). @ @ They get decoder rings.
We're NOT giving away the children. @:) I've had a few people say that.
The wonders of the English language. I should have added another sentence. @ @ Grab your beakers!
This is a very short book, but it is extremely dense. Berkhof makes several observations about the Powers. First, it is important to recognize that the Powers were created by as part of the “good” Creation.
They are instruments to bring order to the Creation and they find their purpose in, who is their Head. However, the Powers are broken due to sin. This legion of Powers now often works in ways that are not reflective of God’s character and nature. They are coercive and their way always leads to death. On the surface, they promise well-being and stability. In some sense, they deliver on that promise, but always at the cost of our very lives. It is both a material and spiritual problem.
We are enslaved to the system. The work of Christ in and resurrection breaks the dominion of the Powers. Christ’s crucifixion actually unmasks the Powers for what they truly are. The resurrection is the sign of Christ’s reign and the Powers “dethronement.” The Church is also a sign that the Powers no longer rule.
The of reconciled believers that contains both Jews and Gentiles, demonstrates Christ’s reign once again over Creation. The Church is called to stand firm against the Powers, not defeat them that is Christ’s role. Rather, the Church unmasks the Powers by living out Christlikeness. The Powers are further destabilized by preaching and teaching Christ, which opens our eyes to the true reality of our broken world. The Powers can never really come back to autonomous authority. But, we live in the “now and not yet” which means that the Powers still vie for dominion.
They do so in three ways: secularism, legalism, and “restoration.” Berkhof suggests that the Church is largely responsible for these trends and offers the only worthwhile response to the de-stabilization of the Powers: following and embodying Christ. In other words, we recognize that the Powers are still at work, but we maintain their proper role, which is subordinate to Christ. We recognize that the “authorities” are broken people needing to be reconciled to Christ.
We do not follow “ideology” but continue to pray that Christ would be made manifest through the Powers’ work. Berkhof states it succinctly, “It can happen that Christ’s church, by her preaching, her presence, and the patterns of life obtaining within her fellowship, may represent such a mighty witness and so forcefully address the consciences of men far beyond her borders, that they generally orient themselves by this reality, tacitly accepting it as a landmark.
They do so because they know of no better gaurantor of a decent life, of mercy, freedom, justice, and humanity than a certain general acknowledgment of the sovereignty of Christ, or (as they prefer to say it) of ‘Christianity’ and ‘Christian values'” (58).