About
Out of Bounds is a group theology blog featuring four colleagues who studied systematic theology at the University of Aberdeen in Scotland.
Adam Nigh is writing on Scripture and hermeneutics in T. F. Torrance’s theology. A graduate of Bethany University (RIP) and Fuller Seminary Northern California, he recently returned from Scotland to Santa Cruz, California with his wife and two children to work in church ministry at Twin Lakes Church while finishing his dissertation. Adam is also an avid enthusiast of 80′s and 90′s punk rock, having recorded and toured with several Santa Cruz bands.
Jon Coutts pastors Richmond Alliance Church in Greater Vancouver, B.C., and recently finished a PhD thesis on forgiveness in Christian life and community as it is articulated in Karl Barth’s Doctrine of Reconciliation — an interest instigated and deepened by Canadian Bible College, Briercrest Seminary, and pastoral ministry. In addition to life with his lovely wife and four sons he enjoys vibrant conversation, quality music & film, and the sports of hockey and football. (Web Site)
Justin Stratis wrote his doctoral thesis on the subject of divine love with the help of Friedrich Schleiermacher and Karl Barth. When he’s not doing theology, he enjoys spending time with family, drinking whisky with friends, and consuming the lowest forms of television entertainment our vacuous and decadent Western culture has to offer. He currently teaches Christian Doctrine at Trinity College in Bristol, England.
Darren Sumner is an adjunct instructor in theology at Fuller Seminary Northwest and Seattle Pacific University, having completed his study of the christological tradition and the thought of Karl Barth. A native of Oregon, he has studied at SPU, Wheaton College, and Princeton Theological Seminary. For eight years he worked at Big Idea, Inc., the creators of VeggieTales. Darren lives in Washington State with his wife and three children. (Web Site)
What is the significance of the blog’s name? First, it simply reflects the fact that these discussions began in the common room of our office at university, which is named after the campus street on which it sits: College Bounds. More than that, however, the name also reflects the kind of conversation we want to have.
To speak of God is beyond the realm of human possibilities. Nevertheless, because the Son has gone into the far country, we have been commissioned and therefore freed to speak of God, precisely in our humanity. Karl Barth once wrote:
[God] is inaccessible to all human perception and thought as such, yet being the Lord also of the human capacities for thought and perception, He is not bound by these limits, but free to give Himself to be known by man within these limits.
(Kirchliche Dogmatik IV/2, 164)
We can say nothing of the God of all creation unless God first calls and sanctifies us. And as we recognise and confess that the triune God has indeed met us in just this way, so are we formed into a community which together seeks to articulate and enact the reality of the gospel of Jesus Christ.
We hope that you will join us for the conversation.
Hi All,
Looks like an exciting blog. My comment is a request to Justin. Is your presentation ‘Predestined in Love: Actualism and Election in Karl Barth’s Doctrine of God’ available in journals, online, or elsewhere? I’m writing a master’s thesis on the Trinity and election controversy. I found your article in the IJST helpful, but would like to find further material on actualism, election, etc. Any help you can provide is greatly appreciated.
Blessings,
Steve Palmer
Trinity School for Ministry
Ambridge, PA, USA
Yo Steve,
You caught me – that paper was the skeletal version of the IJST article (but a little CV padding never hurt anyone, eh?)
As far as sources, I think there’s a book that just came out that compiles most of the major documents in the exchange – “Trinity and Election in Contemporary Theology” edited by Michael T. Dempsey. Also, if you happen to read German, Wilfred Härle’s “Sein und Gnade” is helpful as well (and the stuff by Jüngel of course).
By the way, have you come across my friend James Merrick? He’s adjuncting at Trinity these days I believe. He would be a good person to chat with (he’s writing his dissertation on Barth as well).
Cheers man.
I just realized that out of all you young scholars, none of you wear glasses; this is strange phenomenon (what’s in the water at Aberdeen?).
I’m wearing contacts. I can’t see anything without them. But the others are perfect physical specimens indeed.
Rest assured, I make up for my keen eyesight with numerous other physical deficiencies …
I refuse to believe that any of you uber men have any kind of deficiencies … I won’t hear it!