In search of a systematic theology of love
Posted by Anthony on February 11, 2010
Regular readers of this blog are aware that my fiction series, Birth Pangs, have their first three books patterned after 1 Cor 13:13, “these three remain: faith, hope and love.” The first was Fidelis (Latin for faithfulness). The second was Spero (Latin for hope). The third, which I will soon sit down to begin writing, is Caritas (Latin for love).
I am therefore in a deliberate search for materials that speak specifically to a Christian understanding of love. This search has been ongoing for more than a decade and I must confess I have to this point been disappointed.
In point of fact, it is my personal belief that the root problem in American Christianity is a failure to love in the manner that the Bible describes, and this in turn is because there is no deliberate instruction on the subject. People are just supposed to ‘know’ how to love.
So, I hereby issue a request for help: is anyone aware of any systematic theology books anywhere, in any Christian denomination, that has a section devoted to the topic of Biblical love? Is anyone aware of any book that systematically and comprehensively presents a doctrine of love?
Please let me know by commenting on this entry or through the contact form available on this site.
Thanks.
Yohanan said,
Greetings,
Did you get any hint or even info about the theme? I plan to build a course in Old Testament introduction on this theme of Love in the Bible.
All the best in Jesus.
Yohanan oldman
University of Fribourg
Anthony said,
Hi Yohanan,
The results haven’t been amazing. A couple that I was reminded of were C.S. Lewis’s “The Four Loves” and Anders Nygren’s “Agape and Eros.” Something new that I’m only beginning to work through is DA Carson’s “The Difficult Doctrine of the Love of God.” It’s pretty short, but at least it’s a go at the issue. Given the course you’re referring to, the Carson one might be useful.
So far I guess you could say I’m underwhelmed.
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