Friday, October 06, 2006

Your advice

My birthday is approaching and I hoping (pleading, snivelling, beseeching, sulking) to get a nice fat book from my dear wife. However, I’m stuck between a few choices, so if any of you theological whizzes would particularly recommend or oppose any of the following, do let me know:

  1. It was mentioned on Ben’s blog recently, it’s the totally not barking up my usual theological alley but looks like a storming read anyway: The Beauty of the Infinite by David Bentley Hart (Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 2003). I have my copy from the library, of course, but I liked what I’ve read of it up till now so much that I want, no, need my own.

  2. This is a book I should have purchased a long time ago. I want it, but it’s horribly expensive. But I want it want it want it: Gott als Geheimnis der Welt by the great Eberhard Jüngel.

  3. A book I’ve never read but so want to is Trinity and the Kingdom of God: The Doctrine of God by Jürgen Moltmann. I’d kill a kitten with a garlic crusher to have this one.

  4. A big favourite is Systematic Theology: Works of God Vol 2 by Robert W. Jenson. This is a book that every theologian ought to have, and besides, I need to complete the set.

  5. Recently shooting to number one is Moltmann’s new ‘Lebensgeschichte’, Weiter Raum. However, I’ve got a plan to sneak this one for free. If it weren’t for that sly ol’ plan (which shall remain a secret for now), I’d bag this one in a shot.

  6. One last one: The Inescapable Love of God by Thomas Talbott.

Which one to request? The decision is killing me …

Hence, your objections or recommendations are most appreciated. Of course, feel free to record any other urgent proposals; it’s just that I may already own them.

10 comments:

T.B. Vick said...

I'd go with the Robert Jenson vol. 2 - that set is the best Systematic theological work I have purchased in the last 15 years!

dan said...

I've read the Trinith and the Kingom multiple times. In fact, it was the first Moltmann book I read. I was a fresh-faced college kid and it opened me up to another world. Email me your address and I will send you a copy for your birthday.

Grace and peace.

Ben Myers said...

I reckon it's got to be 1, 2 or 4 (especially now that Dan has taken care of #3!).

If it was me, I'd probably go for Robert Jenson's second volume, for two reasons: (a) Jenson is the best thing since sliced bread; and (b) there's nothing worse than having an incomplete set in your library!

One of Freedom said...

My vote was for Molty, but I am relieved that no garlic crushers were harmed in your efforts to obtain it!

Brian said...

the one you want the most, that is the one you should request.

Brian said...

if you like Jenson, you might find this article interesting:

http://www.ctinquiry.org/publications/jenson1.htm

Chris Tilling said...

And thank you all for your opinions, and the link, Brian.

Chris Tilling said...

Wow, Dan, THANKS!

Gordon Brown said...

Hi Chris,

For my birthday, I'd like you to give us your promised review of Jesus and the Eyewitnesses, and the questions to Richard Bauckham. I see the publication date has been put back.

Chris Tilling said...

Hi Gordon, funny you should mention that. I received an e-mail from Richard today as I too was a bit put-off by the push till November. So I asked him if he wanted to do it earlier, and he is happy to go ahead with the interview sooner (I was going to wait till it was published). So I guess I'd like to do the interview sometim this month. Alas, I can't really publish my review of the book till the book is published.