James E. Dolezal has served the church well with this new book. In recent decades, there have been both subtle and overt attempts to reshape the doctrine of God for the church. This book attempts to recover lost ground by restating ‘classical Christian theism’ (p.1), in contrast to what the author calls, ‘theistic mutualism’ or ‘theistic personalism’ (pp.1-3). These latter terms incorporate a range of theologies that deviate from the historical Protestant and confessional understanding of the doctrine of God.
The seven chapters simply and helpfully address various topics: models of theism, the unchanging God, the simple God (the oneness of God), the eternal Creator and the pure Trinity.
This work is quite specialist, making it somewhat unsuitable for lay readers. However, for those who want and need a panorama of new and unstable theologies, this is a must-read.
Contemporary authors, such as Clark Pinnock with his open theism, are refuted. Bruce Ware’s unstable Trinitarian approach is also investigated. There are many other names whose theologies are subjected to scrutiny, but Dolezal does it with care and precision, only occasionally drifting into nit-picking or harshness. For what it represents in its field, this book is commended.
Kevin Bidwell
Sheffield
