Flame of Love: Three Views on the Destiny of the Unevangelized

____Clark Pinnock is one of the most productive theologians in the 20th century. Contrary to some of the other critics, this book is less about open theism and more about God's dynamic relationship with us. It is a master work that no classical theist has to date come up to with respect to raw theologizing in defending God's dynamic work "through" His Spirit in our world in "classical" theism. Many classical theists can complain--and they do with a vengeance--but let them provide some substance. On open theism itself, Pinnock has now weighed in with his Most Moved Mover that blasts through the settled God of classical theism with far more kindness, erudition, finesse, and "Christian" spirit than Pinnock's adversaries (Bruce Ware and John Frame in particular, and I take these two to task in the appendices of my own book, Heart of the Living God, seen at www.preciousheart.net). ____What Pinnock has done, as one author has said, is look seriously as all of the Bible believing traditions. Pinnock is certainly not Roman Catholic (RC), but that also does not mean that RC theologians do not have a lot to contribute (even classical Protestant theologians quote and profit from sterline RC theologians). We don't have to agree on every point to see God working in many traditions, and the Bible is the authoritative guide. Pinnock takes us to new levels of sophistication--even daringly so--with just what the Holy Spirit's activity means in our lives today. ____I say some of this to my own chagrin, for in my schools (Criswell College, SWBTS, NOBTS, from 1978 to 1997) Pinnock's work was not given a fair shake. I know now why. I read his Flame of Love for the first time just a little while ago, AFTER having been taken in and hugged by his Most Moved Mover (and sloppily slapped around by Ware's and Frame's lackluster critiques). I had to see more. One does not have to be a full open theists to appreciate those to defend our living, real-time, and dynamic relationship with God--my goodness no--and the classical critics should be ashamed that they have not come up to speed themselves in just what is open or truly dynamic in our relationship besides their own complaining about openness. ____Having said all of that, even though Flame of Love is already a little dated--it is still ground breaking in many ways and deserves far more the mere tribbling complaints. Most especially since the critics of it have hardly weighed in with ANYTHING as substantial on what "dynamic living relationship" with our heavenly Father means. ____What is Love? What is the role of the Holy Spirit in Love? This book gives some insights from a master theologian's hands, punctuated throughout with solid quotes from other masters. Heck fire and tickle my innards, read this book just for the quotes and references--that would be worth the price--but Pinnock has a pithy, rich and direct voice all his own.

OK, so you can listen to the guy who's copy/pasting stuff from some other article (twice even!) OR, you can find out what's in this book for yourself. Here's a synopsis of just one of the chapters of "Flame of Love", from my Theology final for seminary.This is focusing on three concepts, as they appear in Ch.3 "Spirit & Christology" in this book:Representation-(P. 87) (Pinnock tells us)"Following the baptism (of Christ), Spirit took the initiative and drove Jesus into the wilderness to be tested. As a representative of the human race, Jesus was going to have to experience what Adam suffered and conquer it. The temptations were aimed at his vocation as the anointed representative of humankind." So for Pinnock, representation seems very much the same thing as recapitulation. Christ is self-emptied and dependent on the Spirit, much as we would have to be in order to conquer the temptations of Satan. This is the author's view of how Christ "becomes" our savior. Participation-The author discusses C.S. Lewis on this concept (P. 105) and states "Christ became human in order to exist vicariously for us, that we might share in his life, death, and resurrection. In this view we are saved by identifying with him and becoming like him." This is the author's view of how we enter into the salvation offered by Jesus Christ. Recapitulation-Pinnock writes "Something happened through the total journey of Jesus Christ that literally change the world and opened the door wide to union with God." (p.93) Later he adds (p.95) "This is the theme of Irenaeus and the fist theory of atonement. God sent his son in the power of the Spirit to enact a recapitulation of human history through the life, death, and resurrection of Christ, which would give the human race a new start." Recapitulation, of course, means that God in Christ has become humankind's "new representative head." The new Adam replaces the old.***** I actually read this particular book by Pinnock a few years ago, having purchased it when it was new, and I find it's my favorite of all of his writings I have ever read. It's also the only one that gets us more thoroughly into Scripture and one that I can recommend without too many qualifications. (As opposed to "Openness" and "Unbounded".) What really would be interesting is to see if there are some books along this line that get us deeper into Pinnock's background. One would be a commentary or a study on Hebrews that is geared towards mining the recapitulation ideas out of the text. The other would be an in-depth study of Irenaeus' theology. As good as Pinnock has gotten here, it seems best to investigate the Biblical and historical records for themselves.

I would recommend this book to anyone who is not quite sure what to believe about the Holy Spirit, and to anyone who has accidently or purposely left the Holy Spirit out of his or her Christian life. Mr. Pinnock is an excellent guide: he explains theological terms in understandable words without being patronizing, and doctrines that could be controversial, he presents rationally and quietly. I learned about penal and participatory atonement, filioque, Orthodox views and Eastern and Western ideas, and how the resurrection triumphs over the cross. He shows that the Holy Spirit is love in action, the very thing that is needed by churches of any denomination. After reading this book, I now fully realize how important to salvation the Holy Spirit is. Be ready for a wonderful journey into the rest of your life.

I was deeply encouraged by this book.It is well written and includes the scholarly depth (including a wealth of notes an references) that I was looking for in a theological text of this nature. I was also keen to read first hand some of the work by this much talked about (good and bad) writer.The surprise to me was also the beauty of this work. It is devotionally enjoyable and really communicates to both the intellect and the heart something of the passion and joy of Holy Spirit's pervasive work among a much loved creation.I heartily commend it and it provides a good platform from which to consider some of the more controvertial statements for which Pinnock is famous. It certainly convinced me that here is a man with a theological model which is worthy of further consideration. It really does encourage both a more biblical and a more spirit-led life from what might be branded a post-modern theology.Read and enjoy.

I've been reading theology and philosophy for 30 years. Oddly, this is the first book I've come across where the theologian admits being deeply in love with the Lord whom he serves! But it isn't just Pinnock's personal passion that enlivens the book's message; it is his thoroughgoing knowledge and positive integration of Eastern and Western Christion traditions, as well as his grounding of pneumatology in Trinitarian and Christological theology that makes the book a resounding success. I underlined sentences on practically every page. Thanks, Clark, for an inspired masterpiece on the Person and activity of the Holy Spirit!