Providence: A Biblical, Historical, and Theological Account - Paperback

by Mark W. Elliott (Author)

Addressing a topic of perennial interest in Christian theology, this volume offers a constructive account of the doctrine of providence. Mark Elliott shows that, contrary to received opinion, the Bible has a lot to say about providence as a distinct doctrine within the wider scope of God's acts of salvation. This book by a leading scholar of Christian theology and exegesis is a capstone of years of research on the history and theology of the doctrine of providence.

Back Jacket

"An intellectual achievement of the highest order"

"The subtitle of this book is an apt summary of its treatment of providence: biblical, historical, and theological. I don't think there are but a half dozen or so scholars writing in English who would be capable of such a comprehensive and synthetic treatment of this major problem in modern theology. This is an intellectual achievement of the highest order and will greatly reward the diligent reader."
--Gary Anderson, University of Notre Dame

"Elliott's latest study completes a remarkable trilogy of works on divine providence. This sustained discussion of providence as a central biblical theme and of its reception in the history of theology is set to become an indispensable point of reference for future scholarship on the subject."
--David Fergusson, University of Edinburgh

"Ranging through ancient and modern theology, the sweep of the Bible, and, most pressingly, the breadth of human experience in pain and joy, Elliott opens us to a reflection on divine providence that is astonishing in its richness, challenge, and, finally, mystery. Does God order our lives? Accompany them? Heal them? Inhabit them? Demand them? Elliott's synthetic study shows how all these questions, which rumble so deeply in most hearts, can be fruitfully pursued along the threads of the most sophisticated and sometimes exquisite reflection of scriptural readers, doctrinal expositors, and religious critics. This is a book for mature, but searching, souls, gracefully written by a master among them."
--Ephraim Radner, Wycliffe College

"Elliott presents the rich tapestry of reflective trust in divine providence as a persistent feature of the biblical testimonies and a continuing concern throughout the history of Christian teaching and living. Adverse to all simplifications, this book does not make the task of the theologian easier. However, engaging with its questions and answers will make any attempt to speak responsibly and responsively of God's providence richer and more appropriate to the giftedness and fragility of our personal and communal lives."
--Christoph Schwöbel, University of St. Andrews

"Elliott has always championed the bridging of biblical scholarship, church history, and systematic theology, overcoming disciplinary boundaries and facilitating theological discussion between scholars of different disciplines. This remains true for his Providence, which is a fresh approach to a challenging topic."
--Konrad Schmid, University of Zurich

Author Biography

Mark W. Elliott (PhD, University of Cambridge) is professor of divinity and biblical criticism at the University of Glasgow in Glasgow, Scotland, and is a professorial fellow at Wycliffe College in Toronto, Ontario. He is the author or coauthor of several books. He previously taught at the University of St. Andrews, where he directed the Institute for Bible, Theology, and Hermeneutics.