Flesh and Blood: A Dogmatic Sketch Concerning the Fallen Nature View of Christ’s Human Nature

By Daniel Jordan Cameron and Dr. Myk Habets

If you were told that Christ assumed a fallen human nature, how would you respond? This statement makes many uncomfortable because they believe that to agree with this statement would sacrifice the sinlessness of Jesus. Others have said that this view is heretical and completely undermines what scripture teaches. But does it? In Flesh and Blood, Daniel J. Cameron examines this idea and its critics, such as Oliver Crisp and Kevin Chiarot, to see if it is possible to say that Christ did in fact assume a fallen human nature. Daniel examines one of the most well known proponents of this view, T.F. Torrance, to see if his arguments can overcome those who have critiqued him. Daniel begins by explaining the fallen nature view from the perspective of Torrance. He then moves to explain some of the biggest critiques of this view and then, in chapter 4, seeks to find an answer to the critics. This book ends by examining the role of the Holy Spirit in the life of Christ as it pertains to this question.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Wipf and Stock
• Release date: Oct 12, 2016
• ISBN: 9781498232739

Daniel Jordan Cameron

Daniel J. Cameron earned his BA in Theology from The Moody Bible Institute and his MA in Systematic Theology from Trinity Evangelical Divinity School. He is currently a Ph.D. candidate at the University of Aberdeen studying the ecclesiology of T.F. Torrance. He serves as an adjunct instructor of theology at The Moody Bible Institute (Chicago, IL). He is a full-time high school Bible teacher and Bible department head at Chicago Hope Academy on the West Side of Chicago and serves as the Pastor of English ministry and Youth ministry at Promise and Fulfillment Community Church in Wheeling, Il. Daniel's desire is to use his passion for theology to help people grow in maturity and intimacy in their relationship with God. Daniel and his wife Sarah currently live on the west side of Chicago.

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Preface

I was introduced to T. F. Torrance’s theology when I was a junior in college at Moody Bible Institute. I was drawn to his theology almost immediately. He spoke about Jesus in a way that made him real to me in a way that I had never experienced Jesus. I began to dive into his work headfirst and quickly found myself immersed in theological depth that I had never experienced before. It was during this time that I was introduced to the idea that Christ had assumed a fallen human nature. At first I was quickly taken aback by the notion that anything fallen was to be associated with Jesus. But thankfully I did not stop reading Torrance and kept trying to figure out what he was talking about.

It is critical that all who engage in theological conversation have a good understanding of dogmatic rank. Understanding that humans are fallen, this means that our logic is fallen and we do not have all of the answers to all theological questions and so dogmatic rank can help us to put theological topics in order of salvific issues and non-salvific issues. There are three parts to dogmatic rank. First-rank doctrines would be doctrines that must be believed if one is a Christian. For instance, Jesus Christ being God, the Trinity, etc. Second-rank doctrines would be doctrines about which Christians hold varying views and have separate churches. For instance, views on baptism, church government, etc. Third-rank doctrines are doctrines about which there may be disagreement but all who hold them are still Christians and still worship together at the same church. For instance, tribulational views, views on creation, etc. I believe wholeheartedly that the doctrine of Christ having a fallen or unfallen nature fits in the third category. This is not a topic that we should split over but, rather, we should allow our conversations regarding this topic to sharpen us as we seek to grow up in every way into him who is the head (Eph 4:15). So please know that my hope in these posts is to push you to Jesus Christ and maturity in him. Let us converse in love and grace.

When you get married one of the most crucial pieces of advice that you can receive is to learn to carefully and clearly communicate with one another so as to avoid any possibility of miscommunication. I have found that, as theologians, we should take this same advice and learn to clearly and carefully communicate with each other when we speak of divine things so as to avoid any possibility of miscommunication. However, I have found this is often not the case. This book comes out of several miscommunications that I have seen concerning the nature of the humanity of Christ. In this book I do not seek to end the conversation, ending any questions that could be asked. Nor do I seek to present this as the only option to understanding the human nature of Christ. I do, however, seek to bring clarity to an already muddled conversation filled with miscommunications of various kinds.

Flesh and Blood seeks to answer the question while remaining orthodox can it be said that Christ assumed a fallen human nature in the incarnation? In order to accomplish this task, both sides of the argument will be examined specifically from the viewpoint of Thomas F. Torrance (fallen) and Oliver Crisp (unfallen). The first chapter introduces the reader to the discussion. The second chapter begins the inquiry by asking what it means to say that the Divine Son assumed a fallen human nature, giving clarification to the fallenness side of the argument. Chapter 3 continues the inquiry by asking what are some apparent problems, which could encourage the fallenness view to be rejected, giving clarification to the unfallen view. Chapter 4 then plays the part of mediator asking if there is a way to retain what is helpful while avoiding the harmful consequences. Chapter 5 closes the book by taking a look at pneumatological considerations concerning the fallen nature view.

This book could not have come to be without a lot of help from many people who I must now thank. First, to my lovely wife, Sarah, who has encouraged me and pushed me to be the best that I can and to study harder than I thought that I could and for keeping me humble when I wanted to allow knowledge to puff me up.

Second, to my mother who raised me up in the way I should go so that when I am old I would not depart from it. Thank you for pushing me even when I resisted your pushing. And thank you for standing behind me as I pursue God’s calling on my