26 April 2023 | Bracknell, UK [Lubica Mueller, Newbold College of Higher Education]
From the Newbold Bible Conference held over the weekend of 3- 5 March 2023, we bring you a second presentation in the series. Dr Jan Barna shares “Character of God: Biblical, Pastoral and Theological Perspectives.”
Lubica Mueller, Head of Marketing & Communications at Newbold College of Higher Education (NCHE), had the opportunity to further explore the topic with Dr Barna over a short interview.
Lubica Mueller: Why did you choose the topic?
Jan Barna
The theme Character of God was chosen after initial discussions between me and Dr Gallusz and it seemed to struck a joint note immediately. The Centre for Ministry and Mission has then together discussed the theme and agreed to make into the annual’s conference theme. The rationale for choosing it, was its broad scope and the essential place it occupies in theology and Scripture.
Since my presentation was the opening one, I wanted to provide a broad introduction into the historical language which was created by the church and its influence such language exercises on the existing notions of God. Whether we actually use these often convoluted terms – like divine immutability, impassibility, omnipotence or omnibenevolence – or not, on a deeper conceptual level, they keep exercising a hidden but major influence on our thinking about God’s nature and character and His involvement with creation.
LB:
What is the main contribution of your presentation?
JB:
I hope my presentation has contributed to the larger awareness of how such language and concepts define Christian theology of the doctrine of God. My key point in providing a broader overview was not only informative, but also reflective – to challenge such philosophically shaped language and its legacy by demonstrating it’s speculative and non-biblical Hellenistic side, and so I finally suggest the need for further and perhaps a new and fresh biblical-theological investigation which would bring new language and clarifications. If the doctrine of God occupies the central place in Christian theology, as I have argued, then it certainly deserves the best of biblical scholars’ efforts to make it as biblical in language and concepts as possible.
JB:
Thank you Dr Barna for sharing, and we hope and pray tedNEWS reader will be inspired by what you have to share.
[Photo: Eike Mueller, AME -CC BY 4.0].
