The Question of Providence

The traditional doctrine of providence has fallen on hard times in the face of human suffering, such as that of September 11, 2001. In this clear and engaging book, Charles Wood seeks to renew reflection on doctrine of providence by reexamining features of the classical doctrine and reorienting the doctrine in a way that coheres more fully with the gospel. Woods argument moves in two directions: first, by examining recent thinking about the function of doctrine, Wood sheds light on what the doctrine of providence is supposed to do and how one might assess its adequacy. Second, Wood proposes a reorientation of the doctrine around the central Trinitarian and christological commitmentsa reorientation that moves beyond neglecting the doctrine of providence and toward a new way of understanding Gods involvement with the world.

Charles M. Wood is Lehman Professor of Christian Doctrine at Perkins School of Theology at Southern Methodist University