God's Greater Glory: The Exalted God Of Scripture And The Christian Faith [Paperback]

Bruce A. Ware (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: November 11, 2004

Though in all things God's Word is the final authority, ourChristian tradition, as inherited from centuries of carefulreflection and endeavoring to be true to the teaching of Scripture,can greatly enlighten us. Nowhere is this blend of respectfullistening to the wisdom of the past and faithfulness to the Biblemore necessary than in our contemporary reformulations of thedoctrine of God's person.

Bruce Ware believes that while tradition's emphasis on God'smetaphysical perfection and His supremacy over the world iscorrect, we must refine our understanding of the way in which Herelates to us. While retaining the deepest concerns of the historictradition, Ware offers a more rational view of God's dealings withHis children--a view that is reflected in Scripture's own testimonyof Him. Ware then applies this concept of real divine exaltationand real divine-human relationship to the areas of our prayer life,confidence in God and His guidance of us.

Product Details

• Paperback: 256 pages
• Publisher: Crossway Books (November 11, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1581344430
• ISBN-13: 978-1581344431
• Product Dimensions: 8.4 x 5.5 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 11.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #177,023 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Bruce A. Ware (PhD, Fuller Theological Seminary) is professor of Christian theology at the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. He has written numerous journal articles, book chapters, book reviews, and has authored God's Lesser Glory, God's Greater Glory, and Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Outstanding Work!, January 14, 2006

By 

Celucien L. Joseph (Fort Worth, TX) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: God's Greater Glory: The Exalted God Of Scripture And The Christian Faith (Paperback)

In God's Greater Glory, Ware critically assesses God's relationship with his created world. Particularly attention is given to God's interaction with free creatures that He created with volitional capability. Ware presents a coherent analysis of divine providence and sovereignty in relation to human freedom. Ware sees God's sovereignty as both exhaustive and meticulous over all things.

Prof. Ware defines divine providence as "God's providential dealings with human creation" (17). The author sees this particular concept," divine providence" as both 'providence and preservation' and 'providence and governance'(Ibid). Ware's long and classic definition of divine providence, is therefore articulated as " God continually oversees and directs all things pertaining to the created order in such a way that 1) he preserves in existence and provides for the creation he has brought into being, and (2) he governs and reigns supremely over the entirety of the whole creation in order to fulfill of his intended purposes in it and through it" (Ibid).

Ware's definition assumes two crucial elements. First, God's continual maintenance of his created order. Second, God's absolute control over all things in the universe. In other words, He perceives God as Creator and Preserver of all of his creation. Hence, God is a relational deity; whereby he pursues relationship with his creatures and He is consistently doing so.

The book is divided into two equal parts including an appendix. Ware gives ten lengthy chapters to defend his thesis. Part I deals with historical, hermeneutical and theological issues pertaining to God's interaction with the world. Part II focuses largely on practical issues, consistent with the Christian life (in view of God's providence and sovereignty). The book stands bodly in defense of the traditional view of divine providence. Throughout the book, the author interacts with the writings of theologians from different angles such as Jacob Arminius, John Wesley, Gregory A. Boyd, John Sanders, William Lane Craig, and John Calvin. In other words theological positions as defined as Arminianism, Open Theism, Process theology, Molinism and Calvinism.

Ware has dealt with the subject of "divine sovereignty and human freedom" with faithfulness and integrity. God's greater Glory opens a new window for Christians to behold the beauty of God, to see him more fully and adore him more dearly.

10 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Great God of the Christian Faith, October 7, 2006

By 

DC De Villiers (S.A.) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: God's Greater Glory: The Exalted God Of Scripture And The Christian Faith (Paperback)

The first thing I want to say is WOW! This is an amazing book. Dr. Bruce Ware is a fine author and great Bible teacher. To be quite honest, I struggled reading this book at first. It is a very difficult subject and one usually reserved for discussions between scholars and theologians. This book is not intended for the layperson. Although this book will be very difficult for the average church goer, I want to encourage you to make an effort. It will be tough at first, but once you grasp the subject matter...boom! This book is a true joy giver. Dr. Bruce shows from Scripture that God is in complete control of all spectrums of life. In explaining how God can be sovereign over evil and still not be responsible for it, Dr. Ware makes a good and very convincing case, both philosphically and Biblically, for what he calls "compatabilist middle-knowledge." It definately has me convinced. This book definately lives up to its title. The Christian God of Scripture is awesome!

9 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Professor of Theology, May 11, 2005

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Professor of Theology "Professor of Theology" - See all my reviews

This review is from: God's Greater Glory: The Exalted God Of Scripture And The Christian Faith (Paperback)

"Open theism" is a theological issue that has challenged the idea that God knows the future. In a former book to which this is a sequel, God's Lesser Glory, the author, professor of systematic theology and senior associate dean at Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, argued that a denial of God's foreknowledge belittles him. This volume continues the discussion. The first of its two parts consists of four chapters and is entitled "Foundational Theological Bases for Divine Providence." The second, consisting of three chapters, has as its title "Practical Christian Relevance of Divine Providence." An introduction, conclusion, and appendix on "Defining Evangelicalism's Boundaries Theologically: Is Open Theism Evangelical?" round out the book's content. If you have people in your church who like to think deeply about questions like God's sovereignty and human free will, this book might be for your library. But the author places his "cookies" on the very top shelf so that even the tallest reader will have to stretch to reach them. This would, then, be an excellent book for a graduate or seminary course, but it will be far too difficult for the average church member.