Given that so much of our contemporary lives are spent working and that so many major decisions and issues in life revolve around our work, it is surprising just how little serious theological reflection there is on the subject. A Theology of Work: Work and the New Creation makes work itself the subject of theological enquiry. From within Christian doctrine it asks the pressing questions 'what is work and work's place in God's economy and thus, how should we be carrying out our work?' Through dialogue with Jürgen Moltmann, Pope John Paul II and others, this book develops a genitive 'theology of work'. It offers a normative theological definition of work and a model for a theological ethics of work that shows work's nature, value and meaning now, and, quite uniquely, eschatologically related to the new creation. Throughout the book it is argued that work in its essence is about transformation and, as such, it is an activity consisting of three dynamically interrelated dimensions: the instrumental, relational, and ontological.
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'This careful, well informed and interesting book offers an important thesis that work is of the essence of human being, including the eschatological dimension: it will provide a significant focus for much theological debate of a neglected topic.' Timothy Bradshaw, Senior Tutor, Regent's Park College, Oxford, UK
'Cosden's A Thelogy of Work is a substantial new contribution to the field. He highlights the enduring significance of human work in light of the Christian hope of the New Creation and the Kingdom of God. I heartily recommend it to all who are concerned to integrate their work with Christian faith.' John Jefferson Davis, Professor of Systematic Theology and Christian Ethics, Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary, South Hamilton, MA, USA
'The widespread sense felt by so many of us that we are continually on the verge of "burn out" indicates how much we need to be informed by fresh attempts to understand work from a thoroughly biblical and theological perspective. Darrell Cosden offers just such a promising engagement. Rather than limiting the theological basis for understanding work to a human
vocation entrusted to us in the primordial past, Cosden wisely and helpfully directs our attention as well to the future. Thereby, he provides an eternal vantage point that, if taken to heart, can transform our attitude toward the work that we are called to do in the present.' Stanley J. Grenz, Pioneer McDonald Professor of Theology,
Carey Theological College, Vancouver, BC, Canada, and Professor of Theological Studies, Mars Hill Graduate School, Seattle, WA, USA
'Cosden's A Thelogy of Work is a substantial new contribution to the field. He highlights the enduring significance of human work in light of the Christian hope of the New Creation and the Kingdom of God. I heartily recommend it to all who are concerned to integrate their work with Christian faith.' John Jefferson Davis, Professor of Systematic Theology and Christian Ethics, Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary, South Hamilton, MA, USA
'The widespread sense felt by so many of us that we are continually on the verge of "burn out" indicates how much we need to be informed by fresh attempts to understand work from a thoroughly biblical and theological perspective. Darrell Cosden offers just such a promising engagement. Rather than limiting the theological basis for understanding work to a human
vocation entrusted to us in the primordial past, Cosden wisely and helpfully directs our attention as well to the future. Thereby, he provides an eternal vantage point that, if taken to heart, can transform our attitude toward the work that we are called to do in the present.' Stanley J. Grenz, Pioneer McDonald Professor of Theology,
Carey Theological College, Vancouver, BC, Canada, and Professor of Theological Studies, Mars Hill Graduate School, Seattle, WA, USA
About the Author
Darrell Cosden (PhD at St Andrews University) was Lecturer in Theology and Ethics at the International Christian College in Glasgow from 1999-2007, and now teaches at Judson University, Elgin IL. His creative and stretching approaches to teaching have inspired students to have a passion for theology, and to make the connections between that theology and people's day to day lives, as do his books The Heavenly Good of Earthly Work and A Theology of Work: Work and the New Creation both published by Paternoster.
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5.0 out of 5 stars
A great discussion of the theological meaning of human work,
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This review is from: A Theology of Work: Work and the New Creation (Paternoster Theological Monographs) (Paperback)
An excellent book on the the theological meaning of human work. Although work usually occupies the majority of our working hours, the typical protestant or evangelical views of the nature and meaning of work are incredibly shallow. This book is really good on several levels. In its own right it explores the meaning of work, in its instrumental, relational and ontological aspects, all of which the author says are equal. It is this third aspect, the ontological, which is the main focus of the book, because the two other aspects are common is the previous protestant and catholic discussions on work, while the ontology of work has been neglected. In short the author develops an ontology of work in relationship with both Creation and New Creation, though the latter has primacy, for 'the End is more than the Beginning'. The author contends that work is ontologically part of human beings, and that this will remain so in the New Creation. Although, the focus is on work, the book also has a good discussion on the meaning of the 'imago dei' in Genesis 1-2, and also has, although limited in scope, an excellent introduction and discussion of the theology of Jurgen Moltmann. Overall, a really good and interesting book, though I will have to work out the theological and practical implications of the it.
5.0 out of 5 stars
Revitalizing human vocation,
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This review is from: A Theology of Work: Work and the New Creation (Paternoster Theological Monographs) (Paperback)
Dr. Cosden's book argues that work is central to human identity and vocation, and by working we can cooperate with God to better our world. Eschatology takes on a new characteristic of direct coherence between our current world and God's new creation. Judgment is redefined as an evaluation and purification of both our selves and our work: God takes humanity's work, purifies it, and uses it as the building blocks for the new creation. Cosden presents and engages both human experience and theological expression throughout history concerning the potential for the heavenly good of earthly work.
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