Dogmatic Theology Vol 2 - Shedd - I - Chapter 1 Anthropology commenced

Required reading

Dogmatic Theology Vol 2 by William G.T. Shedd (Available from Amazon or free here) - Commence Chapter 1 'Man's creation' and reading up to the paragraph that begins 'There are three principal supports of Traducianism. 1. Scripture. 2. Systematic Theology. 3. Physiology' (found on page 19 of my edition).

My summary

Today we carry on with Volume 2 of Shedd's magnum opus.

The first chapter concerns man's creation which Shedd isolates as those subjects that relate to man as created and holy, and as apostate and sinful.  Regeneration and sanctification are not included as they belong to redemption which is a special provision not contained in creation.

Firstly Shedd notes that man is created:

(i) bisexual (i.e. male and female);

(ii) with both body and soul.

Secondly, Shedd begins outlines the three theories of the mode man's creation, particularly of human souls:

(i) pre-existence;

(ii) traducianism;

(iii) creationism.

Shedd dismisses pre-existence as unsupported by Scripture, and then observes the five ways of handling the doctrine of original sin which have great bearing on accepting traducianism or creationism.  Original sin may be held

(i) simply as a revealed fact;

(ii) as a revealed fact and an explanation attempted by the theory of natural or substantial union with Adam;

(iii) as a revealed fact and an explanation of it attempted by the theory of representative union with Adam;

(iv) a revealed fact and an explanation of it attempted by a combination of natural with representative union;

(v) a revealed fact and an explanation is attempted by the theory of representative union that results in non-penal evils (the ancient Semi-Pelagian and modern Arminian view).

What grabbed me

I enjoyed today's reading as this is a matter I've always taken an interest in.

I appreciated the quote from Pascal about the reasons for minimising our guilt in Adam's transgression: 'How astonishing is the fact, that the mystery, the most profound of all in the whole circle of our experience, namely, the transmission of original sin, is that of which from ourselves we can gain no knowledge. It is not to be doubted that there is nothing more revolting to our reason, than to maintain that the first man's sin has entailed guilt upon those whose remoteness from the original source seems to render them incapable of its participation. Such transmission appears to us not only impossible, but even unjust. For what can be more opposed to the laws of man's poor justice, than eternally to condemn an infant incapable of free will, for a sin in which he had so little share that it was committed six thousand rears before he came into existence. Nothing, assuredly, is more repugnant to us than this doctrine ; yet, without this mystery, of all the most incomprehensible, we are incomprehensible to ourselves. Through this abyss it is, that the whole tangled thread of our moral condition takes its mazy and devious way ; and man is actually more inconceivable apart from this mystery, than the mystery itself is inconceivable by man.'

But it is interesting how our reason does not revolt at the idea of our sin being imputed to Christ - rather we rejoice in it!

Next week's reading

Continue Chapter 1 'Man's creation' by reading up to the paragraph that begins 'Secondly, the theological argument strongly favors traducianism' (found on page 29 of my edition).

Now it's your turn
Please post your own notes and thoughts in the comments section below.