Holiness: Divine and Human [Hardcover]

Holiness might seem like a simple concept. Yet, when one compares the array of objects that are called holy in the Hebrew Scriptures and Christian New Testament, there may seem to be no points of similarity between God, humans, time, land, temple accoutrements, etc. However, in this book, James M. Arcadi hypothesizes a unitary account of the definition of holiness. What unites holy objects, Arcadi argues, is divine ownership. Holy objects belong to God. In application to God, this motif has profound implications for how one conceives of God and the God-world relation. In application to humans, this book argues that the ownership theme unfurls new insights on a range of doctrinal loci including the doctrines of the imago Dei, justification, atonement, sanctification, and liturgical theology. Bringing biblical studies in conversation with contemporary analytic philosophy, this book offers an analytic systematic theology of holiness.James M. Arcadi (PhD, University of Bristol) is the rector of All Souls Anglican Church in Wheaton, IL, and teaches theology at Wheaton College Graduate School.

This is a first-rate study of a neglected and often misunderstood biblical idea: holiness. Arcadi surveys the state of the question as to what holiness is and then provides his own answer  and that's just the first chapter! The rest of the book tests his proposed definition by examining it in relation to various doctrinal loci. The result is a biblically based, freshly articulated, and conceptually clear analytic and systematic theology of holiness. Kevin J. Vanhoozer, research professor of Systematic Theology, Trinity Evangelical Divinity School

Few theological topics are as central and as challenging as holiness. Bringing together expertise in biblical studies, philosophy, and church practice, Arcadi has gifted us with an invaluable overview of Christian theology seen through the lens of holiness. Highly recommended! Joanna Leidenhag, University of Leeds

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