LIBERTY UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF DIVINITY
ANNOTATED BIBLIOGRAPHY
Submitted to Dr. Todd Buck
in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the completion of
Theo 626 - B01
Doctrine of God
by
Harold Hanson
May 30, 2021
Annotated Bibliography
Statement of the topic – Understanding God’s Doctrine through his wrath and love
Resource 1
Wessling, Jordan. "How does a Loving God Punish? on the Unification of God's Love and
Punitive Wrath."International Journal of Systematic Theology 19, no. 4 (2017): 421-443.
Brief statement regarding the author and his/her credentials as an authority
The author Jordan Wessling is a well-known Instructional Designer as well as Curriculum
Development Specialist in Fuller Theology Seminary. Previously he served as a
Postdoctoral Research Fellow in the Analytic Theology domain. The chosen work was done
for a Theological Formation Project. He has written the popular book titled ‘Love Divine:
A Systematic Account of God’s Love for Humanity’, along with other books, articles, etc.
A crisp statement regarding the relevance of this article for the topic
In the article, Wessling has highlighted two opposite theological paradigms relating to the
relationship between the Almighty and mankind
1
.He has focused and God’s love for
mankind as well as his wrath. He has presented an argument revolving around a new way
of comprehending the unitary account of the Almighty’s punishment. Various theories have
been used to elaborate on the punishment by God.
A salient or meaningful quote from the article that you would likely cite if you were to
write an essay on this topic
There is a God who has abundant love but he nevertheless exercises on people who commit
sin. The focus is on the apparent tension that exists between God’s love for mankind and
His punishment for people who commit sins.
Resource 2
Brewbaker, William S. "God, Justice and Law: Reflections on Christian Legal
Thought."Law, Culture and the Humanities 9, no. 1 (02, 2013): 13-25
1
Wessling, Jordan. "How does a Loving God Punish? on the Unification of God's Love and Punitive Wrath."International Journal
of Systematic Theology 19, no. 4 (2017): 421-443
Brief statement regarding the author and his/her credentials as an authority
The author of the article William Brewbaker is a renounced Professor at the University of
Virginia. He practiced law in Birmingham and he attended the Duke University and
graduated in the healthcare law discipline. He is interested in conducting research in diverse
areas such as legal philosophy such as theological perspective relating to law, healthcare,
etc.
A crisp statement regarding the relevance of this article for the topic
In the article Brewbaker has used a statement by Rowan William to present his own
argument. He has stated that in Christianity, justice is influenced by the doctrine of God. It
is necessary to examine those who are involved in constructing explicitly theological
accounts that revolve around law
2
. The author has also laid emphasis on the theological
particularity.
A salient or meaningful quote from the article that you would likely cite if you were to
write an essay on this topic
In the end, the things that can be said by Christians regarding justice revolves around the
doctrine of God. The life of God is very ‘justice’ in the sense that the ‘Father’, the ‘Son’
and the ‘Holy Spirit’ reflect one another perfectly and ‘give glory’ to each other.
Resource 3
Oakes, Robert. "The Wrath of God."International Journal for Philosophy of Religion 27,
no. 3 (1990): 129-40.
Brief statement regarding the author and his/her credentials as an authority
Robert Oakes is a reputed Professor working in the ‘Department of Philosophy, Humanities
and Social Science’ at the University of Missouri. c He is popularly known as a philosopher
of religion who has a keen interest in Christianity.
A crisp statement regarding the relevance of this article for the topic
2
Brewbaker, William S. "God, Justice and Law: Reflections on Christian Legal Thought."Law, Culture and the Humanities 9, no.
1 (02, 2013): 13-25
In the chosen work Author Oakes has presented the argument by focusing on the
philosophical representatives in the Christianity religion. In addition to this, while
presenting his arguments he has also taken into account the philosophical representatives
belonging to the Judaism religion
3
. The main focus of the article is on the wrath of God.
The disagreement about His wrath has been explored by emphasizing the perspectives of
the Christianity and Judaism religions.
A salient or meaningful quote from the article that you would likely cite if you were to
write an essay on this topic
The divine nature has made God impassable in every sense and He lacks the affective
ability. According to this, the doctrine relating to God’s wrath represents is an artless
failure as it focuses on the emotions such as anger and vengeance.
One does not require a degree to comprehend how God’s wrath has been reflected in the
Scripture. While He is ‘omnimerciful’, He is also ‘uncompromising’ in nature. God
demands justice and moral decency from mankind. Due to the scope and depth of the
sinfulness of human beings, God shows his wrath so that justice can prevail. c
Resource 4
McCarthy, Michael C., S.J. "Divine Wrath And Human Anger: Embarrassment Ancient
And New."Theological Studies 70, no. 4 (12, 2009): 845-74
Brief statement regarding the author and his/her credentials as an authority
Michael McCarthy is a well-known Associated Professor of Theology as well as the Vice
President of the Mission Integration and Planning at the Fordham University, New York
City. He basically belongs to San Francisco. He holds a Ph.D in ‘Christianity and Judaism
in Antiquity’ (CJA), with the main focus on Patristic Theology. He got the degree from the
Jesuit School of Theology Berkeley. He is involved in a diverse range of activities such as
Campus Ministry, Community Engaged Learning, and many more. c c
A crisp statement regarding the relevance of this article for the topic
3
Oakes, Robert. "The Wrath of God."International Journal for Philosophy of Religion 27, no. 3 (1990): 129-40
The arguments presented by the author mainly revolve around how the divine wrath has
been represented in the recent times as well as the ambivalence among the believer and non-
believer writers
4
. He has stated that in the former times, writers were sensitive while
portraying the rage of the Almighty and they helped the Scripter readers to understand
God’s wrath in a better way. According to him, God’s anger is an integral component of his
justice.
The author has also focused on the terrible experiences that surround human anger. He has
presented these components to give a definite context to the readers of the Bible to
understand the divine wrath. God’s rage is very different as compared to human anger. God
demonstrates His anger to ensure justice prevails and sinners are punished.
A salient or meaningful quote from the article that you would likely cite if you were to
write an essay on this topic
A strategy that is applied to deal with the embarrassment of Biblical representation of
God’s wrath involves editing of the texts that are used in the public worship setting. Even
though the adoption of such a strategy has varied over the years, it is a serious concern.
Gemma Hinricher, the well-known prioress of the Carmelite convent, Dachau has stated
that the manner in which the divine wrath is represented in Christianity has led to serious
pastoral issues, especially while making the move from ambiguous Latin to realistic
vernacular. Christian theologians need to have a proper understanding of God’s wrath and
only then can patristic writers can represent the divine wrath accurately.
Resource 5
D.A. Carson, God’s Love and God’s Wrath, Bibliotheca Sacra 156, (October -December
1999), 387-98
Brief statement regarding the author and his/her credentials as an authority
Carson is a Research Professor in the Trinity Evangelical Divinity School, Illinois and his
work revolves around New Testament. He was born in Canada and he is well-known as a
Reformed Evangelical theologian. He has founded the Gospel Coalition. Carson is a well-
4
McCarthy, Michael C., S.J. "Divine Wrath And Human Anger: Embarrassment Ancient And New."Theological Studies 70, no. 4
(12, 2009): 845-74
respected scholar and pastor. He has served as an editor of approximately 50 works and
lectures. c
A crisp statement regarding the relevance of this article for the topic
In the chosen article, Author Carson has spoken about the difference between the immanent
Trinity and the economic Trinity. He has given a comprehensive insight to the readers by
covering the Old Testament wrath as well as the New Testament wrath. Additionally, he
has also informed the readers about the misconceptions that exist relating to the love of
God and his anger and wrath
5
. A diverse range of topics has been covered by him including
the love of God in the world, the limited atonement by mankind, and the love of the
Almighty and His people. Ultimately, he has presented five categories relating to the love
for believers.
A salient or meaningful quote from the article that you would likely cite if you were to
write an essay on this topic
Just like love, wrath is a vital emotion that can be stated to be the complete absence of any
kind of passion. One is likely to not just fly in the very face of the Biblical evidence but he
would also face fresh errors that touch the Almighty’s holiness. Wrath is a not a perfection
of God, unlike love. It is basically a function of God’s holiness against the sins committed
by mankind.
5
D.A. Carson, God’s Love and God’s Wrath, Bibliotheca Sacra 156, (October -December 1999), 387-98
Bibliography
Brewbaker, William S. "God, Justice and Law: Reflections on Christian Legal Thought."Law,
Culture and the Humanities 9, no. 1 (02, 2013): 13-25
D.A. Carson, God’s Love and God’s Wrath, Bibliotheca Sacra 156, (October -December 1999),
387-98
McCarthy, Michael C., S.J. "Divine Wrath And Human Anger: Embarrassment Ancient And
New."Theological Studies 70, no. 4 (12, 2009): 845-74
Oakes, Robert. "The Wrath of God."International Journal for Philosophy of Religion 27, no. 3
(1990): 129-40
Wessling, Jordan. "How does a Loving God Punish? on the Unification of God's Love and Punitive
Wrath."International Journal of Systematic Theology 19, no. 4 (2017): 421-443
