In The Christian Life, Adonis Vidu offers a theologically rigorous framework for the Christian life organized around the biblical metaphor of the believer's spiritual marriage to Christ.

Tracing the rich history of nuptial theology from Scripture and the early church into the modern period, Vidu demonstrates that this union is the master key to unlocking the experiential depth of trinitarian doctrine, helping Christians see their lives as participation in the Trinity via their spiritual marriage to Christ. This book applies the nuptial metaphor to various areas of the Christian life, giving readers a framework that can be applied across any area of theology.

Christian existence, Vidu argues, unfolds between union with Christ inaugurated in baptism and its eschatological consummation at the heavenly banquet. Between these two ends, the believer is being actively prepared for eternal life through the ongoing inner work of the Son and Holy Spirit. Much like a period of engagement, post-baptismal life is a season of formation, desire, and deepening participation in the love that flows between the Father and the Son.

What you'll find in this book:



- A serious exegetical discussion of the nuptial theme throughout Scripture

- Exploration of how each Person of the Trinity shapes our understanding of aspects of the Christian life such as prayer, sacramental life, suffering, and death

- Attention to devotional aspects such as the spiritual reading of Scripture, imagination and spiritual contemplation, and the suffering of Christ

- How God fine-tunes, redirects, and perfects our senses and desires through the humanity of Christ to turn us toward himself

- A trinitarian discussion of spiritual union between Christ and the believer unique within Protestant scholarship

The Christian Life is essential reading for professors of theology, pastor-theologians, and serious students of the faith. You will learn how embracing the nuptial metaphor can enrich your own life as a Christian, and you are invited to take seriously your identity as the bride of Christ.

About the Series

The Pillars of Christian Dogmatics series seeks to foster contemplation of the triune God through the retrieval of classical, orthodox theology for the church and the world. Featuring field-leading scholars, each volume offers an intensive study of key topics in theology using exegetical, historical, philosophical, and doctrinal resources, while simultaneously embodying the interpretive commitments exhibited across the Great Tradition.



Adonis Vidu is Andrew Mutch Distinguished Professor of Theology at Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary. Dr. Vidu came to Gordon-Conwell from his native Romania, where he previously taught at Emmanuel University and the University of Bucharest. He is a constructive theologian who is involved in a recovery of the patristic and medieval trinitarian theology for the contemporary church. Having done previous work in theological epistemology (Theology After Neo-Pragmatism), hermeneutics (Postliberal Theological Method), doctrine of the atonement (Atonement, Law, and Justice), trinitarian theology (The Same God Who Works All Things, The Divine Missions), his latest research focuses on a trinitarian theology of the Christian life.



Matthew Barrett is Research Professor of Theology at Trinity Anglican Seminary. He was also appointed the McDonald Agape Visiting Scholar at the Dominican House of Studies and Thomistic Institute. He is the author of award-winning books like On Classical Trinitarianism (IVP Academic). He is coeditor of Pillars of Christian Dogmatics (IVP Academic). Currently he is writing a Systematic Theology. He is the founder of Credo, as well as the Center for Classical Theology. He is Theologian-in-Residence with Anselm House at St. Aidan's Anglican Church, a one-year residency where Fellows follow a rule of life under Dr. Barrett.



Acknowledgments



Introduction



1. Biblical Theology of Spiritual Marriage



2. History of Nuptial Theology



3. Nuptial Participation in the Trinity



4. The Humanity of Christ and the Transformation of Desire



5. Spiritual Interpretation as Nuptial Reading



6. Baptism



7. The Eucharistic Consummation



8. Prayer



9. Marriage



10. Gender



11 Suffering and Death