Journal: Bibliotheca Sacra
Volume: BSAC 141:561 (Jan 1984)
Article: Periodical Reviews
Author: Anonymous

BSac 141:561 (Jan 84) p. 79

Periodical Reviews

“Two Natures—Or One? An Attempt at Theological Clarification,” Charles R. Smith, The Voice, July-August 1983, pp. 19-21.

The subtitle of this article is important to note. It is “an attempt at theological clarification,” not a solution to the question of whether Christians have two natures or one. In fact the author concludes, “Which terminology is best? Neither! Or perhaps I should say, both!… We may appropriately use either or both approaches—as long as we avoid the dangers which have been cited” (p. 21).

The article is not mere theological verbalizing, as some might be tempted to conclude. It is a meaningful clarification of the word nature, as a complex of attributes” (p. 21) and not “as a separate entity or substance” (p. 21) in the believer. But it is also, as a result of that clarification, a solution to the question by alerting Christians to dangers to avoid.

The danger in the usual two-nature view lies in an incorrect definition of the word nature, understanding it as a “separate entity” instead of a “complex of attributes.” As a result Christians in their struggle with sin become almost schizoid. The danger of the one-nature view lies in viewing the old nature as eradicated and sin is ignored or minimized.

Smith prefers to stay with the two-nature view properly understood because of its parallel to the hypostatic union of deity and human nature in the Lord Jesus Christ, the God-Man. He says, “It is important to insist upon the validity of employing two-nature terminology in describing the believer since orthodox theology has traditionally used two-nature terminology in describing the person of our Lord” (p. 21, italics his).

The truth of both Scripture and experience is that, although the believer in Jesus Christ has died to sin (Rom 6:1–11), sin has not died to

BSac 141:561 (Jan 84) p. 80

the believer. Sin still resides within the believer and seeks to express itself in his attitudes and actions. Victory over indwelling sin is found in submission to God and the controlling power of the indwelling Holy Spirit.

“The Doctrine of the Last Things: The Binding of Satan,” Jerome M. Julien, The Outlook, August 1983, pp. 11-12.

This article on the binding of Satan is part of a lengthy series on the doctrine of last things from the perspective of amillennial, covenant theology. Amillennialism holds that there is no millennium in the sense of a literal, earthly reign of Christ for a thousand years. Amillennialism, however, does believe in a millennium—”this present age wh...