ABSTRACT

I illustrate the subject of conditional theology through discussing John Webster’s theology. This is a form of philosophical theology, with interesting links to natural theology, but not subject to Barthian strictures about natural theology. Webster started out with a Barthian emphasis, but later increasingly drew on Aquinas, emphasising God’s aseity. Webster, though, continued to emphasise the priority of the revelation of God as triune, and to resist what he saw as abstract notions of God deriving from natural theology and philosophy of religion. I argue, however, that his work illustrates an underlying reliance on philosophical theology, related to conditional theology, and that dogmatic theology cannot be formed without such reliance. I comment on divine self-naming and conclude my reflections on Webster by discussing dogmatic science and grace, drawing links between conditional theology, special revelation and natural theology.

摘要

我通过讨论约翰·韦伯斯特的神学来说明条件神学的主题。这是哲学神学的一种形式，与自然神学有有趣的联系，但不受Barthian关于自然神学的约束。韦伯斯特起初以巴尔蒂安为重点，但后来越来越多地利用阿奎那来强调上帝的安逸。但是，韦伯斯特继续强调将上帝启示为三位一体的优先事项，并抵制他认为是自然神学和宗教哲学派生出来的抽象上帝概念。但是，我认为，他的著作说明了与条件神学有关的对哲学神学的潜在依赖，而没有这种依赖就不能形成教条神学。