Power and Right

Power corrupts, but does absolute power corrupt absolutely? Baylor ripostes the criticism that Reformed theology advances a vision of God so powerful that He is free to do almost anything to his creatures. To do this, he tackles the theology of the ardent Calvinist, John Owen. This book examines Owen's theology of divine domain to show how his account of God's right is attentive to and conditioned by the creature's natural and moral dependence upon God. In doing so, Baylor offers the first full treatment of Owen's theology of divine freedom and justice. This involves an examination Owen's theology of the divine domain, the doctrine of creation, moral vocation and the covenant, this work. These avenues allow Baylor to rebuff the controversial critiques levelled against Reformed Doctrines of God. Ultimately, Baylor is able to suggest new avenues for the interface of scholastic and apocalyptic theology. Owen is a much more complicated figure than his critics know, whose most central priority is to demonstrate that God's power is one with his justice.