Hidden and Revealed: The Doctrine of God in the Reformed and Eastern Orthodox Traditions
An ecumenical reflection on the doctrine of God.
The past century has seen renewed interest in the doctrine of God. While theological traditions disagree, their shared commitment to Nicene orthodoxy provides a common language for thinking and speaking about God. This dialogue has deepened our understanding of this shared way of thinking about God, but little has been done across ecumenical lines to explore God’s hiddenness in revelation.
In Hidden and Revealed, Dmytro Bintsarovskyi explores the hiddenness and revelation of God in two separate theological streams—Reformed and Orthodox. Bintsarovskyi shows that an understanding of both traditions reflects a deep structure of shared language, history, and commitments, while nevertheless reflecting real differences. With Herman Bavinck and John Meyendorff as his guides, Bintsarovskyi advances ecumenical dialogue on a doctrine central to our knowledge of God.
Praise for Hidden and Revealed
The theology of revelation has long been the subject of ecumenical disagreement. Dmytro Bintsarovskyi’s comparison of Herman Bavinck and John Meyendorff offers a meticulous and thorough analysis of the key issues involved. Fair-minded but decisive in his evaluation of both the Reformed and Palamite approaches, Bintsarovskyi charts his own path in assessing the knowability of God, rightly centering on God’s revelation in Jesus Christ. This is ecumenical dialogue at its best.
–Hans Boersma, Saint Benedict Servants of Christ Chair in Ascetical Theology, Nashotah House Theological Seminary
The true test of a theologian’s catholicity is a capacity to engage both Western and Eastern Christianity. Dmytro Bintsarovskyi’s careful comparison between Reformed theologian Herman Bavinck and Eastern Orthodox theologian John Meyendorff is a model of sound ecumenical theology.
—John Bolt, Jean and Kenneth Baker Professor of Systematic Theology, Calvin Theological Seminary
This masterfully researched and well conceived dialogue between Reformed and Orthodox theology enters into core issues: the essence-energies distinction, apophatic theology and human language, analogy and univocity, and divine incomprehensibility and divine revelation. The choice of Bavinck and Meyendorff as the central voices in the dialogue turns out to be inspired, with Bavinck representing a broadly ‘Augustinian’ position and Meyendorff representing a broadly ‘neo-Palamite’ position. Bintsarovskyi takes Bavinck’s side on some of the central issues, but he demonstrates himself willing to criticize both sides, and he does so with verve and clarity. Everyone interested in these issues, whatever their allegiances, will benefit from this lucid and stimulating book.
—Matthew Levering, James N. and Mary D. Perry Jr. Chair of Theology, Mundelein Seminary
Studies in Historical and Systematic Theology
Studies in Historical and Systematic Theology is a peer-reviewed series of contemporary monographs exploring key figures, themes, and issues in historical and systematic theology from an evangelical perspective.
Learn more about the other titles in this series.
- Introduction
- Herman Bavinck on Knowing God as a Revealed Mystery
- John Meyendorff on Union with God as the Unknown
- Comparison and Evaluation
- Title: Hidden and Revealed: The Doctrine of God in the Reformed and Eastern Orthodox Traditions
- Author: Dmytro Bintsarovskyi
- Series: Studies in Historical and Systematic Theology
- Publisher: Lexham Press
- Publication Date: 2021
- Pages: 376
- Format: Logos Digital, Paperback
- Trim Size: 6x9
- ISBN: 9781683594895
Dmytro Bintsarovskyi (PhD, Theologische Universiteit Kampen) is a post-doctoral research fellow at the Neo-Calvinism Research Institute of the Theologische Universiteit Kampen.
