Overview
If God is all powerful and entirely good and loving, why is there so much evil in the world? Based on a close canonical reading of Scripture, this book offers a new approach to the challenge of reconciling the Christian confession of a loving God with the realities of suffering and evil. John Peckham offers a constructive proposal for a theodicy of love that upholds both the sovereignty of God and human freedom, showing that Scripture points toward a framework for thinking about God's love in relation to the world.
Table of Contents
Contents
1. The Problem of Evil and the Free Will Defense
2. Love, Evil, and God's Unfulfilled Desires
3. The Cosmic Conflict Framework
4. The Nature of the Conflict and Rules of Engagement
5. Evil Defeated but Not Yet Destroyed
6. Evaluating the Theodicy of Love
Indexes
1. The Problem of Evil and the Free Will Defense
2. Love, Evil, and God's Unfulfilled Desires
3. The Cosmic Conflict Framework
4. The Nature of the Conflict and Rules of Engagement
5. Evil Defeated but Not Yet Destroyed
6. Evaluating the Theodicy of Love
Indexes
Endorsements
"John Peckham's Theodicy of Love fills an important gap in the literature addressing the problem of evil; his book is both faithful to Scripture and philosophically sound. Peckham effectively builds his case in a manner that neither affirms evil as necessary; diminishes genuine human freedom; nor surrenders divine omnipotence, omniscience, or omnibenevolence. His bold treatment of cosmic conflict in relation to the problem of evil is insightful. Well done!"
Paul Copan, Pledger Family Chair of Philosophy and Ethics, Palm Beach Atlantic University; coauthor of Did God Really Command Genocide?
"John Peckham's new book builds on his previous acclaimed work on the love of God. In this book he confronts head-on what is arguably the single most difficult challenge to the Christian conviction that God's character is one of perfect benevolence. While the book is aimed specifically at the philosophical problem of evil, Peckham comes armed for the task with an impressive command of biblical and theological scholarship, as well as the relevant philosophical literature. This is a book to be welcomed by all who are invested in this vitally important and deeply contested issue."
Jerry L. Walls, author of Heaven, Hell, and Purgatory
"A new Peckham book is always an event, and Theodicy of Love does not disappoint. Theologically and philosophically adept, exegetically sound, and analytically rigorous, it offers a rich biblical theodicy in the face of the evidential problem of evil. Peckham's contribution goes beyond the limitations of a freewill defense and avoids skeptical theism while acknowledging significant epistemic limitations--all while skillfully avoiding an array of potential pitfalls. As fascinating as it is fearless, Peckham's judicious and perspicacious account assigns primacy to the suffering love of God, who--while operating within certain temporary covenantal strictures--is demonstrating his faithfulness and goodness against cosmic allegations to the contrary. This is an important contribution to theodicy that illuminates a plethora of challenging questions."
David Baggett, Houston Baptist University
Author
John C. Peckham
John C. Peckham (PhD, Andrews University) is professor of theology and Christian philosophy at Andrews University in Berrien Springs, Michigan. He is the author of several books, including Theodicy of Love: Cosmic Conflict and the Problem of Evil, The Love of God: A Canonical Model, Canonical Theology, and The Concept of Divine Love in the Context of the God-World Relationship.