'Theology of Providence'

The classical doctrine of providence has generally been treated as a subdivision of the doctrine of creation. In stressing the sovereign and wise rule of God over nature and history, it has too often veered in an unduly determinist and philosophical direction that fails adequately to register scriptural notions of the differentiated action of the triune God. A more modest and intellectually tentative account of providence is outlined here, negatively through a sense of historical misuses of the doctrine, but more positively from the conviction that a scripturally based and pastorally adequate approach must represent it as a vital aspect of faith.