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Possessed by God: A New Testament Theology of Sanctification and Holiness. By David Peterson. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1995, 191 pp., $18.00 paper.
This study is the :first in a series of monographs, New Studies in Biblical Theology, intending to examine some essential topics in Biblical theology. D. A. Carson, the series editor, outlines three areas, one or more of which each writer will address in the individual contributions:
1. the nature and status of biblical theology, including its relations with other disciplines (e.g. historical theology, exegesis, systematic theology, historical criticism, narrative theology); 2. the articulation and exposition of the structure of thought of a particular biblical writer or corpus; and 3. the delineation of a biblical theme across all or part of the biblical corpora (p. 7). David Peterson's painstaking analysis of the Biblical data on the nature of sanctification touches on nearly all of these categories and leaves the reader with a deeper awareness of the multitude of Biblical data contributing to a determinative accent in the meaning of sanctification.
Peterson argues that insufficient attention has been given to definitive sanctification, the onetime event of being incorporated into Christ through faith by the Holy Spirit, in many influential theories on sanctification (p. 14). His concern is threefold in my view. First, he simply desires to be true to the voice dominant in Scripture on the matter. Second, there are a number of views, particularly in systematic theological formulation, that differ on the nature of sanctification (pp. 12-13). Third, Peterson unequivocally advocates a solid foundation for both the understanding of, and the motivation for, living the Christian life. He points out, for example, that the call for holiness "can so easily degenerate into a moralistic and perfectionist program for believers to pursue" (p. 137).
The first section (chaps. 1-3) explores the meaning of God's call and empowerment of those in Christ to live as those who are possessed by him...