Theodicy of Love – Cosmic Conflict and the Problem of Evil

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.

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 The Love of God: A Canonical Model and Canonical Theology.

Based on a close canonical reading of Scripture, Theodicy of Love offers a new approach to the challenge of reconciling the Christian confession of a loving God with the realities of suffering and evil in the world."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 , Palm Beach Atlantic University; coauthor of Did God Really Command Genocide? "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 , Houston Baptist University"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 , Rawlings School of Divinity, Liberty University

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.

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