Greg Boyd: Apologies & Explanations Why is it Not Dogma that God is Love?
May 4, 2025
The conversation dives into why God's essence as love isn't dogma in Christianity. It critiques how historical power shifts influenced this misunderstanding. The hosts explore how early church teachings portrayed love and contrast it with traditional doctrines like the Trinity. They also analyze Old Testament stories, revealing the depth of love in narratives like Moses' plea for forgiveness, challenging views on scriptural violence. This fresh perspective encourages a return to the fundamental belief in a loving God.
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Love Presumed in Early Church
- Early church fathers considered God's love central though it was implicit rather than explicit in creeds.
- God's love was inherent in the concept of the Trinity and reflected in Jesus' sacrifice, showing deep early Christian emphasis on love.
Shift in God's Love Post-Constantine
- After Christianity gained political power under Constantine, the centrality of God's love diminished and became redefined.
- Augustine's view of predestination to hell conflicted with traditional understandings of God's loving nature.
God's Character Overlooked Theologically
- Post-constantine theology focused more on God's metaphysical attributes than God's character.
- The problem of evil received little engagement related to God's loving nature among most theologians after the 4th century.