Fortress Press

Two Kingdoms and Two Cities: Mapping Theological Traditions of Church, Culture, and Civil Order

Two Kingdoms and Two Cities

Mapping Theological Traditions of Church, Culture, and Civil Order

Robert C. Crouse (Author)

$49.00

Interested in a gratis copy?

How do you plan on using your gratis copy? Review requests are for media inquiries. Exam requests are for professors, teachers, and librarians who want to review a book for course adoption.

ReviewExam
  • Ships in 6 or more weeks

The recent emergence of “two kingdoms” and “two cities” approaches to Christian social thinking is shown to have a key—and often unacknowledged—connection to Luther’s reshaping of the Augustinian paradigm. The project works for a better understanding of Luther’s own thought to help understand the convergences and divergences of Christian political theology in the twentieth century and today.

In particular, Luther’s two-kingdom thinking issued forth in a strong distinction of law and gospel that was also worked out in twofold pairs of Israel and church, general and special revelation, creation and redemption, and especially the outward and inward life. The work traces this legacy through acceptance and modification by Niebuhr and Bonhoeffer, Lutheran and Catholic neoconservatives, Reformed two-kingdom proponents, Augustinian liberals, and finally Oliver O’Donovan. The conclusion reflects on both the historical narrative and its connection to an account of modern liberalism, as well as a theological reflection on hermeneutical decisions of the “twoness” of Christian theology. 

  • Publisher Fortress Press
  • Format Hardcover
  • ISBN 9781506421568
  • eBook ISBN 9781506425191
  • Dimensions 6 x 9
  • Pages 274
  • Publication Date July 15, 2017

Samples

Contents:

Introduction

1. Luther’s “Inward/Outward” Two Kingdoms

2. Niebuhr, Bonhoeffer, and a “Dialectical” Two Kingdoms

3. Lutheran and Catholic Neoconservatism and a “Paradoxical” Two Kingdoms

4. Reformed Two-Kingdoms Theology and a “Parallel” Two Kingdoms

5. Neo-Augustinian Liberalism and an “Eschatological” Two Kingdoms

6. Augustine and a “Christendom” Two Cities

7. Oliver O’Donovan and a Doctrine of the Two

Conclusion

Bibliography

Index 

Endorsements

This book is an example of how important careful historical analysis can be

“Robbie Crouse's map of overt and implicit appeals to 'two kingdoms' has reshaped my historical understanding considerably. I now understand crucial figures like Luther very differently and more deeply than before. Crouse's map also surfaces some crucial biblical-theological decisions that political doctrines of 'the two' consistently face. This book is an example of how important careful historical analysis can be—for knowing where we are, how we got here, and what questions to ask about where to head.” 

Daniel Treier | Blanchard Professor of Theology, Wheaton College

If you seek a guide into the symphony of Christian theology of politics, this is the one to read.

“Christians claim to be ‘in’ but not ‘of’ the world. So, how do Christians relate their faith to public life? In this book, Robbie Crouse navigates how the best Christian thinkers, both Protestant and Roman Catholic, have responded to these questions. In the process, Crouse unearths Luther’s theology of ‘two kingdoms’ as a contender with which all Christian political theorists, each in their own ways, have had to wrestle. If you seek a guide into the symphony of Christian theology of politics, this is the one to read.” 

Mark Mattes | Grand View University, author of The Role of Justification in Contemporary Theology

What an impressive debut for this ‘emerging scholar.’

“This is an elegant and erudite map of the various dualistic theories at work in Protestant political theology from Luther and Calvin to our own day. Niebuhr’s famous volume on Christ and Culture now has a sturdy supplement, if not a serious competitor, in Robbie Crouse’s new volume. What an impressive debut for this ‘emerging scholar.’” 

John Witte, Jr. | Robert W. Woodruff Professor of Law, McDonald Distinguished Professor, and Director of the Center for the Study of Law and Religion, Emory University

This is a major contribution to an important subject and deserves a wide readership, both inside and outside the church.

“The intersection between the political and spiritual realms is a constant source of interest and tension. In this timely book, Robbie Crouse takes his readers through the history of their interaction and dialogues with some of the great names in Christian theology along the way. This is a major contribution to an important subject and deserves a wide readership, both inside and outside the church. Highly recommended!” 

Gerald Bray | Distinguished Professor of Historical Theology, Knox Theological Seminary, author of Augustine on the Christian Life

Crouse’s book provides both important orientation and strategic tips 

“What does it mean for the church to be ‘in’ the world but not ‘of’ it, and how do these two prepositions relate to Augustine’s two cities and Luther’s two kingdoms? Crouse’s book provides both important orientation and strategic tips for the church’s involvement in the contemporary, post-Christian “game of thrones” – the ongoing conflict between secular and sacred for the body of Christ and the souls of his disciples.” 

Kevin Vanhoozer | Trinity Evangelical Divinity School

This is a groundbreaking study

“This is a groundbreaking study, conversant with the traditions of Augustine and Luther but also providing a reliable guide to contemporary options in Christian political theology. A sustained argument that illumines as it informs.”  

Timothy George | founding dean of Beeson Divinity School and general editor of the Reformation Commentary on Scripture
1