Thomas, that bogeyman of open theists, he of the absolute, changeless, impassible, atemporal, impersonal deity - that Thomas says (a point picked up by Edwards) “it pertains to the idea of goodness to communicate itself to others.” Hence, if God is good He is necessarily self-giving; He is not the Chief but the Chief Servant. Being the greatest of the good, He is the servant of all - by definition.
On this assumption, the incarnation is no contradiction of God’s character, but its manifestation. If being good is being self-communicating, then the “highest good” is to communicate oneself “in the highest manner to the creature.” Barth has nothing on Thomas here: We know God’s glory in the face of Jesus.
Peter Leithart
Peter J. Leithart is President of Theopolis Institute. He is the author of numerous books on theology, literature, and culture, including Theopolitan, Defending Constantine, and Baptized Body.
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