The Doctrine of Divine Simplicity in T.F. Torrance’s Theology

Abstract

This article examines whether T.F. Torrance's theology can uphold the doctrine of divine simplicity, in a manner consistent with his accounts of the ascension of Jesus, God's eternity and divine im/passibility. This article indicates that Torrance's doctrine of simplicity does not fully accord with the traditional one that does not allow for any form of introduction of composites and any historical contingencies into the Being of God. On Torrance's account, God embraces created temporality and carnality into his eternal Being through Jesus Christ, but that does not undercut the significance of the divine indissoluble oneness by virtue of a christological and trinitarian notion of space. For Torrance, the one God embraces the creaturely others in his infinite, indivisible and comprehensive oneness.