The Impeccability of Christ
A Historical overview and Theological evaluation of the Necessity of this grand Doctrine pertinent to the Incarnation
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Foreword
The following study seeks to investigate the impeccability of Christ from a theological/historical position. Two camps emerge on either side of the debate: Those who hold to the posse non peccare view which is to say, ability not to sin, otherwise known as the peccability view and those who hold to the non posse peccare view which is to say, inability to sin, otherwise known as the impeccability view. While both camps affirm the sinless perfection of Christ they oppose each other in whether, as fully human, He could have sinned if He wanted to. It boils down to a case of ‘could have but did not’ or ‘did not because He could not.’ It is the view of this writer that the non posse peccare view squares with both historical and biblical theology.
* We argue in chapter one by surveying Church councils up to the present time pertinent to this theme, to prove that the history of this issue matters in that it establishes the relationship between Christology and history and, by inference, a major impact upon many outcomes in Church history. This is the sine qua non of the argument and our aim was to prove that this historical error goes a long way in distorting the gospel message. The reader may find this somewhat laborious at times and weighted with jargon but if patient it will yield rewards. If the reader does decide to skip chapter one and go directly to chapter two the flow of the argument would not have been lost.
* In chapter two, we survey and evaluate the position from a peccability viewpoint while, at the same time, entering and notarizing our points of departure. We have there highlighted the arguments peccability theologians utilize to defend their view and have criticized such from our Dispensational vantage point.
* In chapter three, we then assess and acknowledge the argument for impeccability by proving the necessity of it for the exoneration of His Person and gospel. This is the raison d'être of this volume.
* In the summit of chapter four, we have surveyed the field of Scripture to have the final say on this issue and concluded in favour of impeccability. This chapter we believe to be the coup de grâce of the argument in that Scripture gets the final say, as it should.
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About the Book
The following study seeks to investigate the impeccability of Christ from a historical/theological position. Two camps emerge on either side of the debate: Those who hold to the posse non peccare view, which is to say, ability not to sin, otherwise known as the peccability view and those who hold to the non posse peccare view, which is to say inability to sin, otherwise known as the impeccability view. While both camps affirm the sinless perfection of Christ, they oppose each other in whether as fully human He could have sinned if He wanted to. It boils down to a case of ‘could have but did not’ or ‘did not because He could not have’. It is the view of this thesis that the non posse peccare view squares with both historical and biblical theology.
About the Author
Edward Kanniah pastors Calvary Baptist Church, Sunnyridge, Germiston, South Africa. He loves to defend difficult theological concepts and this book is proof of that. His passion to preach outweighs his weariness of ministry. Joy in study translates into rejoicing in service. His previous offerings are: The Prophet Elijah: Working Wonders With Working Class Faith, and Philippians: The Theology of Joy.