Was Christ's human nature fallen, even sinful? From the 18th century to the present, this view has become increasingly prominent in Reformed theological circles and beyond, despite vigorous opposition. Both sides on the issue see it as vital for understanding the nature of salvation. Each side's advocates appeal to or critique the Church Fathers. This book reviews the history and present state of the debate, then surveys the connections, distinctions, and patristic interpretations of five of the modern fallenness view's proponents (Edward Irving, Karl Barth, T. F. Torrance, Colin Gunton, and Thomas Weinandy) and five of its opponents (Marcus Dods the Elder, A. B. Bruce, H. R. Mackintosh, Philip Hughes, and Donald Macleod). The book verifies the views of the ten most-cited Fathers: five Greek (Irenaeus, Athanasius, Gregory Nazianzen, Gregory Nyssen, and Cyril of Alexandria) and five Latin (Tertullian, Hilary of Poitiers, Ambrose, Augustine, and Leo the Great). The study concludes by sketching the implications of its findings for the doctrines of the Immaculate Conception, sin, sanctification, and Scripture.

Introduction:The Falling-Out Over FallennessChapter OneThe Rise and Progress of the Fallenness View Among Select Modern Theologians1.1 Heather and"Heresy": Edward Irving1.2 Revolutionizing Christology: Karl Barth1.3 Theologian of Mediation: Thomas F.Torrance1.4 The World, the Flesh, and the Spirit: Colin Gunton1.5 Broadening Consensus: Thomas WeinandyConclusionChapter TwoThe Defense of the Unfallenness View Among Select Modern Theologians2.1 Exposing Irving's Errings: Marcus Dods2.2 Descent and Development: A. B. Bruce2.3 Catalyst for Fallenness: H. R. Mackintosh2.4 The Importance of Image: Philip E. Hughes2.5 Fallacious Fallenness: Donald MacleodConclusionChapter ThreeThe Greek Fathers on the Fallenness or Unfallenness of Christ's Humanity3.1 Theology's Trailblazer: Irenaeus3.2 Defending the Incarnate God: Athanasius3.3 "The Unassumed Is the Unhealed": Gregory Nazianzen3.4 Imagining Incarnation: Gregory Nyssen3.5 "Seal of the Fathers": Cyril of AlexandriaConclusionChapter FourThe Latin Fathers on the Fallenness or Unfallenness of Christ's Humanity4.1 Pioneering the West: Tertullian4.2 The Passionlessness of the Christ: Hilary of Poitiers4.3 The Passions of the Christ: Ambrose4.4 Settler of the West's Opinion: Augustine4.5 Chalcedon and Context: Leo the GreatConclusionChapter FiveThe Fleshing-Out of the Findings5.1 Righting History: The Modern Debaters on the Fathers5.2 Righting Theology: Taxonomy5.3 Righting Theology: Terminology5.4 Further Implications5.5 A Final WordBibliographyAppendix: Edward Irving's Patristic SourcesIndex