I received my author copy of The Ecumenical Edwards: Jonathan Edwards and the Theologians (Ashgate, 2015), today, which has my chapter “The Erotic Side of Divine Participation: Jonathan Edwards, Gregory of Nyssa, and Origen of Alexandria on Song of Songs 1:1-4.” I wrote this almost three years ago, so it is nice to see it finally in print. It comes out on August 28.

In this short chapter, I take a look at the interpretive steps taken by Edwards, Origen, and Nyssa in avoiding a reading of Song of Songs in an erotic sense, which I refer to as “an exegetical cold shower.”

The book brings together several scholars. Ashgate’s description says the contributors are theologians, which as I’ve mentioned here before (and not wanting to mislead) is not how I classify myself. (I’m an historian of religion and this particular chapter is an intellectual history.) I’m sure every contributor will have their own angle as well.

The chapter is partially based on my more extensive look at Edwards’s theosis within his cultural context and theological tradition from my book, Becoming Divine: Jonathan Edwards’s Incarnational Spirituality within the Christian Tradition. When I wrote that, I took a look at his handling of controversial biblical passages and wanted to explore his reading of 1:1-4 of Song of Songs, so in this chapter I do that.

Those interested in Edwards should put it on their “to be read” list. Kyle Strobel, the editor, put a lot of effort into making this happen and it will definitely help to bring anyone researching Edwards up to speed on current scholarship.