J. B. Torrance
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{{Infobox academic
| honorific_prefix =
| name = James B. Torrance
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| image = RevProfJamesBTorrance.jpg
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| birth_date = {{birth date|1923|02|03|df=yes}}
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| death_date = {{death date and age|2003|11|15|1923|02|03|df=yes}}
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| nationality = Scottish
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| occupation = Theologian, biblical scholar
| title = Erstwhile Professor of Systematic Theology, University of Aberdeen
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| parents = Thomas Torrance
Annie Elizabeth Sharp
| relatives = Thomas F. Torrance (brother)
David W. Torrance (brother)
| discipline = Biblical theology
| sub_discipline = Systematic theology
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| education = Marburg and Basel
| alma_mater = Edinburgh
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| doctoral_advisor =
| doctoral_students = Jeremy Begbie
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| influences = Karl Barth
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James B. Torrance (3 February 1923 – 15 November 2003) was a Scottish Protestant theologian, biblical scholar and academic. He was Professor of Systematic Theology at the University of Aberdeen.
Biography
Born in China into the Torrance family of Scottish theologians, to Scottish missionaries to China Thomas Torrance (1871–1959) and Annie Elizabeth Torrance (1883–1980), James was a younger brother to Thomas F. Torrance and father of Alan Torrance. Torrance was educated in Edinburgh, receiving first class degrees in philosophy (for which he was also awarded senior medals in moral philosophy, logic and metaphysics) and theology. Following this he continued his studies in Marburg and Basel, where he studied with Karl Barth, and then continued research in Oxford.
Torrance took a special interest in international politics, being a staunch opponent of Apartheid, and engaging directly with President F. W. de Klerk. He also engaged with Gerry Adams.{{cite web |title=James Torrance |url=http://www.scotsman.com/news/obituaries/james_torrance_1_496319 |website=The Scotsman |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170810052217/http://www.scotsman.com/news/obituaries/james_torrance_1_496319 |archive-date=10 August 2017 |date=3 December 2003}}
He gave the 1994 Didsbury Lectures (published as Worship, Community and the Triune God of Grace){{cite web |title=The Didsbury Lectures |url=https://nazarene.ac.uk/community/didsbury-lectures/ |website=Nazarene Theological College |access-date=12 July 2021 |language=en}} and the 2001 Warfield Lectures at Princeton.
Works
A Festschrift was prepared in honor of Torrance,{{cite book|editor-last=Hart |editor-first=Trevor A. |editor2-last=Thimell |editor2-first=Daniel P. |title=Christ in Our Place: The Humanity of God in Christ for the Reconciliation of the World: Essays Presented to James Torrance |location=London |publisher=Paternoster |date=1989 |isbn=978-0-8536-4504-7 }} as well as one which engages the theology of the three Torrance brothers, T. F., James, and David.{{cite book|editor-last=Dawson |editor-first=Gerrit |title=Introduction to Torrance Theology: Discovering the Incarnate Saviour |location=London |publisher=T & T Clark |date=2007 |isbn=978-0-5670-3181-5 }}
=Books=
- {{cite book|author-last=Torrance |author-first=James B. |title=Worship, Community and the Triune God of Grace |series=The 1994 Didsbury Lectures |location=London |publisher=Paternoster |date=1996 }}
- {{cite book|author-last=Torrance |author-first=James B. |author-mask=3 |author2-last=Walls |author2-first=Roland |title=John Duns Scotus in a Nutshell |location=Edinburgh |publisher=Handsel Press |date=1992 }}
=Articles and chapters=
- {{cite book|author-last=Torrance |author-first=James B. |author-mask=3 |author2-last=Barclay |author2-first=Oliver |author2-link=Oliver Barclay |author3-last=Boyd |author3-first=Robert |author3-link=Robert Boyd (physicist) |author4-last=MacKay |author4-first=Donald |author4-link=Donald MacCrimmon MacKay |chapter=The Nature of the Problem |title=Where Science and Faith Meet |location=London |publisher=InterVarsity Press |date=1953 |pages=7–13 |isbn=978-0851100036 }}
- {{cite journal|author-last=Torrance |author-first=James B. |author-mask=3 |title=Covenant and Contract, a Study of the Theological Background of Worship in seventeenth-century Scotland |journal=Scottish Journal of Theology |volume=23 |pages=51–76 |date=1970 |doi=10.1017/S0036930600021062 }}
- {{cite journal|author-last=Torrance |author-first=James B. |author-mask=3 |title=The Contribution of McLeod Campbell to Scottish Theology |journal=Scottish Journal of Theology |volume=26 |issue= 3|pages=295–311 |date=1973 |doi=10.1017/S0036930600033561 }}
- {{cite book|author-last=Torrance |author-first=James B. |author-mask=3 |chapter=The Vicarious Humanity of Christ |editor-last=Torrance |editor-first=Thomas F. |editor-link=Thomas F. Torrance |title=The Incarnation, Ecumenical Studies in the Nicene-Constantinopolitan Creed, AD 381 |location=Edinburgh |publisher=Handsel Press |date=1981 }}
- {{cite journal|author-last=Torrance |author-first=James B. |author-mask=3 |title=The Incarnation and 'Limited Atonement |journal=The Evangelical Quarterly |volume=55 |issue=2 |pages=83–94 |date=1983 |doi=10.1163/27725472-05502002 |s2cid=251997395 }}
- {{cite journal|author-last=Torrance |author-first=James B. |author-mask=3 |title=Authority, Scripture and Tradition |journal=The Evangelical Quarterly |volume=59 |issue=3 |date=July 1987 |pages=245–251 |doi=10.1163/27725472-05903005 |s2cid=252000347 }}
- {{cite book|author-last=Torrance |author-first=James B. |author-mask=3 |chapter=The Doctrine of the Trinity in our Contemporary Situation |editor-last=Heron |editor-first=Alasdair |title=The Forgotten Trinity: Selection of Papers Presented to the BCC v. 3: Study Commission on Trinitarian Doctrine Today |publisher=Churches Together in Britain and Ireland |date=1991 }}
- {{cite book|contributor-last=Torrance |contributor-first=James B. |contributor-mask=3 |contribution=Introduction |date=1996 |author-last=Campbell |author-first=John McLeod |author-link=John McLeod Campbell |title=The Nature of the Atonement |location=Edinburgh |publisher=Handsel Press }}
References
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External links
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20080720042229/http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/comment/obituaries/article1025320.ece Obituary in The Times]
- [https://www.independent.co.uk/news/obituaries/the-rev-professor-james-torrance-755479.html Obituary in The Independent]
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Category:Scottish Christian theologians
Category:20th-century Protestant theologians
Category:Academics of the University of Aberdeen
Category:Alumni of the University of Edinburgh
Category:Alumni of the University of Oxford
Category:University of Marburg alumni
Category:University of Basel alumni
Category:British expatriates in China
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