Colin E. Gunton

Colin E. Gunton (Jan 19, 1941 - May 6, 2003) was a British United Reformed systematic theologian. He taught at King's College, London from 1969 until his death in the Spring of 2003. 
== Brief biography ==
Colin Gunton grew up in Nottingham, England. He first studied the "Greats" (or 'Classics') at Hertford College Oxford and graduated with a BA in 1966, the same year he was married. He then began his study of theology, and a year later received an MA from Mansfield College Oxford. After completing his MA, Gunton began his doctoral work under the direction of Robert Jenson. This degree took six years, understandably due to the fact that he began teaching only two years into his doctoral program as he became Lecturer in Philosophy of Religion at King's College London in 1969. His dissertation was a study of the doctrine of God in the thought of Charles Harshorne and Karl Barth, which was completed in 1973. Gunton later became an Associate Minister of the Brentwood United Reformed Church in 1975, a position which he held until his passing.
Gunton was appointed Lecturer in Systematic Theology at Kings College in 1980, and in 1984 became Professor of Christian Doctrine, later becoming the Dean of Faculty from 1988-1990. He also served as Head of the Department of Theology & Religious Studies from 1993-97. Gunton founded and directed the Research Institute in Systematic Theology which drew distinguished scholars and many graduate students from around the world. In 1992 he delivered the Bampton Lectures at the University of Oxford These lectures were later published as Act and Being: Towards a Theology of the Divine Attributes (SCM Press, 2002; Eerdmans, 2003) and delivered the Warfield Lectures at Princeton Theological Seminary in 1993. Published as A Brief Theology of Revelation (T&T Clark, 1995; reprint 2005) He also co-founded the International Journal of Systematic Theology with John Webster and Ralph Del Colle in 1999.
Gunton was awarded honorary doctorates by the University of London (1993), the University of Aberdeen (1999), and shortly before his death, the University of Oxford (2003). He was also made a Fellow of King's College. Paul Louis Metzger, ed., Trinitarian Soundings in Systematic Theology (T&T Clark, 2005), pp. 1-3
== Writings ==
It has been said that "it is difficult to over-estimate the importance of [Gunton's] contribution to English Theology over the past 25 years. He has published a dozen sole author books and edited and contributed to a further half dozen." King's announces the 2003 Fellows Gunton's most influential work was on the doctrines of Creation and the Trinity.
"Gunton's books have been influential internationally. Perhaps his most important book is The One, the Three and the Many (1993). One article in this book, 'God, Creation and the Culture of Modernity', is a profound analysis of the paradoxes and contradictions of Modernity. This book is a majestical survey of the western intellectual tradition and a penetrating analysis of the modern condition." Ibid.
== Theology ==
== Selected publications ==
* Revelation and Reason: Prolegomena to Systematic Theology, edited by Stephen Holmes and Paul Brazier. T&T Clark, 2008.
* The Barth Lectures, edited by Paul Brazier. T&T Clark, 2007.
* The Theologian As Preacher: Further Sermons from Colin E. Gunton, edited by Sarah J. Gunton and John E. Colwell. T&T Clark, 2007.
* Father, Son & Holy Spirit: Toward a Fully Trinitarian Theology. T&T Clark, 2003.
* Act and Being: Towards a Theology of the Divine Attributes. SCM Press, 2002; Eerdmans, 2003.
* The Christian Faith: An Introduction to Christian Doctrine. Blackwell, 2001.
* Theology Through Preaching: Sermons for Brentwood. Edinburgh: T&T Clark, 2001; reprint 2005.
* Intellect and Action: Elucidations on Christian Theology and the Life of Faith. T&T Clark, 2000; reprint 2005. 
* The Triune Creator: A Historical and Systematic Study. Eerdmans, 1998.
* Theology Through the Theologians: Selected Papers 1975-1995. T&T Clark, 1996; reprint 2004.http://www.theopedia.com/index.php?title=Colin_E._Gunton&action=edit§ion=4
* A Brief Theology of Revelation. The 1993 Warfield Lectures. T&T Clark, 1995; reprint 2005.
* Christ and Creation. The 1990 Didsbury Lectures. Paternoster Press, 1993; Eerdmans, 1993; reprint Wipf and Stock, 2005
* The One, the Three and the Many: God, Creation and the Culture of Modernity. Cambridge, 1993; seventh printing, 2002. 
* The Promise of Trinitarian Theology. T&T Clark, 1991; reprint 2004.
* The Actuality of Atonement: A Study of Metaphor, Rationality and the Christian Tradition. T&T Clark, 1988; Eerdmans, 1989; reprint T&T Clark 2004.
* Enlightenment and Alienation: An Essay Towards a Trinitarian Theology. Eerdmans, 1985; reprint Wipf & Stock, 2006. 
* Yesterday and Today: A Study of Continuities in Christology. Eerdmans, 1983.
* Becoming and Being: The Doctrine of God in Charles Hartshorne and Karl Barth. Oxford, 1978.
=== Edited works ===
* The Theology of Reconciliation. T&T Clark, 2003.
* Edited with Stephen R. Holmes and M.A. Rae, The Practice of Theology. A Reader. SCM Press, 2001.
* Trinity, Time and Church: A Response to the Theology of Robert W. Jenson. Eerdmans, 2000.
* The Doctrine of Creation: Essays in Dogmatics, History and Philosophy. T&T Clark, 1997; reprint 2004.
* The Cambridge Companion to Christian Doctrine. Cambridge University Press, 1997.
* God and Freedom: Essays in Historical and Systematic Theology. T&T Clark, 1995.
* Edited with Christoph Schwöbel, Persons, Divine and Human: King's College Essays in Theological Anthropology. T&T Clark, 1992; reprint 2000.
* Edited with Daniel W. Hardy, On Being the Church: Essays on the Christian Community. T&T Clark, 1989.
== References ==
== See also ==
* Trinity
* Robert W. Jenson
* Karl Barth
== External links ==
* Profile: Colin E. Gunton, by Graham McFarlane
* Has Colin Gunton's Theological Project Really Failed?. by Mark D. Thompson
* For the love of God: Why I love Colin Gunton, by Douglas Knight 
* Gunton Research Discussion Group, a blog devoted to studying the works and thought of Colin Gunton (inactive since April, 2007)
* The Rev Prof Colin Gunton, by Steve Holmes
* Colin Gunton (multiple posts with good info)
* Colin Gunton (1941 sic - 2003), by Robert Jenson
=== Online writings ===
* Barth, The Trinity, and Human Freedom
* Using and Being Used: Scripture and Systematic Theology
* "Salvation" in The Cambridge Companion to Karl Barth, edited by John Webster. Cambridge University Press, 2000.
* "The Triune God and the Freedom of the Creature", in Karl Barth: Centenary Essays, edited by S. W. Sykes. Cambridge University Press, 1989.
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