Mary

Icon of Grace

Authors

  • Arnold Huijgen Protestant Theological University

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.51688/VC10.1.2023.art1

Keywords:

Mary, Mariology, Reformed Theology

Abstract

The article's focus is the way a theological appreciation of Mary can enrich Reformed theology. I will argue that it can do so in the following three ways: (1) Mary is a prime example of faith, an ideal servant of the Lord, and in a sense the mother of all believers; (2) Mary reminds us of God’s faithfulness to the Jewish people, and wards off gnostic heresies; (3) Mary is a symbol of Christianity that has often been misused, but can be put to a good use, and reflection on Mary helps to steer clear of one-sided approaches of the position of women and furthers Reformed reflection on gender. The discussion of each of these aspects is based on exegesis of a passage of Scripture, and considers an aspect of the theological tradition.

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Author Biography

Arnold Huijgen, Protestant Theological University

Dr. Arnold Huijgen (1978) is professor of dogmatics at the PThU since 2022. He has previously published on hermeneutics, the doctrine of the Trinity, theology of Israel and the theology of Reformed Protestantism. His book Mary: Icon of grace (in Dutch, 2021) was awarded as theological book of the year 2021 in the Netherlands. He theologises on the intersections where traditional beliefs and current spirituality, church and society meet, retrieving Biblical and traditional sources for ever new contexts. His new research, entitled Inferno explores interpretations of hell and doom.

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Published

2023-04-28

How to Cite

Huijgen, A. (2023). Mary: Icon of Grace. Verbum Christi: Journal of Reformed Evangelical Theology, 10(1), 1–16. https://doi.org/10.51688/VC10.1.2023.art1