Intimately Forsaken - by Thomas Brand (Hardcover)

Book Synopsis

The book offers a new Trinitarian and Christological reading of Christ's cry of dereliction that is grounded in historic orthodoxy. Arguing for an interpretation of the cry in relation to the communication of idioms in Christology and the modal distinction between person and nature in Trinitarian theology, the book draws from a broad range of Patristic, Scholastic and Reformed sources. This work is a must for scholars of Christian theology.

From the Back Cover

This book approaches one of the most complex of theological problems - the seeming distance between the Father who sends the Son and the Son who dies on the cross. Brand gives us a rich and stimulating exposition bursting with careful historical investigation and philosophical rigour that is worth the attention of us all.'

- Lewis Ayres, Professor of Catholic and Historical Theology, Durham University.

Brand has admirably and fearlessly addressed this issue, and he has done so in a thoroughly well researched and scholarly manner. He tackles all the biblical and theological issues concerning divine impassibility and the communication of idioms in a clear, creative, and insightful manner. A must read for those struggling to comprehend this marvellous mystery of faith.

- Thomas G. Weinandy, OFM, Capuchin, Former member of the Vatican's International Theological Commission

A masterful treatment of our Lord's cry of dereliction in the light of Trinitarian and Christological issues. Well researched and defended, his conclusions are not only stimulating but are astute correctives for common mistakes in contemporary theology. I highly recommend this work.

- Michael Horton, J. Gresham Machen, Professor of Systematic Theology and Apologetics, Westminster Seminary, California

The book offers a new Trinitarian and Christological reading of Christ's cry of dereliction that is grounded in historic orthodoxy. Arguing for an interpretation of the cry in relation to the communication of idioms in Christology and the modal distinction between person and nature in Trinitarian theology, the book draws from a broad range of Patristic, Scholastic and Reformed sources. This work is a must for scholars of Christian theology.

Thomas Brand (Ph.D Durham) is the Ministry Director of the Evangelical Fellowship of Congregational Churches, a group of around a hundred churches in the U.K. He currently serves as the chairman of the Affinity Council and board of directors. Affinity is one of the largest networks of evangelical churches in the U.K. He lives in England with his wife and three daughters.

Review Quotes

"This lucid and engaging work, an expanded version of the author's doctoral thesis under Lewis Ayres, seeks to clarify the meaning of Christ's cry of dereliction from the cross ... . this is a small gripe, in what is an uncommonly rich and sure-footed study." (Mark Smith, The Global Anglican, Vol. 139 (1), March, 2025)

About the Author

Thomas Brand (Ph.D Durham) is the Ministry Director of the Evangelical Fellowship of Congregational Churches, a group of around a hundred churches in the U.K. He currently serves as the chairman of the Affinity Council and board of directors. Affinity is one of the largest networks of evangelical churches in the U.K. He lives in England with his wife and three daughters.