[Book Review] Mark Jones, God Is

Jones, Mark. God Is: A Devotional Guide to the Attributes of God. Wheaton, IL: Crossway, 2017.

Introduction

Mark Jones’ God Is seems like a ‘daily bread’ devotional book that offers an introduction to the doctrine of God. Jones’ goal is “to provide a brief, simple, and clear book on the attributes of God” that is easy to read and finish. Jones finished his PhD at Universiteit Leiden in the Netherlands in 2009. He has been the Minister of Faith at Faith Reformed Presbyterian Church in Vancouver, BC, since 2007. He has written several books primarily about the Reformed tradition, the Puritans, and theological and historical theology topics. Thus, Jones’ work balances deep theological doctrines about God in Jesus Christ and heartfelt pastoral reflections for Christian life applications.

Jones’ Theological Method

Jones shows his alignment with classical orthodoxy by integrating Augustine, Anselm, Thomas Aquinas, Stephen Charnock, Edward Leigh, John Owen, and other Puritan authors’ treatises, works, and sermons. Moreover, he cares not only about orthodoxy but also about orthopraxy. After explaining each doctrine in each chapter, he ends by offering how the reader can apply these theological doctrines about God in Christ in their lives. Between orthodoxy and orthopraxy is the mediator, Jesus Christ. Jones perceives that the attributes of God shine brightly and clearly in the person of Christ. He states in the introduction, “Apart from Christ, the attributes of God remain meaningless to us. In Christ alone can we understand the true and living God, for Christ makes God’s attributes beautiful and accessible to us as he rescues us from spiritual darkness and terror of God.” Hence, his theological method is Christo-centric.

Attributes of God: Summary and Review

Mark Jones starts by describing how God reveals his essence in three persons. The Godhead has three persons: the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. After submitting scriptural support for this doctrine, Jones further explains that within the nature of the Trinity is consubstantiality. The Trinity was significantly revealed in Christ during the incarnation, his baptism, redemption, and world creation. Following the doctrine of the Trinity, Jones explains divine simplicity. Trying to understand divine simplicity can be confusing and challenging at times. But Jones’ explanation of divine simplicity is simple—in a positive way. “Every attribute is identical with God’s essence…and with every other attribute.” He said that there is no division, section, or part in God; He is pure act—no potentiality—everything is fully realized.

God is spirit. Because of divine simplicity and essence as spirit, God is infinite—cannot be contained or fully comprehended—eternal—no beginning and no end—immutable—since he is pure act—and independent—meaning God lacks nothing—divine aseity. After these attributes, Jones shares the three omnis of God—omnipresent, he sustains all things; omniscient, he knows all things; and omnipotent, infinitely powerful. Even though God does not need a name, He reveals it as Yahweh for the sake of his creation. God’s revealed name reflects his nature—unchangeable, self-existent, and simple. The rest of the chapters are interrelated and mostly logical due to the initial attributes given in the first ten chapters. In summary of chapters 12 to 24, Jones—if understood correctly—would state it like this: God’s blessedness is his glory is his majesty is his sovereignty is his love is his goodness is his patience is his mercy is his wisdom is his holiness is his faithfulness is his grace is his justice—simply because God Is, hence the title.

Lastly, in the last two chapters, Jones reiterated the anthropomorphic attribute of God. This doctrine is mostly for his creation to know God truly but not fully. Again, it is theologically clear if viewed in Christo-centric lenses. Christ is fully man, fully God, and therefore, God revealed himself with anthropomorphic attributes. In addition, besides describing the doctrine in several attributes of God, he includes several theological views such as pure act, communication of properties, aeviternity, practical atheism, the beatific vision, theodicy, and counters Molinism and open theism. Jones’ style of integrating other theological views and heresies is commendable. It begs the question of whether he plans it initially or whether it comes out organically with each attribute. (Also, why did Jones stop with 26 attributes only? Why not 30 or 31 since it is a devotional book, which is excellent for a month’s reading.)

Perhaps some readers may have the tendency to embrace Jones’ theological conclusions without critical thinking or research prior to this book. Hence, one must be careful about the reader’s thoughts if this is the first or few theology proper works one has read. Jones is theologically orthodox, but one needs to read responsibly as a reader. Simplicity as a goal can also carry several disadvantages, like the lack of space to develop an argument or explain specific theological jargon. Although Jones can lay out a brief one-liner definition, other terms need more space and clarity.

Overall, this work can bridge the growing challenge of the lack of emphasis on theology proper. While amongst the lay people, young ministers and seminary students have an excellent interest in soteriology, Covenant Theology, Calvinism, Reformed preaching, and ecclesiology. However, one can have a grasp on justification by faith and quickly fall short or be sub-orthodox on divine simplicity and aseity. Moreover, Jones’ work clarifies that no attribute of God is higher than the other. His holiness is his goodness is his love is his sovereign will is his blessedness is his glory is his mercy is his justice—simply, divine simplicity.

Mark Jones’ work is a book for everyone, from ordinary church members to ministers, seminary students, and small group leaders. It can be used as a devotional book to be read each day. One can study the passages offered in the chapters before each attribute, reflect on Christ’s majestic beauty, and practically apply these doctrines in prayer, worship, and Christian living. It is a concise work but has profound content. His aim is simplicity; Jones achieved it here. And yet, with this simplicity, an excellent contribution is made. This is a book that each Christian must have. It is academically refreshing and spiritually edifying.

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