Revd Professor Christopher R J Holmes, Our people, Theology Programme

Christopher Holmes 2020 image Professor in Systematic Theology
MRel, ThD (Wycliffe College and University of Toronto)

Room 4S6, Arts Building
Tel +64 3 479 5394
Email christopher.holmes@otago.ac.nz

Christopher Holmes studied systematic theology, completing a ThD on the doctrine of God's perfections in Karl Barth and two of his leading German-speaking interpreters, Eberhard Jüngel and Wolf Krötke.

He is the author of over fifty book chapters and journal articles as well as six books, namely:

Revisiting the Doctrine of the Divine Attributes: In Dialogue with Karl Barth, Eberhard Jüngel, and Wolf Krötke (Peter Lang, 2007)
Ethics in the Presence of Christ (T&T Clark, 2012)
The Holy Spirit (Zondervan Academic, 2015)
The Lord is Good: Seeking the God of the Psalter (IVP Academic, 2018)
A Theology of the Christian Life: Imitating and Participating in God (Baker Academic, 2021)
Hearing and Doing: The Speeches in Acts and the Essence of Christianity (Baylor University Press, 2022)

His newest book is titled The Mystery of Existence: God, Hebrews and the Unity of Scripture, and will be published in 2027 by Baylor University Press.

Chris has continuing research interests in a variety of Christian doctrines, especially the doctrine of God and the doctrine of creation. He carries out this work in dialogue with a wide variety of thinkers from the classical Christian tradition, all in a way that is anchored in Holy Scripture and with a view to edifying the Christian community.

Teaching

CHTH 111 Doing Theology
CHTH 213 The Trinity
CHTH 313 The Trinity (Advanced)
CHTH 212 Spirit, Church and Sacraments
CHTH 312 Spirit, Church and Sacraments (Advanced)
CHTH 416 The Theology of Bonhoeffer

Preferred areas of supervision

General areas of Christian doctrine
The doctrine of God
The Trinity
Pneumatology
Christology

Current research

I’m writing a monograph on the literal sense of Moses’s law.

Current postgraduate students

Joshua Bond (PhD) Word and Love: A Dogmatic Investigation of the Psychological Analogy in Trinitarian Theology
Sebastian Murrihy (PhD) Church in Fulfilled Time: Karl Barth, Ephraim Radner and Social Acceleration

Completed postgraduate students

Ethan Harrison (PhD) Divine Goodness and the Doctrine of Sacred Scripture: A Systematic Contribution in Conversation with Aquinas on the Psalms
Jenny Hsu (PhD) An Exegetical Approach to the Nestorian Controversy: A Comparative Study of Nestorius' and Cyril's Exegeses and Christologies in Light of Their Soteriological Presuppositions
Timothy Stanton ( PhD ) God and creation in theory and practice: A conversation with Petrus van Mastricht (1630-1706)
Walter Noteboom ( PhD ) Beyond Justice: A Study in Reconfiguring Providence Along Thomistic Paths
Deborah Broome (PhD) Sociality in Augustine's City of God
Stephen Bond ( MTheol ) Origin and Nature of Sin in Calvin's Institutes
Brent Rempel (PhD) God the Trinity in the Theology of John Webster
Jason Pickard (PhD) Owen and Torrance on Christ's Mediation
Joel Banman ( PhD ) Christ Speaks Today: Biblical Interpretation in the Sermons of Dietrich Bonhoeffer, 1935-1940
Gareth Bezett ( MTheol ) The Compatibility of Physicalist Anthropologies and Traditional Sacramental Theology
Cameron Coombe ( PhD ) Moltmann's Use of Scripture (Humanities Division Exceptional PhD Thesis)
Ed Masters ( MTheol ) Calvin on Ephesians 1 and The Christian Life
Ann Thorp ( PhD ) Hilary of Poitier's Pneumatology
Michael Bartholomaeus ( PhD ) Karl Barth's Doctrine of Sanctification: An Exploration of Church Dogmatics §66
Mark Jacobsen ( MTheol ) Galatians and Bonhoeffer on the Freedom of the Christian
Jono Ryan ( PhD ) One Heart and Soul: Augustine's Call to Community in a Divided Society (Humanities Division Exceptional PhD Thesis)
Peter Ross ( PhD ) Pneumatology and Union: John Calvin and Pentecostal Theology
Kate Dugdale ( PhD ) T.F. Torrance's Trinitarian Ecclesiology
Cameron Coombe ( MTheol ) The Significance of the Cross for the Doctrine of the Trinity in the Theology of Juergen Moltmann
Glenn Paddison ( MTheol ) Yves Congar's Pneumatological Anthropology
Hugh Bowron ( MTheol ) Robert Jenson's Ontology of the Future: His Protest against Contentless Eschatology
Cameron Surrey ( PhD ) Bearing the Burden: Forgiveness and the Glorified Wounds of Christ
Andrea McDougall ( PhD ) Barth on the Humility of God and the Humility of the Christian
Deborah Broome ( MTheol ) Living in Two Cities: Lessons for the Church Today from Augustine's 'City of God'
Samuel Fernando ( MTheol ) Reality and Resurrection: In Dialogue with T.F. Torrance
Jonathan Hicks ( PhD ) Trinity, Economy, and Scripture: A Theologically-Motivated Recovery of Didymus the Blind (Humanities Division Exceptional PhD thesis)
Brian Dawson ( MTheol ) Crossing the Streams: Sources of Anglican Confirmation
Rebekah Banman ( MDiv Hons) Union with the Incarnate Saviour: Exploring the Soteriological Implications of the Incarnation and the Atonement in Dialogue with John Calvin and Thomas F. Torrance
Don Fergus ( PhD ) Spatial Imagery in the Ecclesiology of Dietrich Bonhoeffer
Mark Gingerich ( MA ) Reinhold Niebuhr and the Sermon on the Mount: In Dialogue with Stanley Hauerwas
Renee Kwan Monkmann ( MDiv Hons) An irrevocable covenant? Toward a renewed understanding of Paul's reading of the history of Israel
Laura Vander Velden ( MA ) Whence this evil? Toward a Christological and pastorally minded doctrine of providence in dialogue with Karl Barth

Publications

Holmes, C. (2026). Blessings of the ordinary. Covenant, 8 June. Retrieved from https://livingchurch.org/covenant/blessings-of-the-ordinary Journal - Research Other

Holmes, C. (2026). The exceeding joy of a generous and prayerful relationship with God. Otago Daily Times, 17 April. Retrieved from https://www.odt.co.nz/opinion/exceeding-joy-generous-and-prayerful-relationship-god Journal - Professional & Other Non-Research Articles

Holmes, C. R. J. (2026). The commentary on the Psalms. In M. Levering, J. Vijgen & P. Roszak (Eds.), T&T Clark handbook of Biblical Thomism. (pp. 213-226). London, UK: T&T Clark. doi: 10.5040/9780567706256 Chapter in Book - Research

Holmes, C. (2026). How about the human authors of scripture? Covenant, 13 January. Retrieved from https://livingchurch.org/covenant/what-about-the-human-authors-of-scripture Journal - Research Other

Holmes, C. (2026). Doctrine and doxology: How we teach matters. Covenant, 27 February. Retrieved from https://livingchurch.org/covenant/doctrine-doxology-how-we-teach-matters Journal - Research Other

2026

Chapter in Book - Research

Journal - Research Other

Holmes, C. (2026). Blessings of the ordinary. Covenant, 8 June. Retrieved from https://livingchurch.org/covenant/blessings-of-the-ordinary

Holmes, C. (2026). How about the human authors of scripture? Covenant, 13 January. Retrieved from https://livingchurch.org/covenant/what-about-the-human-authors-of-scripture

Holmes, C. (2026). Doctrine and doxology: How we teach matters. Covenant, 27 February. Retrieved from https://livingchurch.org/covenant/doctrine-doxology-how-we-teach-matters

Journal - Professional & Other Non-Research Articles

2025

Chapter in Book - Research

Holmes, C. R. J. (2025). The freedom of Christian theology: New studies in dialogue with Eberhard Jüngel. In P. J. Małysz & R. D. Nelson (Eds.), Revisiting Jüngel on the God/world relation: Creation, incarnation, and the doctrine of analogy. (pp. 99-110). Lanham, MD: Rowman & Littlefield.

Journal - Research Article

Holmes, C. R. J. (2025). What theological commitments structure loving attention to Moses's law? New Blackfriars. Advance online publication. doi: 10.1017/nbf.2025.10125

Holmes, C. R. J. (2025). Revisiting the literal sense of scripture, in dialogue with Thomas Aquinas. International Journal of Systematic Theology. Advance online publication. doi: 10.1111/ijst.12759

Journal - Research Other

Holmes, C. (2025). Engaging Leviticus in conversation with Ephraim Radner. Covenant, 25 August. Retrieved from https://livingchurch.org/covenant/engaging-leviticus-in-conversation-with-ephraim-radner

Holmes, C. (2025). How should Christians regard Moses? Covenant, 3 July. Retrieved from https://livingchurch.org/covenant/how-should-christians-regard-moses

Holmes, C. R. J. (2025). The existential dimension of Reformed Catholicity [Review of the book Reformed Catholicity]. Reformed Faith & Practice, 9(2), 15-16. [Book Review].

Journal - Professional & Other Non-Research Articles

Holmes, C. (2025). Answering whether or not God is contingent on some other reality. Otago Daily Times, (16 May). Retrieved from https://www.odt.co.nz/opinion/answering-whether-or-not-god-contingent-some-other-reality

Conference Contribution - Verbal presentation and other Conference outputs

Holmes, C. (2025, November). What is the relationship between the literal and figural sense. Verbal presentation at the Annual Meeting of the Society of Biblical Literature (SBL) & American Academy of Religion (AAR), Boston, MA.

Holmes, C. (2025, November). Typology and trinity. Verbal presentation at the Annual Meeting of the Society of Biblical Literature (SBL) & American Academy of Religion (AAR), Boston, MA.

Holmes, C. (2025, November). Atonement and the life of faith: Participation and imitation applied. Verbal presentation at the 77th Annual Meeting of the Evangelical Theological Society: Creedal Christianity: Celebrating Nicaea, Boston, MA.

Other Research Output

Holmes, C. (2025, March). The need of the theologian? Commending Eric Mascall. Covenant weblog. Retrieved from https://livingchurch.org/covenant/87140/

2024

Chapter in Book - Research

Holmes, C. R. J. (2024). The procession of the Spirit: Eternal spiration. In M. Barrett (Ed.), On classical trinitarianism: Retrieving the Nicene doctrine of the triune God. (pp. 477-488). Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press.

Journal - Research Other

Holmes, C. R. J. (2024). [Review of the book Transubstantiation: Theology, history and Christian unity]. Pro Ecclesia, 33(4), 439-441. doi: 10.1177/10638512251404900

Holmes, C. (2024). [Review of the book Constructing a mediating theology: Affirming the impassibility and the passibility of the triune God]. International Journal of Systematic Theology, 26(1), 126-128. doi: 10.1111/ijst.12678

Journal - Professional & Other Non-Research Articles

Holmes, C. (2024). The daily blessing of being able to make a joyful noise to the Lord. Otago Daily Times, (16 August). Retrieved from https://www.odt.co.nz/opinion/daily-blessing-being-able-make-joyful-noise-lord

Conference Contribution - Verbal presentation and other Conference outputs

Holmes, C. (2024, February). What is the ministry of the Holy Spirit? Keynote presentation at the Sacred Truths Conference: The person & work of the Holy Spirit, Scottsdale, USA.

Other Research Output

Holmes, C. (2024, August). My life as a generalist. Covenant weblog. Retrieved from https://livingchurch.org/covenant/my-life-as-a-generalist/

Holmes, C. (2024, May). The necessity of purity for reading holy scripture. Covenant weblog. Retrieved from https://livingchurch.org/covenant/the-necessity-of-purity-for-reading-holy-scripture/

Holmes, C. (2024, May). The literal sense of scripture according to Thomas Aquinas' commentary on the Psalms. Christian Theology Research Seminar Series, Faculty of Divinity, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK. [Research Presentation].

Holmes, C. R. J. (2024, March). How classical theism has shaped my spiritual life Credo. Retrieved from https://credomag.com/2024/03/how-classical-theism-has-shaped-my-spiritual-life-3/

2023

Chapter in Book - Research

Holmes, C. R. J. (2023). The goodness, holiness, and love of God. In B. N. Wolfe (Ed.), St Andrews encyclopaedia of theology. St Andrews, UK: University of St Andrews. [Encyclopaedia/Dictionary Entry].

Conference Contribution - Verbal presentation and other Conference outputs

Holmes, C. R. J. (2023, November). The presence of 'eternity sublime': Bavinck's appropriation of Augustine's account of the spirit. Verbal presentation at the 75th Annual Meeting of the Evangelical Theological Society (ETS): Theological Anthropology, San Antonio, USA.

Holmes, C., Beers, H., Gaventa, B., Elliott, M., Sonderegger, K., & Sanchez, L. A. (2023, November). [Review of the book Hearing and doing: The speeches in Acts and the essence of Christianity (Baylor, 2022)]. Panel discussion at the Annual Meetings of the Society of Biblical Literature (SBL) & American Academy of Religion (AAR), San Antonio, USA.

Other Research Output

Holmes, C. (2024, February). The divine authorship of scripture. Covenant weblog. Retrieved from https://covenant.livingchurch.org/2024/02/27/the-divine-authorship-of-scripture/

Holmes, C. (2023, November). My life as a Bible teacher. Covenant weblog. Retrieved from https://covenant.livingchurch.org/2023/11/10/my-life-as-a-bible-teacher/

Holmes, C. (2023, March). The knowledge of divine things. University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand. [Inaugural Professorial Lecture].

Holmes, C. J. (2023, May). How does the divinity of the Holy Spirit shape the life of the local church? Credo. Retrieved from https://credomag.com/2023/05/how-does-the-divinity-of-the-holy-spirit-shape-the-life-of-the-local-church/

2022

Authored Book - Research

Holmes, C. R. J. (2022). Hearing and doing: The speeches in Acts and the essence of Christianity. Baylor University Press, 214p.

Journal - Research Article

Holmes, C. R. J. (2022). The shape of God's providence: Some reflections in dialogue with Barth and Thomas. Pro Ecclesia, 31(2), 196-207. doi: 10.1177/10638512221084242

Journal - Research Other

Holmes, C. R. J. (2022). Discerning Barth’s legacy: Sorting the good conflicts from the bad. Pro Ecclesia, 31(4), 585-600. doi: 10.1177/10638512221124042

Holmes, C. R. J. (2022). [Review of the book Analytic Christology and the theological interpretation of the New Testatment]. Journal of Theological Studies, 73(1), 427-429. doi: 10.1093/jts/flac020

Holmes, C. R. J. (2022). Reading scripture with gratitude: Joseph Mangina's contribution to theological exegesis. Pro Ecclesia, 31(1), 4-8. doi: 10.1177/10638512221076339

Journal - Professional & Other Non-Research Articles

Holmes, C. (2022). A meditation on James. Tui Motu, (275), 22-23.

Holmes, C. (2022). Our self-centredness gets in the way of truth. Otago Daily Times, (14 April). Retrieved from https://www.odt.co.nz/opinion/our-self-centredness-gets-way-truth

Other Research Output

Holmes, C. (2022, May). Augustine on prayer. Classics Programme Research Seminar Series, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand. [Department Seminar].

Holmes, C. (2022, November). Interview avec Chris Holmes sur la doctrine de la vie chrétienne Théologie Pour Tous. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2NIBuiF_o0E

Holmes, C. (2022, April). Christopher Holmes: A theology of the Christian life: Are we human beings or human doings? The Laymens Lounge Podcast. Retrieved from https://thelaymenslounge.com/michael-holmes-a-theology-of-the-christian-life/

2021

Authored Book - Research

Holmes, C. R. J. (2021). A theology of the Christian life: Imitating and participating in God. Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Academic, 192p.

Chapter in Book - Research

Holmes, C. R. J. (2021). The perfection of God. In M. Allen & R. D. Nelson (Eds.), A companion to the theology of John Webster. (pp. 159-169). Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans.

Journal - Research Article

Holmes, C. R. J. (2021). What does Calvin's engagement with Acts teach us about God's providence? Journal of Reformed Theology, 15, 208-224. doi: 10.1163/15697312-bja10015

Holmes, C. (2021). What does prayer teach us about God? Theology, 124(4), 252-259. doi: 10.1177/0040571X211028949

Journal - Research Other

Holmes, C. (2021). Why spirituality matters for theology [Review of the book The Holy Spirit and Christian experience]. The Living Church, (5 September), 27. Retrieved from https://livingchurch.org

Journal - Professional & Other Non-Research Articles

Holmes, C. R. J. (2021). The Lord is good. Credo Magazine, (15 September). Retrieved from https://credomag.com/2021/09/the-lord-is-good

Holmes, C. (2021). Discovering the 'strange new world within the Bible'. Otago Daily Times, (21 May). Retrieved from https://www.odt.co.nz/opinion/discovering-%E2%80%98strange-new-world-within-bible%E2%80%99

Other Research Output

Holmes, C. R. J. and Barrett, M. (2021, August). Where is God's goodness in a hell-bent world?. Credo Podcast. Retrieved from https://credomag.com/2021/08/where-is-gods-goodness-in-a-hell-bent-world-christopher-holmes-and-matthew-barrett/

2020

Chapter in Book - Research

Holmes, C. R. J. (2020). The difference God makes for considering scripture, creation, and covenant. In A. E. Miglio, C. A. Reeder, J. T. Walton & K. C. Way (Eds.), For us, but not to us: Essays on creation, covenant, and context in honor of John H. Walton. Eugene, OR: Pickwick Publications.

Holmes, C. R. J. (2020). Last things. In M. Allen & S. R. Swain (Eds.), The Oxford handbook of Reformed theology. (pp. 609-620). Oxford, UK: Oxford University Press. doi: 10.1093/oxfordhb/9780198723912.013.39

Holmes, C. R. J. (2020). Thomas F. Torrance and the Trinity. In P. D. Molnar & M. Habets (Eds.), T&T Clark Handbook of Thomas F. Torrance. (pp. 161-172). London, UK: T&T Clark.

Journal - Research Other

Holmes, C. R. J. (2020). [Review of the book Divine humility: God's morally perfect being]. Journal of Theological Studies, 71(2), 982-984. doi: 10.1093/jts/flaa138

Holmes, C. (2020). [Review of the book A profound ignorance: Modern pneumatology and its anti-modern redemption]. International Journal of Systematic Theology, 22(3), 439-441. doi: 10.1111/ijst.12426

Journal - Professional & Other Non-Research Articles

Holmes, C. R. J. (2020). How does one read the Christian tradition? Engaging with prayer and thanksgiving. Credo Magazine, 10(2). Retrieved from https://credomag.com/article/how-does-one-read-the-christian-tradition

Holmes, C. (2020). True self-knowledge requires knowing God. Otago Daily Times, (19 June). Retrieved from https://www.odt.co.nz/opinion/true-self-knowledge-requires-knowing-god

Conference Contribution - Verbal presentation and other Conference outputs

Holmes, C. (2020, November-December). What does Calvin's Commentary on the Acts of the Apostles teach us about God's providence? Verbal presentation at the Joint Conference of the Aotearoa New Zealand Association of Biblical Studies (ANZABS) & the Systematic Theology Association of Aotearoa New Zealand (STAANZ), Christchurch, New Zealand.

2019

Chapter in Book - Research

Holmes, C. R. J. (2019). The Holy Spirit. In M. Mawson & P. G. Ziegler (Eds.), The Oxford handbook of Dietrich Bonhoeffer. (pp. 168-178). Oxford, UK: Oxford University Press. doi: 10.1093/oxfordhb/9780198753179.013.15

Holmes, C. R. J. (2019). Learning Jesus' prayer: Joseph Ratzinger on Christology. In T. Perry (Ed.), The theology of Benedict XVI: A Protestant appreciation. (pp. 105-117). Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press.

Journal - Research Other

Holmes, C. R. J. (2019). [Review of the book Christ existing as community: Bonhoeffer's ecclesiology]. Modern Theology, 35(3), 581-582. doi: 10.1111/moth.12499

Conference Contribution - Published proceedings: Abstract

Holmes, C. (2019). The contribution of purity and sight toward friendship with God. Proceedings of the Annual Meetings of the Society of Biblical Literature (SBL) & American Academy of Religion (AAR). Retrieved from https://www.sbl-site.org/meetings/

Conference Contribution - Verbal presentation and other Conference outputs

Schwoebel, C., Holmes, C., & Caswell, D. (2019, November). Eberhard Jüngle Research Colloquium: Revisiting Jüngel on the God/world relation. Panel discussion at the Annual Meetings of the Society of Biblical Literature (SBL) & American Academy of Religion (AAR), San Diego, USA.

Holmes, C. R. J. (2019, November). John Webster on the perfection of God. Verbal presentation at the 71st Annual Meeting of the Evangelical Theological Society (ETS): Christ in All Scripture, San Diego, USA.

Holmes, C. (2019, June). The contribution of purity and sight toward friendship with God. Verbal presentation at the Trajectories in the Interpretation of Scripture Models, Issues and Prospects Conference, Dunedin, New Zealand.

2018

Authored Book - Research

Holmes, C. R. J. (2018). The Lord is good: Seeking the God of the Psalter. Downers Grove, IL: IVP Academic, 198p.

Journal - Research Article

Holmes, C. R. J. (2018). The merits and pitfalls of the Römerbrief on the God/World relationship. Colloquium, 50(1), 15-31.

Holmes, C. R. J. (2018). Revisiting the God/world difference. Modern Theology, 34(2), 159-176. doi: 10.1111/moth.12395

Journal - Research Other

Holmes, C. R. J. (2018). Honoring scripture's living Lord: Katherine Sonderegger on the divine attributes. Pro Ecclesia, XXVII(1), 43-47. doi: 10.1177/106385121802700105

Conference Contribution - Published proceedings: Full paper

Holmes, C. (2018). What is the relationship between God and the Church. Te Awa Rerenga Maha: Braided River. Auckland, New Zealand: Anglican Church in Aotearoa, New Zealand and Polynesia. [Full Paper]

Holmes, C. R. J. (2018). Meditation and reason: Some reflections on the right way to happiness in God. In C. C. Green & D. I. Starling (Eds.), Revelation and reason in Christian theology: Proceedings of the 2016 Theology Connect Conference. (pp. 145-153). Lexham Press. [Full Paper]

Conference Contribution - Verbal presentation and other Conference outputs

Holmes, C. (2018, October). Theology calling. Keynote presentation at the Third Order Society of Saint Francis (TSSF) Convocation, Nelson, New Zealand.

Holmes, C. (2018, October). The Holy Spirit, infinity, and the Christian life. Verbal presentation at the Theology Conference: Beholding the Holy Spirit Afresh, in Scripture, in History, and in Contemporary Life, Louisville, USA.

Holmes, C. (2018, April). The 'personal dimension' of the doctrine of God. Verbal presentation at the Theology, Culture and Unbelief Conference, Nottingham, UK.

Other Research Output

Holmes, C. (2018, February). Revisiting Barth’s Römerbrief. Department of Theology & Religion, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand. [Department Seminar].

2017

Chapter in Book - Research

Holmes, C. R. J. (2017). The atonement and the Holy Spirit. In A. J. Johnson (Ed.), The T&T Clark companion to atonement. (pp. 77-93). London, UK: Bloomsbury.

Journal - Research Article

Holmes, C. R. J. (2017). Architectonics matter: Some advantages of treating the unicity of God in advance of the trinity of persons, in dialogue with Thomas Aquinas. International Journal of Systematic Theology, 19(2), 130-143. doi: 10.1111/ijst.12213

Journal - Research Other

Holmes, C. R. (2017). [Review of the book The ordering of the christian mind: Karl Barth and theological rationality]. Theology, 120(2), 150-151. doi: 10.1177/0040571X16676681v

Conference Contribution - Verbal presentation and other Conference outputs

Holmes, C. (2017, October). What is the relationship between God and the church? Verbal presentation at the Three Tikanga Church Theological Colloquium: Reflecting Theologically, Auckland, New Zealand.

Holmes, C. (2017, June). Our supreme good: Indwelling the Psalms with Thomas Aquinas. Invited presentation at the Christ College HDR Seminar Day, Sydney, Australia.

Holmes, C. (2017, June). "There is nothing better than God:" The joys of contemplative research. Invited presentation at the Christ College HDR Seminar Day, Sydney, Australia.

Holmes, C. (2017, June). Revisiting the God/world difference in conversation with Thomas Aquinas and Karl Barth. Keynote presentation at the Our God is Mighty to Save Conference: Exploring the Doctrine of God, Sydney, Australia.

Holmes, C. (2017, June). You are good: Some biblical reflections on God. Keynote presentation at the Our God is Mighty to Save Conference: Exploring the Doctrine of God, Sydney, Australia.

2016

Chapter in Book - Research

Holmes, C. J. (2016). 'You are good and do good': Some remarks on eternal life and the goodness of God. In P. G. Ziegler (Ed.), Eternal God, eternal life: Theological investigations into the concepts of immortality. (pp. 25-36). London, UK: Bloomsbury.

Holmes, C. R. J. (2016). Locating the divine being: On the presence of Dietrich Bonhoeffer in the theology of Eberhard Jüngel. In M. D. Kirkpatrick (Ed.), Engaging Bonhoeffer: The impact and influence of Bonhoeffer's life and thought. (pp. 221-237). Minneapolis, MN: Fortress Press.

Holmes, C. R. J. (2016). Beyond Bonhoeffer in loyalty to Bonhoeffer: Reconsidering Bonhoeffer's Christological aversion to theological metaphysics. In M. Mawson & P. G. Ziegler (Eds.), Christ, church and world: New studies in Bonhoeffer's theology and ethics. (pp. 29-43). London: Bloomsbury T&T Clark.

Conference Contribution - Verbal presentation and other Conference outputs

Holmes, C. (2016, November). "For he gives the spirit without measure:" John 3:34, Thomas Aquinas, and Christ's reception of the spirit. Verbal presentation at the Annual Meeting of the Society of Biblical Literature (SBL) & American Academy of Religion (AAR), San Antonio, USA.

Holmes, C. (2016, July). The atonement and the Holy Spirit. Verbal presentation at the Australian and New Zealand Association of Theological Schools (ANZATS) Conference, Melbourne, Australia.

Holmes, C. (2016, July). Reason and meditation: Some reflections on the right way to happiness in God. Verbal presentation at the Theology Connect Conference, Sydney, Australia.

2015

Authored Book - Research

Holmes, C. R. J. (2015). The Holy Spirit. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 218p.

Journal - Research Article

Holmes, C. (2015). "Renewal through union": Thomas F. Torrance on the new basis of ethics. Participatio, 5, 45-55.

Holmes, C. R. J. (2015). "The subject of contemporization": The Holy Spirit and the task of theological education. Pentecostal Educator, 2(2), 23-30.

Journal - Research Other

Holmes, C. (2015). [Review of the book The Holy Spirit: In biblical teaching, through the centuries, and today]. International Journal of Systematic Theology, 17(4), 491-493. doi: 10.1111/ijst.12087

Holmes, C. R. J. (2015). [Review of the book Trinity, freedom and love: An engagement with the theology of Eberhard Jüngel]. International Journal of Systematic Theology, 17(3), 322-324. doi: 10.1111/ijst.12023

Conference Contribution - Verbal presentation and other Conference outputs

Holmes, C. (2015, November). The theology of Karl Barth: A panel on Christopher Holmes' The Holy Spirit. Panel discussion at the 67th Annual Meeting of the Evangelical Theological Society (ETS), Atlanta, USA.

Holmes, C. (2015, October). Avoiding caricatures: Toward understanding a religious tradition-Christian faith-on its own terms. Verbal presentation at the Religion Across the Humanities: Matariki Humanities Colloquium, Kingston, Canada.

Holmes, C. (2015, April). Eternal life and the greatness of God. Verbal presentation at the Eternal God—Eternal Life: Theological Explorations of the Concept of Immortality Conference, Aberdeen, UK.

Other Research Output

Holmes, C. (2015 January). Resurrection and reality in the theology of Dietrich Bonhoeffer. The Challenge of Bonhoeffer's Theology for Contemporary Ethics and Public Life, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen, UK. [Public Seminar].

2014

Chapter in Book - Research

Holmes, C. R. J. (2014). Eberhard Jüngel's soteriologically minded doctrine of the Trinity: Some commendations and reservations. In R. D. Nelson (Ed.), Indicative of grace: Imperative of freedom: Essays in honour of Eberhard Jüngel in his 80th year. (pp. 101-113). London: Bloomsbury.

Holmes, C. R. J. (2014). Calvin and the threefold office of Christ: Suggestive teaching regarding the nature of the intra-divine life? In M. Habets (Ed.), Ecumenical perspectives on the Filioque for the twenty-first century. (pp. 107-119). London: Bloomsbury.

Holmes, C. R. J. (2014). The perfecting God. In K. Eilers & K. Strobel (Eds.), Sanctified by grace: A theology of the Christian life. (pp. 75-88). London: Bloomsbury.

Journal - Research Article

Holmes, C. R. J. (2014). Resurrection and reality in the theology of Dietrich Bonhoeffer. Bonhoeffer Legacy: Australasian Journal of Bonhoeffer Studies, 2(1), 1-6.

Holmes, C. R. J. (2014). Bonhoeffer and reformed Christology: Towards a trinitarian supplement. Theology Today, 71(1), 28-42. doi: 10.1177/0040573613518643

Holmes, C. R. J. (2014). The aseity of God as a material evangelical concern. Journal of Reformed Theology, 8(1), 67-78. doi: 10.1163/15697312-00801003

Journal - Research Other

Holmes, C. R. J. (2014). [Review of the book God the eternal contemporary: Trinity, eternity, and time in Karl Barth]. Karl Barth Society Newsletter, 48(Spring), 6-7. Retrieved from https://kbsna.kbarth.org

Conference Contribution - Verbal presentation and other Conference outputs

Holmes, C. (2014, November). "The subject of contemporization": The Holy Spirit and the task of theological education. Verbal presentation at the American Academy of Religion (AAR) Annual Meeting, San Diego, USA.

Holmes, C. (2014, November). Some first principles of an apocalyptic dogmatics. Verbal presentation at the Annual Meeting of the Society of Biblical Literature (SBL) & American Academy of Religion (AAR), San Diego, USA.

Holmes, C. (2014, November). Renewal through union: Thomas F. Torrance on the new basis of ethics. Verbal presentation at the Systematic Theology Association of Aotearoa New Zealand (STAANZ) Annual Conference: Theological Ethics, Dunedin, New Zealand.

2013

Chapter in Book - Research

Holmes, C. R. J. (2013). The person interprets the work: Reviewing an important Christological theme and some of its political implications. In K. B. Nielsen, R. K. Wüstenberg & J. Zimmermann (Eds.), Dem Rad in die Speichen fallen: Das Politische in der Theologie Dietrich Bonhoeffers [A spoke in the wheel: The political in the theology of Dietrich Bonhoeffer]. (pp. 164-177). Munich, Germany: Gütersloher Verlagshaus.

Holmes, C. R. J. (2013). Perfections of God. In R. E. Burnett (Ed.), Westminster handbook to Karl Barth. (pp. 157-161). Louisville, KY: Westminster John Knox Press.

Journal - Research Article

Holmes, C. R. J. (2013). The person and work of Christ revisited: In conversation with Karl Barth. Anglican Theological Review, 95(1), 37-55.

Journal - Research Other

Holmes, C. R. J. (2013). [Review of the book Revisioning Christology: Theology in the Reformed tradition]. Journal of Reformed Theology, 7(1), 127-128. doi: 10.1163/15697312-12341286

Conference Contribution - Published proceedings: Abstract

Holmes, C. (2013). Calvin and the threefold office of Christ: Suggestive teaching regarding the nature of the intra-divine life? Proceedings of the Australia & New Zealand Association of Theological Schools (ANZATS) Conference: Christians in Communities: Christians as Communities. (pp. 15-16). Retrieved from http://www.laidlaw.ac.nz

Conference Contribution - Verbal presentation and other Conference outputs

Holmes, C. (2013, November). Taking seriously the resurrection of Christ: A conversation with Dietrich Bonhoeffer. Keynote presentation at the 9th Annual Australian Bonhoeffer Conference: Hearing the Word, Acting in Faith, Kincumber, Australia.

Holmes, C. (2013, November). Early Christian understanding of the work of the Holy Spirit in rightly relating exegesis and theology. Verbal presentation at the Annual Meeting of the Society of Biblical Literature (SBL) & American Academy of Religion (AAR), Baltimore, USA.

Holmes, C. (2013, December). Some reflections on Coakley's "Incorporative trinitarianism". Verbal presentation at the Beyond Sacrifice? Gender, Evolution and Spirituality Conference, Auckland, New Zealand.

2012

Authored Book - Research

Holmes, C. R. J. (2012). Ethics in the presence of Christ. London: T & T Clark, 164p.

Chapter in Book - Research

Holmes, C. R. J., & Marga, A. (2012). Conversation with the Editors of [the Journal] Evangelical Theology [Translation]. In E. Busch (Ed.), Barth in conversation: Volume 1, 1959-1962. (pp. 270-272). Loiusville, KY: Westminister John Knox Press.

Holmes, C. R. J., & Marga, A. (2012). Conversation in the Zofingia II 1959 [Translation]. In E. Busch (Ed.), Barth in conversation: Volume 1, 1959-1962. (pp. 30-35). Loiusville, KY: Westminister John Knox Press.

Holmes, C. R. J. (2012). Word. In M. A. Beavis & M. J. Gilmour (Eds.), Dictionary of the Bible and western culture. (pp. 609-610). Sheffield, UK: Sheffield Phoenix Press. [Encyclopaedia/Dictionary Entry].

Holmes, C. R. J. (2012). The spirit and the promise: On becoming aligned with the way things really are. In J. B. Davis & D. Harink (Eds.), Apocalyptic and the future of theology: With and beyond J. Louis Martyn. (pp. 219-235). Eugene, OR: Wipf and Stock.

Journal - Research Article

Holmes, C. R. J. (2012). The church and the presence of Christ: Defending actualist ecclesiology. Pro Ecclesia, XXI(3), 268-280.

Holmes, C. R. J. (2012). Revelation in the present tense: On rethinking theological interpretation in the light of the prophetic office of Jesus Christ. Journal of Theological Interpretation, 6(1), 23-42.

Journal - Research Other

Holmes, C. R. J. (2012). [Review of the book Ascension Theology]. Modern Theology, 28(2), 343-345. doi: 10.1111/j.1468-0025.2012.01748.x

Conference Contribution - Verbal presentation and other Conference outputs

Holmes, C. (2012, June-July). The person interprets the work: Re-considering an important theme in Bonhoeffer's Christology lectures and Ethics manuscripts. Verbal presentation at the XI International Bonhoeffer Congress: A Spoke in the Wheel: Reconsidering the Political in the Theology of Dietrich Bonhoeffer, Sigtuna, Sweden.

2011

Chapter in Book - Research

Holmes, C. R. J. (2011). Feuerbach, Ludwig. In I. A. McFarland, D. A. S. Fergusson, K. Kilby & I. R. Torrance (Eds.), Cambridge dictionary of Christian theology. (pp. 186-187). Cambridge University Press.

Holmes, C. (2011). “A specific form of relationship”: On the dogmatic implications of Barth's account of election and commandment for his theological ethics. In M. T. Dempsey (Ed.), Trinity and election in contemporary theology. (pp. 182-200). Grand Rapids, MI: William B. Eerdmans.

Journal - Research Other

Holmes, C. R. J. (2011). [Review of the book Christian ethics as witness: Barth's ethics for a world at risk]. Karl Barth Society Newsletter, 42(Spring), 23-25. Retrieved from https://kbsna.kbarth.org

Holmes, C. (2011). [Review of the book Christ the key]. Toronto Journal of Theology, 27(1), 141-142. [Book Review].

Holmes, C. R. J. (2011). [Review of the book The political dimension of reconciliation: A theological analysis of ways of dealing with guilt during the transition to democracy in South africa and (East) Germany]. International Journal of Systematic Theology, 13(3), 377-378. doi: 10.1111/j.1468-2400.2010.00534.x

Holmes, C. (2011). [Review of the book The difference heaven makes: Rehearing the Gospel as news]. Theology Today, 68(1), 88-89. doi: 10.1177/0040573610394936

Conference Contribution - Verbal presentation and other Conference outputs

Holmes, C. (2011, September). The Church reality and the Christian life. Verbal presentation at the Institute for New Anglicanism: Determined Church Conference: Faith, Discipleship and Ministry in a Consumer Age, Nelson, New Zealand.

Holmes, C. (2011, December). The Filioque and the Mission of the Son: Rethinking an ancient controversy in light of the Triune economy. Verbal presentation at the Systematic Theology Association of Aotearoa New Zealand (STAANZ) Annual Conference, Auckland, New Zealand.

Holmes, C. (2011, November). “According to the will of our God and Father”: Christology and the doctrine of the divine attributes. Verbal presentation at the American Academy of Religion (AAR) Annual Meeting, San Francisco, CA.

Holmes, C. (2011, November). “Let us also be guided by the Spirit”: The promise of the Abrahamic blessing for human sexuality today. Verbal presentation at the Society of Biblical Literature (SBL) Annual Meeting, San Francisco, CA.

Holmes, C. (2011, November). The spirit and the promise: On becoming aligned with the way things really are. Verbal presentation at the Society of Biblical Literature (SBL) Annual Meeting, San Francisco, CA.

2010

Chapter in Book - Research

Holmes, C. R. J. (2010). Karl Barth on the economy: In dialogue with Kathryn Tanner. In D. L. Migliore (Ed.), Commanding grace: Studies in Karl Barth's ethics. (pp. 198-215). Grand Rapids, MI: W. B. Eerdmans.

Holmes, C. R. J. (2010). Becoming one: The Christian story and the politics of marriage. In R. R. Jeal (Ed.), Human sexuality and the nuptial mystery. (pp. 131-147). Eugene, OR: Wipf and Stock.

Journal - Research Article

Holmes, C. (2010). 'The indivisible whole of God's reality': On the agency of Jesus in Bonhoeffer's Ethics. International Journal of Systematic Theology, 12(3), 283-301. doi: 10.1111/j.1468-2400.2009.00492.x

Holmes, C. R. J. (2010). The contemporaneity of God for ethics today: Paul Lehmann's contribution to a neglected theme, in dialogue with Dietrich Bonhoeffer. Studies in Christian Ethics, 23(3), 284-299. doi: 10.1177/0953946810368026

Journal - Research Other

Holmes, C. R. J. (2010). [Review of the book The legacy of John Paul II: An evangelical assessment]. Pro Ecclesia, XIX(1), 119-121. [Book Review].

Holmes, C. (2010). [Review of the book Like Father, like Son: The Trinity imaged in our humanity]. Scottish Journal of Theology, 63(4), 501-503. doi: 10.1017/S0036930608004456

Holmes, C. R. (2010). [Review of the book Atonement: The person and work of Christ]. Journal of Theological Studies, 61(2), 876-879. doi: 10.1093/jts/flq128

Holmes, C. R. J. (2010). [Review of the book Explorations in Christian theology and ethics: Essays in conversation with Paul L. Lehmann]. Studies in Christian Ethics, 23(3), 336-338. [Book Review].

Conference Contribution - Verbal presentation and other Conference outputs

Holmes, C. (2010, November). The ecclesia and the presence of Christ. Verbal presentation at the Systematic Theology Association of Aotearoa New Zealand (STAANZ) Annual Conference, Dunedin, New Zealand.

Holmes, C. (2010, October-November). Revelation in the present tense: On rethinking interpretation in light of the prophetic office of Jesus Christ. Verbal presentation at the American Academy of Religion (AAR) Annual Meeting, Atlanta, GA.

2009

Journal - Research Other

Holmes, C. R. J. (2009). [Review of the book A high view of Scripture? The authority of the Bible and the formation of the New Testament canon]. Didaskalia, 20, 108-113. [Book Review].

Holmes, C. R. J. (2009). [Review of the books Word and church: Essays in Christian dogmatics I and Confessing God: Essays in Christian dogmatics II]. Pro Ecclesia, XVIII(2), 219-223. [Book Review].

Holmes, C. R. J. (2009). [Review of the book Incarnation]. Didaskalia, 20, 120-122. [Book Review].

Holmes, C. (2009). [Review of the book Authentic faith: Bonhoeffer's theological ethics in context]. International Journal of Systematic Theology, 11(4), 489-490. [Book Review].

Holmes, C. R. J. (2009). [Review of the book Orthodox and modern: Studies in the theology of Karl Barth]. Calvin Theological Journal, 44(2), 434-436. [Book Review].

2008

Journal - Research Article

Holmes, C. R. J. (2008). God's attributes as God's clarities: Wolf Krötke's doctrine of the divine attributes. International Journal of Systematic Theology, 10(1), 54-72. doi: 10.1111/j.1468-2400.2007.00254.x

Holmes, C. (2008). The theological function of the doctrine of the divine attributes and the divine glory, with special reference to Karl Barth and his reading of the Protestant Orthodox. Scottish Journal of Theology, 61(2), 206-223. doi: 10.1017/S0036930608003967

Journal - Research Other

Holmes, C. R. J. (2008). [Review of the book Incarnation and resurrection: Toward a contemporary understanding]. Karl Barth Society Newsletter, 36(Spring), 6-10. Retrieved from https://kbsna.kbarth.org

Holmes, C. R. J. (2008). [Review of the book The triune God: An essay in postliberal theology]. Theological Studies, 69, 479-480. [Book Review].

Holmes, C. R. J. (2008). [Review of the book Lord, giver of life: Toward a pneumatological complement to George Lindbeck's theory of doctrine]. Studies in Religion, 37(1), 162-164. [Book Review].

Holmes, C. (2008). Review essay of Kevin J. Vanhoozer's The drama of doctrine: A canonical linguistic approach to Christian theology. Canadian Evangelical Review, (Fall/Spring), 81-90.

Conference Contribution - Verbal presentation and other Conference outputs

Holmes, C. (2008, June). The indivisible whole of God's reality: Divine and human agency in Bonhoeffer's Ethics. Verbal presentation at the Canadian Corporation for Studies in Religion (CCSR) Combined Religion Program: Congress of the Humanities and Social Sciences, Vancouver, Canada.

2007

Authored Book - Research

Holmes, C. R. J. (2007). Revisiting the doctrine of the divine attributes: In dialogue with Karl Barth, Eberhard Jüngel, and Wolf Krötke. New York: Peter Lang, 249p.

Journal - Research Article

Holmes, C. R. J. (2007). Wholly human and wholly divine, humiliated and exalted: Some reformed explorations in Bonhoeffer's Christology lectures. Scottish Bulletin of Evangelical Theology, 25(2), 210-225.

Journal - Research Other

Holmes, C. R. J. (2007). [Review of the book Divine freedom and the doctrine of the immanent Trinity: In dialogue with Karl Barth and contemporary theology]. Modern Theology, 23(4), 634-636. [Book Review].

Holmes, C. R. J. (2007). [Review of the book Reading Karl Barth: New directions for North American theology]. Calvin Theological Journal, 42(1), 187-190. [Book Review].

2006

Journal - Research Article

Holmes, C. (2006). The glory of God in the theology of Eberhard Jüngel. International Journal of Systematic Theology, 8(4), 343-355. doi: 10.1111/j.1468-2400.2006.00219.x

Holmes, C. R. J. (2006). Disclosure without reservations: Re-evaluating divine hiddenness. Neue Zeitschrift für Systematische Theologie und Religionsphilosophie, 48(3), 367-380. doi: 10.1515/NZST.2006.027

Holmes, C. R. J. (2006). Eberhard Jüngel and Wolf Krötke: Recent contributions toward a trinitarian doctrine of God's attributes. Toronto Journal of Theology, 22(2), 159-180.

Journal - Research Other

Holmes, C. (2006). [Review of the book Sin and nothingness in the theology of Karl Barth]. International Journal of Systematic Theology, 8(3), 336-339. [Book Review].

Holmes, C. R. J. (2006). [Review of the book Barth's earlier theology: Four studies]. Calvin Theological Journal, 41(2), 411-413. [Book Review].

Conference Contribution - Verbal presentation and other Conference outputs

Holmes, C., & Hari-Singh, A. (2006, May). Re-reading classic texts: Bonhoeffer's Christ the Center [Panel discussion]. Verbal presentation at the Canadian Corporation for Studies in Religion (CCSR) Combined Religion Program Congress, Toronto, Canada.

2004

Journal - Research Other

Holmes, C. R. (2004). [Review of the book Act and being: Towards a theology of the divine attributes]. Toronto Journal of Theology, 20(1). doi: 10.3138/tjt.20.1.110

Holmes, C. R. (2004). [Review of the book Theology of the Reformed Confessions: 1923]. Toronto Journal of Theology, 20(1). doi: 10.3138/tjt.20.1.110

2003

Journal - Research Other

Holmes, C. R. (2003). [Review of the book The question of God]. Toronto Journal of Theology, 19(1). doi: 10.3138/tjt.19.1.69

Holmes, C. R. (2003). [Review of the book God's being is in becoming: The Trinitarian being of God in the theology of Karl Barth]. Toronto Journal of Theology, 19(1). doi: 10.3138/tjt.19.1.69

2002

Journal - Research Other

Holmes, C. R. (2002). [Review of the book Knowing the triune God: The work of the Spirit in the practices of the church]. Toronto Journal of Theology, 18(2). doi: 10.3138/tjt.18.2.255