Classical Theism

Thomas, that bogeyman of open theists, he of the absolute, changeless, impassible, atemporal, impersonal deity – that Thomas says (a point picked up by Edwards) “it pertains to the idea of goodness to communicate itself to others.” Hence, if God is good He is necessarily self-giving; He is not the Chief but the Chief Servant. Being the greatest of the good, He is the servant of all – by definition.

On this assumption, the incarnation is no contradiction of God’s character, but its manifestation. If being good is being self-communicating, then the “highest good” is to communicate oneself “in the highest manner to the creature.” Barth has nothing on Thomas here: We know God’s glory in the face of Jesus.