I’m with you here. Perhaps I’ve misunderstood Piper, but I’ve always understood him to say the God’s glory is his primary purpose, not his only purpose.

Still, do not all his varied other purposes serve his primary purpose? That’s not to deny that he has other purposes, but none that are independent of elevating his glory.

I’m not Jeremy, but it seems that if something outside the object gives something its worth, then its good isn’t intrinsic to it. The two seem mutually exclusive.

Jeremy,

Great post articulating a worry I’ve had with Piper’s theology for quite some time. While at Biola, he spoke in chapel and said, “Love cannot explain the existence of hell. Love can not explain the existence of God’s wrath.” I’ll never forget it, as it was the moment that I realized I disagreed with him. If Dante is right (and on this, I think he is), love can in fact explain the existence of hell and of wrath.

Great post.

Matt

yes it does. it is God’s Glory that gives them their intrinsic worth. and i’m not sure that Piper is as reductionist as implied in this post.