D. Z. Phillips (1934-2006) was one of the most influential, ingenious, and perhaps controversial thinkers in the Anglo-American philosophy of religion. In particular, he is widely regarded as a leading proponent of a Wittgensteinian approach to the philosophy of religion. While almost every book on religious language or Anglophone philosophy of religion deals with Phillips' thought or, at least, mentions his name, all too frequently his position has been grossly misunderstood and has often attracted unwarranted criticism from various sides. Seeking to offer a constructive presentation and critical discussion of Phillips' view of philosophy, religious language, religious truth, and God, Hyoseok Kim endeavors to resolve some misunderstandings, refute undue criticisms of Phillips' position, and make some suggestions concerning directions in which his view might and ought to be further developed.

Judaism and Christianity have different meanings for the concept of ‘God.’ These religions rely on different transmitted texts. Different words – in the biblical Hebrew, biblical Greek, biblical Latin, biblical English – contribute to confusion in meaning. For example, what does ‘elohim’ mean? Is there a difference between ‘Yah’ and ‘Yahweh’? This book examines this confusion in meaning in the biblical texts. This confusion is at the heart of the divorce of Judaism and Christianity. Despite this, we can have a new way of understanding the concept “God”, by which one may re-examine and support a minority point of view in rabbinic tradition, known as the “two powers in heaven” doctrine. Given this revision, there is ample reason for enlightened renewal of a “messianic” interpretation of both Jewish and Christian faiths. This book, therefore, speaks to theologians, philosophers of religion with interests in Jewish and Christian religious traditions, students of philosophy, and informed believers.