Otto Weber (PhD Edit)

Neuschwanstein Castle-trekearth

Another PhD edit which adds depth to my PhD presented on this blog and also isolates certain key Theologians and Philosophers, even if not key thesis exemplars.

I have been very busy with my Enhanced Security Training course through the Justice Institute at Douglas College. I also have made some social changes in life, more focused on the Fraser Valley and less with Vancouver. Blogging will be done slightly less infrequently for the time being, although I still keep up with comments.

As I often do, I have restructured the blog layout. It is somewhat like past layouts where there is more immediate emphasis on promotion with Google, Facebook and Followers. Perhaps it will assist with readership, although many blog readers prefer to remain anonymous. Perhaps someone should create an anonymous application where persons can be members and at least the reader number would be shown…;)

God’s Will

Otto Weber suggests God has unlimited capacity[1] and unrestricted will.[2] God is unrestricted in what he determines within self and outside of self.[3] Presbyterian theologian John M. Frame admits the term omnipotence is not in Scripture,[4] but reasons the concept is Biblical.[5] He deduces that based on the Bible, it is impossible for anything to occur outside of what God has willed to happen.[6] 

Biblicism and Sola Scriptura

Otto Weber (1955)(1981) mentions the problem of ‘Biblicism’[7] that as an approach within some evangelical churches reviews the Bible out of context at times with rigid literalness of interpretation.[8]  This approach often negates theology as irrelevant.[9] Franke desires an approach that has one ‘truly disciplined by the Word of God.’[10]  He maintains a commitment to truth,[11] Scripture [12] and ‘ecumenical Christian orthodoxy.’[13] 

Edward E. Hindson, as a Professor of Religion, wrote the ‘Introduction’ to Presbyterian theologian William G.T. Shedd’s (1874-1890)(1980) text Dogmatic Theology and charges that Shedd’s ‘profound insight into theological truth was no mere matter of casual intellectual reflection.’[14] This is a correct and reasonable approach to the difficult academic field of theology and Reformed theology. Careful and thorough scholarship is required.[15] Theology is not to be done at the expense of the Scripture,[16] but within a correct study of that Scripture.[17] Shedd reasons that ‘methods of investigation are continually undergoing correction and modification’[18] and this can lead to better organization of the subject.[19] 

Weber reasons the Reformation standard of sola scriptura firmly upheld Reformed views against counter propositions.[20] The Scripture is authoritative because it is the vehicle by which the Holy Spirit speaks, and therefore has divine authority.[21] The Bible is the product of the Christian community that produced it under the guidance of the Holy Spirit.[22] As Anglican Rowan Williams states, ‘Revelation is the statement of God’s autonomy.’[23]  God explains who he is and becomes his own ‘alter ego’ as Christ.[24] 

FRAME, JOHN M. (1999) ‘The Bible on the Problem of Evil: Insights from Romans 3:1-8,21-26; 5:1-5; 8:28-39’, IIIM Magazine Online, Volume 1, Number 33, October 11 to October 17, Fern Park, Florida, Third Millennium.

FRAME, JOHN M. (2002) The Doctrine of God, P and R Publishing, Phillipsburg, New Jersey.

FRANKE, JOHN R. (2005)  The Character of Theology, Baker Academic, Grand Rapids.

GUNDRY, ROBERT H. (1981) A Survey of the New Testament, Zondervan Publishing House, Grand Rapids.

HINDSON, EDWARD E. (1874-1890)(1980) ‘Introduction’ within SHEDD, WILLIAM G.T. Dogmatic Theology,  Volume 1, Nashville, Thomas Nelson Publishers.

SHEDD, WILLIAM G.T. (1874-1890)(1980) Dogmatic Theology,  Volume 1, Nashville, Thomas Nelson Publishers.

SHEDD, WILLIAM G.T. (1874-1890)(1980) Dogmatic Theology,  Volume 2, Nashville, Thomas Nelson Publishers.

WEBER, OTTO (1955)(1981) Foundations of Dogmatics, Volumes 1 and 2, Translated and annotated by Darrell L. Guder, William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company.

WILLIAMS, ROWAN (2000) On Christian Theology, Blackwell Publishing, Oxford.

WILLIAMS, ROWAN (2007) Wrestling with Angels, William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, Grand Rapids. 

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[1] Weber (1955)(1981: 440).

[2] Weber (1955)(1981: 440).

[3] Weber (1955)(1981: 440).

[4] Frame (2002: 515).

[5] Frame (2002: 515).

[6] Frame (2002: 518). Weber (1955)(1981: 440).

[7] Weber (1955)(1981: 17).

[8] John Frame recognizes in light of Biblicism that there is still value in traditions, confessions and church history, although he believes in the sufficiency of the Scripture.  Frame (2002: 10). Biblicism is a wrong extreme but Frame desires that Scripture be correctly understood.

[9] Weber (1955)(1981: 17). Weber makes an excellent point as through academic theological blogging, for example,  I have found that some evangelical fundamentalists downplay the use of theology and any scholarship.  They prefer a plain literal read of the Bible and are sceptical of any scholarship that may challenge their views.

[10] Franke (2005: 8).

[11] Franke (2005: 9).

[12] Franke (2005: 9). Franke reasons that, with his approach, existing theological models will not be forced upon the Scripture.

[13] Franke (2005: 9). Although Christian orthodoxy is important Robert H. Gundry points out that the New Testament covers a time period of less than a century, while the Old Testament (Hebrew Bible) covers thousands of years of history.  Gundry (1981: iii). Christian doctrine and orthodoxy needs to correctly understand the Hebrew Bible in context and not ‘read’ the New Testament into the original text.

[14] Hindson (1874-1890)(1980: iv).

[15] Hindson (1874-1890)(1980: iv). This is the case in all theological writing and especially in academic writing and research.

[16] Hindson (1874-1890)(1980: iv). Frame (2002: 10).

[17] Scripture is also not to be evaluated in isolation as various Scripture needs to be compared. Erickson (1994: 21).

[18] Shedd (1874-1890)(1980: 4 Volume 1).

[19] Shedd (1874-1890)(1980: 4 Volume 1).

[20] Weber (1955)(1981: 113-114).

[21] Franke (2005: 150). 

[22] Franke (2005: 151). 

[23] Williams (2007: 116).

[24] Williams (2007: 116).