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| Encountering The New Testament |
August 21, 2013
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Encountering The New Testament (Brief Review)
ELWELL, WALTER AND YARBROUGH, ROBERT W., Third Edition (2013) Encountering The New Testament, Grand Rapids, Baker Academic.
As a Doctor/PhD I receive some email offers to sample textbooks. If the offer is within my academic disciplines of Theology. Philosophy and Biblical Studies and/or an interesting book of any type and for free I accept. This offer appeared free.
This text has the same co-author, Walter A. Elwell as the Dictionary of Evangelical Theology which is a text I used for my United Kingdom theses and blogging and therefore I had some confidence in the text prior to evaluation.
To start the text, from Baker is hardcover and glossy, therefore likely to last longer than a softcover or paperback text.
The paper is fairly glossy and a high grade. It is thick. The images are of a high quality. There are maps inside.
The textbook would serve as a fine gift as well.
Chapter 1: Why Study The New Testament
Is Everything Relative?
A statement is made in regard to the idea in American Universities today that 'truth is relative'. Elwell (2013: 5). Then the point is made from Romans that full knowledge of truth belongs to God alone and Romans 11:33-34 is listed. Elwell (2013: 5).
Romans 11:33-34 New American Standard Bible (NASB)
33 Oh, the depth of the riches [a]both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments and unfathomable His ways! 34 For who has known the mind of the Lord, or who became His counselor?
God is infinite, omnipotent and omniscient and his creatures would be finite and not almighty also lacking omniscience.
Philosophical concepts connecting first cause to a Biblical God could yield similar conclusions in regard to finite humanity.
The text states that God through Scripture has 'spoken reliably and authoritatively' and therefore not everything is uncertain and there is a final authority. Elwell (2013: 5).
But the text does correctly point out that there is always an issue because there 'may be ambiguity in our perception of what the Bible says'. Elwell (2013: 5).
This objection was raised to me on more than one occasion by a fellow seminary student.
I stated that it was better to take God's word as inspired and final as it claims with 2 Timothy 2: 15 accurately handling the word of truth, 2 Timothy 3: 16 all Scripture is inspired by God and 1 Peter 3: 15 be ready to give an account, in context than to negate in some way the Scripture and therefore its theological and philosophical meanings and greatly risk negating the Gospel and the nature of God.
A serious study, consideration and acceptance of inspired Scripture as religious history should yield agreement of core doctrines such as the nature of God as triune, the divinity and humanity of Christ, the exclusivity of Christ for salvation through his atoning and resurrection work applied to those in Christ, the eventual second advent, and eventual culminated Kingdom of God.
On secondary issues in the Church there is room for more disagreement, although personally with four degrees and years of academic blogging, I am very comfortable being firmly Reformed in positions but I believe in progressing theologically and philosophically while staying Biblically orthodox.
Chapter 14: Acts
Do Miracles Happen?
Rudolf Bultmann is quoted where he noted that the worldview of Scripture is mythological and unacceptable to modern persons shaped by science. Elwell (2013: 201).
The authors disagree, claiming popular opinion and polls that support direct intervention by God or powers. Therefore stating modern persons would not necessarily agree. Elwell (2013: 201).
A second view used is to suggest that scientists are now more open to concepts of an open universe as opposed to a closed universe as in the past. They reason a closed universe leaves too much unexplained. Elwell (2013: 201).
The third objection is that God is left completely out of the picture. Elwell (2013: 201).
Basically the New Testament and Jesus Christ's work, especially his resurrection is negated.
They make the point: 'If God can make a world, why can't he act in the world he has made'. Elwell (2013: 201).
This is in my mind is where I would deal with and argue.
Via Scripture in the Church there is the historical religious documentation.
Via philosophical theology and philosophy of religion concepts of first cause cannot prove the Christian God but connections can be made.
I reason it technically took a miracle for the infinite non-material God to create a matter universe and therefore it is not unreasonable that God would at times intervene in creation.
Documented non-fictional Scripture takes the idea beyond only philosophy and into religious history.
Further with the text...
Very good to see an academic Glossary of twelve pages near the back of the book.
Encountering The New Testament will be a useful professional tool for me over my career.
