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| 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.
[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.
[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.
[15] Hindson
(1874-1890)(1980: iv). This is the case in all theological writing and
especially in academic writing and research.
[17] Scripture is
also not to be evaluated in isolation as various Scripture needs to be
compared. Erickson (1994: 21).
