Relativism In Brief

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ELWELL, WALTER AND YARBROUGH, ROBERT W., Third Edition (2013) Encountering The New Testament, Grand Rapids, Baker Academic.

On page 5, there is a box section entitled 'Is Everything Relative?' I will discuss shortly...

Blackburn writes that in regard to relativism it is 'the permanently tempting doctrine that in some areas at least, truth is relative to the standpoint of the judging subject ('beauty lies in the eye of the beholder'). Blackburn (1996: 326).

He makes the point the view is often rejected because an 'inability to make sense of such standards eventually paralyzes all thought'. Blackburn (1996: 326). With relativism the contrary view may also be true. Blackburn (1996: 326).

The Elwell text explains that full knowledge of truth belongs to God alone and cites, Romans 11: 33-34, and notes that God has revealed much about himself in Scripture. This has been done authoritatively through Biblical writers, via the guidance of the Holy Spirit.(2 Timothy and 2 Peter).

It is not as if Biblical truth is up for grabs in a relativistic sense.

The text deals with the issue of the ambiguity of the human perception of Scripture and it does correctly present the argument that the core conviction of Scripture can be traced and is consistent.

There is in my view a consistency in the Hebrew Bible from Genesis forward in regard to the holiness and goodness of God, and God's work with Noah, Abraham and Moses and others.

God's plans continue in a new covenant in the New Testament with the atoning and resurrection work of Christ and future culminated Kingdom of the New Testament.

Philosophically and theologically, God is infinite, omnipotent and omniscient. God has sovereign authority.

God inspired the historical, religious Scriptural texts and even as scholars are dealing with manuscript copies of originals and there are at this point 5000 plus copies, it can be considered consistent theological and philosophical evidence and information from a divine source and not relative.

Therefore not relative truth, but simply truth.

BLACKBURN, SIMON (1996) Oxford Dictionary of Philosophy, Oxford, Oxford University Press.

104.1 The Hawk Facebook-Just wondering though why he is not wearing his blazer on such a hot day?
New corp. policy @ work blazer to be worn even during summer patrol (working on it).