In Three Minutes: No Commentaries Needed?

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Erickson is useful here. The Bible in context and other good sources need to be used. In other words, commentaries and tools are required for contextual understanding and modern, reasonable interpretations. A key concept presented is not to review biblical texts in isolation! This is a significant danger with bible studies that do not use tools.

Imagine sermons prepared without the use of tools. A ridiculous guessing game at many points by the preacher.

Baptist, Millard J. Erickson (1994) comments that doctrines need not be maintained precisely with the same form of expression that they were in Biblical times. Erickson (1994: 37). Erickson also points out that not all other sources of knowledge and truth need to be excluded from Christian teaching. Erickson’s point that God’s word, although an unchanging message must be interpreted for each era. Erickson (1994: 37).  

This in no way allows for an overhaul of major, traditional Christian doctrines from traditional and Reformed perspectives, but with the use of practical and empirical approaches there would be opportunities to understand Christian theology in modern terms. He explains that systematic theology draws upon the entire Bible and does not exegete texts in isolation. Erickson (1994: 21). It attempts to analyze and understand Scriptural teachings in a harmonized way. 

Erickson makes it clear that Biblical doctrines may not necessarily be maintained precisely with the same form of expression as they were in Biblical times, and notes philosophical truth can be found from other sources. Erickson (1994: 37). Biblical doctrines do not theologically change, but how they are expressed in a cultural context, may.

ERICKSON, MILLARD (1994) Christian Theology, Grand Rapids, Baker Book House.