Confessing the Scriptural Christ against Modern Idolatry: Inspiration, Inerrancy, and Truth in Scientific and Biblical Conflict - Softcover

Hale, Philip

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0997519703 ISBN 13: 9780997519709

Publisher: Mercinator Press, 2016

Synopsis

The doctrine of Scripture determines precisely how theology is done and what authority theological statements—including those in sermons, dogmatic texts, and confessional writings—possess. At stake is nothing less than truth itself and the possibility of communicating the truth of Christ to mankind. This book compares the pre-modern approach to Scripture, following early Christian theologians, Martin Luther, and historic Lutheranism, with modernism, starting with Socinianism and continuing with Enlightenment philosophers and recent modern theologians, especially the neo-orthodox. These differences are most clearly visible in the doctrine of Scripture, especially its inspiration, and the method for establishing true facts. Modern theology starts with scientific truth as a given and will not go against it. Pre-modern Christianity started with Scripture and assumed its inerrancy, by virtue of its speaker: God, who is inerrant. Modernism is not easily defined in traditional terms, but it represents an overturning of biblical Christianity. In academic theology confessing and sure facts are disallowed by scientific and scholarly doubt. Modernism, or Enlightenmentism, explains why bold Christian confessing has diminished. Modern exegesis and hermeneutics are the primary obstacles. The destructive role of modernism and scientific values in historically confessing churches is explored, using the Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod as an example.This book compares the pre-modern approach to Scripture, following Early Christian theologians, Martin Luther, and historic Lutheranism, with modernism, starting with Socinianism and continuing with Enlightenment philosophers and recent modern theologians, especially the neo-orthodox. These differences are most clearly visible in the doctrine of Scripture, especially its inspiration, and the method for establishing true facts. Modern theology starts with scientific truth as a given and will not go against it. Pre-modern Christianity started with Scripture and assumed its inerrancy, by virtue of its speaker: God, who is inerrant. Modernism is not easily defined in traditional terms, but it represents an overturning of biblical Christianity. In academic theology confessing and sure facts are disallowed by scientific and scholarly doubt. Modernism, or Enlightenmentism, explains why bold Christian confessing has diminished. Modern exegesis and hermeneutics are the primary obstacles. The destructive role of modernism and scientific values in historically confessing churches is explored, using the Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod as an example.

About this title

About the Author

Pastor Philip Hale received his M.Div. in 2007 from Concordia Theological Seminary, Fort Wayne, Indiana. He then served the congregations of St. Paul Lutheran Church, Bancroft and St. John Lutheran Church, Lyons, Nebraska. He is currently associate pastor of Zion Lutheran Church, Omaha, Nebraska. He and his wife Aubri have 8 children.

Edition details

• Publisher: Mercinator Press
• Publication date: 2016
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0997519703
• ISBN 13: 9780997519709
• Binding: Paperback
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 336