Evangelicals Scripture

By definition, a high view of Scripture inheres in evangelicalism. However, there does not seem to be a uniform way to articulate an evangelical doctrine of Scripture. Taking up the challenge, Vincent Bacote, Laura Miguélez and Dennis Okholm present twelve essays that explore in depth the meaning of an evangelical doctrine of Scripture that takes seriously both the human and divine dimensions of the Bible. Selected from the presentations made at the 2001 Wheaton Theology Conference, the essays approach this vital subject from three directions. Stanley J. Grenz, Thomas Buchan, Bruce L. McCormack and Donald W. Dayton consider the history of evangelical thinking on the nature of Scripture. John J. Brogan, Kent Sparks, J. Daniel Hays and Richard L. Schultz address the nature of biblical authority. Bruce Ellis Benson, John R. Franke, Daniel J. Treier and David Alan Williams explore the challenge of hermeneutics, especially as it relates to interpreting Scripture in a postmodern context. Together these essays provide a window into current evangelical scholarship on the doctrine of Scripture and also advance the dialogue about how best to construe our faith in the Word of God, living and written, that informs not only the belief but also the practice of the church.

In this inaugural volume in the Studies in Christian Doctrine and Scripture, Kevin J. Vanhoozer and Daniel J. Treier set forth a programmatic proposal for evangelical theology, rooted in the claim that the church's vocation is to mirror the witness of Scripture in its doctrine and discipleship.

The inspiration of the Bible is central to Christian faith, yet there is no general agreement on the nature of this inspiration. In this provocative book, Kern Robert Trembath reviews seven major evangelical explanations of inspiration and demonstrates that all either view the Bible itself as the actual recipient of inspiration or explain biblical authority on grounds more appropriate to the doctrine of God--in effect investing the Bible with characteristics that properly belong only to God. Building on the work of William Abraham, Trembath constructs his own theory of inspiration--one that regards inspiration as a tripartite concept involving the elements of initiator, means, and receiver. He insists that only a human being can be the recipient of inspiration and that the Bible must therefore be understood as the means, rather than the end, of the process. He goes on to articulate a new definition of biblical inspiration--as "a mediated enhancement of human experience by God, through the Bible"--and argues that this new understanding of inspiration is most compatible with a Thomistic doctrine of God, which insists that God's acts are mediated through the world, rather than immediately occurring in it.

An essential new reference work for students and general readers interested in the history, dynamics, and influence of evangelicalism in recent American history, politics, and culture. What makes evangelical or "born-again" Christians different from those who identify themselves more simply as "Christian"? What percentage of Americans believe in the Rapture? How are evangelicalism and Baptism similar? What is the influence of evangelical religions on U.S. politics? Readers of Evangelical America: An Encyclopedia of Contemporary American Religious Culture will learn the answers to these questions and many more through this single-volume work's coverage of the many dimensions of and diversity within evangelicalism and through its documentation of the specific contributions evangelicals have made in American society and culture. It also illustrates the Evangelical movement's influence internationally in key issues such as human rights, environmentalism, and gender and sexuality.

A stimulating dialogue among evangelicals that clarifies how major evangelical theologians currently conceive the practice of theology with regard to the Bible. Contributors: -Robert K. Johnston, editor -Donald Bloesch -Donald Dayton -William A. Dyrness -Gabriel Fackre -James I. Packer -Clark H. Pinnock -Russell P. Spittler -Robert Webber -David F. Wells -John Yoder A summary of the positions: I. Johnston (Free Church): Introduction: Unity and Diversity in Evangelical Theology - introduces the theme, defines evangelicalism and evangelical theology II. Pinnock (Baptist): How I Use the Bible in Doing Theology - hermeneutical theology; only what is revelation (only Scripture) can be made a matter of theological truth III. Packer (Anglican): In Quest of Canonical Interpretation - texts must be understood in their human context IV. Spittler (Pentecostal): Scripture and the Theological Enterprise: View from a Big Canoe - exegetical theology V. Bloesch (Reformed): A Christological Hermeneutic: Crisis and Conflict in Hermeneutics - goes beyond the literal sense of the text to its larger significance VI. Yoder (Mennonite): The Use of the Bible in Theology - theology as an activity meant to correct and renew the church VII. Dayton (Wesleyan): The Use of Scripture in the Wesleyan Tradition - theology rooted in a recovery of Wesleyan truth VIII. Webber (Anglican): An Evangelical and Catholic Methodology - theology is an activity from out of the church's tradition; must study the church father's dogmatic development IX. Dyrness (Reformed): How Does the Bible Function in the Christian Life? - Scripture as a two-directional contextual hermeneutic X. Wells (Congregational): The Nature and Function of Theology - decoding/encoding; the significance of the 'sola scriptura' principle XI. Fackre (Congregational): The Use of Scripture in My Work in Systematics - full-orbed approach; world, church, Scripture, and the Gospel core all have their function

Founded by Charles Colson and Richard John Neuhaus in 1994, Evangelicals and Catholics Together (ECT) has fostered a fruitful conversation on the meaning of the gospel in today's world. Over the course of twenty years, ECT has issued nine statements addressing contemporary topics. This one-volume guide, the first collection of the ECT statements, explores the key accomplishments of this groundbreaking, ongoing dialogue. Introductions and notes provide context and discuss history and future prospects. The book also includes prefaces by J. I. Packer and Cardinal Timothy Dolan, a foreword by George Weigel, and an epilogue by R. R. Reno and Kevin J. Vanhoozer.

Biblical inspiration and interpretation in conflict? Evangelicals assert that the Bible is the infallible source and sole authority for Christian beliefs and living. This premise is currently under fire from social and cultural mores AND, more importantly, from differences of biblical interpretation. Contradictory opinions have arisen on several issues. —What exactly does the Bible claim? —What is the rightful role of women in the church and at home? —How do Christians evaluate homosexuality (is it always a sin)? —What is the church’s role in social ethics? Evangelicals at an Impasse considers these burning issues and offers helpful guidelines. Robert K. Johnston seeks to bridge the gaps among the biblical writers, the church fathers, and contemporary humanity. He offers an effective way for Christians, and more specifically, evangelicals, to understand the Bible as it relates to theology, tradition, and culture. Johnston considers the issues, the facts surrounding them, social practices, the pros and cons on each question, and provides striking insights in his conclusions—conclusions, NOT solutions. Evangelicals and other Christians—in fact anyone interested in religion in America—will find this a fascinating and remarkable book.

In the late 1970s, the New Christian Right emerged as a formidable political force, boldly announcing itself as a unified movement representing the views of a "moral majority." But that movement did not spring fully formed from its predecessors. American Evangelicals and the 1960s refutes the thesis that evangelical politics were a purely inflammatory backlash against the cultural and political upheaval of the decade. Bringing together fresh research and innovative interpretations, this book demonstrates that evangelicals actually participated in broader American developments during "the long 1960s," that the evangelical constituency was more diverse than often noted, and that the notion of right-wing evangelical politics as a backlash was a later creation serving the interests of both Republican-conservative alliances and their critics. Evangelicalism's involvement with—rather than its reaction against—the main social movements, public policy initiatives, and cultural transformations of the 1960s proved significant in its 1970s political ascendance. Twelve essays that range thematically from the oil industry to prison ministry and from American counterculture to the Second Vatican Council depict modern evangelicalism both as a religious movement with its own internal dynamics and as one fully integrated into general American history.