tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23905894.post8523613502375650854..comments2023-06-29T10:25:58.391-05:00Comments on Musings on Christ: The Danger Facing Systematic TheologyMalcolm Yarnellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05527418213499559637noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23905894.post-57513685158025367202014-08-28T11:10:04.917-05:002014-08-28T11:10:04.917-05:00Thanks for sharing the quote. Remaining true to Sc...Thanks for sharing the quote. Remaining true to Scriptural truth is a great challenge when so many, more and more, seem to "leap" to fantastic conclusions which serve to support their "lustful desires" in gratifying their natural craving for "heaven on earth."A. W. Maysnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23905894.post-19016150271929654822010-09-21T18:22:18.850-05:002010-09-21T18:22:18.850-05:00Yes, Dr. Yarnell it is an important question and a...Yes, Dr. Yarnell it is an important question and an issue I hope to tackle in my research through graduate and, Lord willing, future studies. I have my own thoughts similar to yours but the implications in them are somewhat bold and need to be thought through and tested...they are are def not outside the text (at least I'd like to think so). It involves the relationship of three things to theological method, the conscience, the gospel (Christ and the cross), and love (the degree of our love). I believe these all have bearing upon how we not only interpret, but in the process of our understanding the truth that is in Jesus. <br /><br />I def plan to read your work...if it is not within a course such as Development of Doctrine or Theological Method, it will be on my own time as it is on my reading list. <br /><br />Blessings,<br /><br />QuincyQuincy A. Joneshttp://www.strengthenedbygraceministries.orgnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23905894.post-21958073239859301902010-09-20T15:55:46.810-05:002010-09-20T15:55:46.810-05:00Quincy,
You have asked a very important question,...Quincy,<br /><br />You have asked a very important question, and one that continues to bring me to my knees as I read and preach Scripture. Indeed, this question is why I wrote "The Formation of Christian Doctrine." I will not say that I have perfectly answered your question in that book (nor that I ever could), but I hope you will give what I have written there consideration. If I could provide a short answer that itself is unfolded at length in the book, it would be that we as a church come to the truth as we submit to the Lord Jesus Christ who reveals Himself in His perfect and orderly Scripture as illumined by the Holy Spirit.<br /><br />In Christ,<br />MalcolmMalcolm Yarnellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05527418213499559637noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23905894.post-7679597852153290202010-09-20T13:31:01.054-05:002010-09-20T13:31:01.054-05:00Dr. Yarnell,
Thanks for this quote...it is defini...Dr. Yarnell,<br /><br />Thanks for this quote...it is definitely thought provoking. <br /><br />I think what would be helpful for students of theology, like myself, would be specific contemporary positive and negative examples of what Irenaeus is getting at. <br /><br />What I have trouble with is determining, especially among orthodox traditions, what imposing a system upon the text looks like...how is a system is imposed and what measures to we take to ensure that a system is not imposed and ensure we have not presupposed things upon the text. There seems to be an assumption that there is a certain kind of theological method that brings no presuppositions with it. <br /><br />Or positively, how do we allow the "order" and "proper connection" of Scripture to allow itself to speak. I have been among a number of traditions and each always says they begin with Scripture itself as the authority while others do not. Each claims that the other is imposing ideas upon the text. <br /><br />This is where distinction needs to be made. Even in pure exegesis there are presuppositions regarding language and meaning that are not necessarily explicit from the text of Scripture itself but are deduced implicitly.<br /><br />So, while I can appreciate the statement and definitely believe it to be true, the question I have wrestled with for some time is how to do theology without imposing thought outside of the text upon it, or how do we do theology aware of and in recognition of our presuppositions that drive our theology removing the assumption of pure objectivity.<br /><br />Regards,<br /><br />QuincyQuincy A. Joneshttp://www.strengthenedbygraceministries.orgnoreply@blogger.com