Systematic Theology (Volume 1 of 3)Strong, Augustus Hopkins
Religion
Systematic Theology (Volume 1 of 3)
Strong, Augustus Hopkins
Baptists -- Doctrines; Theology, Doctrinal
Balfour, Foundations of Belief, 332-337, holds that there is no
such thing as unassisted reason, and that, even if there were,
natural religion is not one of its products. Behind all evolution
of our own reason, he says, stands the Supreme Reason.
“Conscience, ethical ideals, capacity for admiration, sympathy,
repentance, righteous indignation, as well as our delight in
beauty and truth, are all derived from God.” Kaftan, in Am. Jour.
Theology, 1900; 718, 719, maintains that there is no other
principle for dogmatics than Holy Scripture. Yet he holds that
knowledge never comes directly from Scripture, but from faith. The
order is not: Scripture, doctrine, faith; but rather, Scripture,
faith, doctrine. Scripture is no more a direct authority than is
the church. Revelation is addressed to the whole man, that is, to
the _will_ of the man, and it claims _obedience_ from him. Since
all Christian knowledge is mediated through faith, it rests on
obedience to the authority of revelation, and revelation is
self-manifestation on the part of God. Kaftan should have
recognized more fully that not simply Scripture, but all knowable
truth, is a revelation from God, and that Christ is “the light
which lighteth every man”_ (John 1:9)_. Revelation is an organic
whole, which begins in nature, but finds its climax and key in the
historical Christ whom Scripture presents to us. See H. C.
Minton’s review of Martineau’s Seat of Authority, in Presb. and
Ref. Rev., Apr. 1900:203 _sq._
1. Scripture and Nature.
By nature we here mean not only physical facts, or facts with regard to
the substances, properties, forces, and laws of the material world, but
also spiritual facts, or facts with regard to the intellectual and moral
constitution of man, and the orderly arrangement of human society and
history.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account