Friday, October 18, 2013

So vain a presumption


Because we live in an age in which theological liberalism has overtaken much of the academy, one frequently reads comments on Scripture in which the commenter disparages not only the authority, but even the education, of Biblical writers. For example, New Testament uses of Old Testament texts are often criticized for failing to properly understand said OT text. 

In John Owen's day, theological liberalism was unknown, but many of its arguments were deployed by those who challenged the place of the Letter to the Hebrews in the Biblical canon. Against them, he wrote,
[I]t may much more rationally be supposed, that though we all know enough of the mind and will of God in the whole Scripture to guide and regulate our faith and obedience, yet that we are rather ignorant of his utmost intention in any place than that we know it in all. There is a depth and breadth in every word of God, because his, which we are not able to fathom and compass to the utmost; it being enough for us that we may infallibly apprehend so much of his mind and will as is indispensably necessary for us to the obedience that he requires at our hands. …That objection, then, must needs be very weak whose fundamental strength consists in so vain a presumption.
(from An Exposition of the Epistle to the Hebrews (first published in 1668), vol. 17 of The Works of John Owen, Banner of Truth Trust 1991 reprint, p. 40; emphases original)

No comments: