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Andrews University Digital Commons @ Andrews University Dissertations Graduate Research 1997 A Critical Study of Carl F. H. Henry's Portrayal of the Human Role in Revelation and Inspiration Boxter Kharbteng Andrews University Follow this and additional works at: http://digitalcommons.andrews.edu/dissertations Part of the Religious Thought, Theology and Philosophy of Religion Commons Recommended Citation Kharbteng, Boxter, "A Critical Study of Carl F. H. Henry's Portrayal of the Human Role in Revelation and Inspiration" (1997). Dissertations. 74. http://digitalcommons.andrews.edu/dissertations/74 This Dissertation is brought to you for free and open access by the Graduate Research at Digital Commons @ Andrews University. It has been accepted for inclusion in Dissertations by an authorized administrator of Digital Commons @ Andrews University. For more information, please contact [email protected]. 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Further reproduction prohibited without permission. Andrews University Seventh-day Adventist Theological Seminary A CRITICAL STUDY OF CARL F. H. HENRY'S PORTRAYAL OF THE HUMAN ROLE IN REVELATION AND INSPIRATION A Dissertation Presented in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree Doctor of Philosophy by Boxter Kharbteng January 1997 Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. UMI Number: 9733897 Copyright 1997 by Kharbteng, Boxter All rights reserved. UMI Microform 9733897 Copyright 1997, by UMI Company. All rights reserved. This microform edition is protected against unauthorized copying under Title 17, United States Code. UMI 300 North Zeeb Road Ann Arbor, MI 48103 Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. ©Copyright by Boxter Kharbteng 1997 All Rights Reserved Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. A CRITICAL STUDY OF CARL F. H. HENRY’S PORTRAYAL OF THE HUMAN ROLE IN REVELATION AND INSPIRATION A dissertation presented in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree Doctor of Philosophy by Boxter Kharbteng APPROVAL B Y THE COMMITTEE: Faculty Adviser, D/fector, Ph.D./ThJJ. Program Miroslav M. Randall W. Yoi Professor of Fernando L. Canale Deaj^DATheological Seminary” Professor of Theology Wemer K. Vyhmeister Richard M. Davidson J.N. Andrews Professor o f Old Testament Interpretation Jerty/Moon Assistant Professor of Church History a7, \ e\ cW Steven Bauma-Prediger Date approvedl Associate Professor of Religion Hope College Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. ABSTRACT A CRITICAL STUDY OF CARL F. H. HENRY’S PORTRAYAL OF THE HUMAN ROLE IN REVELATION AND INSPIRATION by Boxter Kharbteng Adviser: Miroslav M. Kis Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. ABSTRACT OF GRADUATE STUDENT RESEARCH Dissertation Andrews University Seventh-day Adventist Theological Seminary Title: A CRITICAL STUDY OF CARL F. H. HENRY’S PORTRAYAL OF THE HUMAN ROLE IN REVELATION AND INSPIRATION Name of researcher: Boxter Kharbteng Name and degree of faculty adviser: Miroslav M. Kis, Ph.D. Date completed: January 1997 This dissertation investigated Carl F. H. Henry’s portrayal of the human role in his doctrines of revelation and inspiration. The study queried whether his depiction of that role in revelation is harmonious or consistent with the one given in inspiration. This question arises from a consideration of Henry’s own formulation of his doctrines of revelation, inspiration, and man. The thesis of this dissertation is that inasmuch as man has the innate ability to receive, understand, and impart revelation without divine help, he should likewise be expected to exercise that ability at the level of inspiration without detailed or comprehensive superintendence of the Holy Spirit. In the course of the investigation it was observed that man, during revelation, actively and independently uses his will, conscience, linguistic capacity, reasoning powers, memory, and verbal skills to receive, elucidate, or articulate revelation. Its nature is so adjusted to man that he does not need supernatural help to understand and communicate it. Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. In fact his reasoning faculties can even discriminate between revelation and pseudo revelation. When it comes to inspiration, however, man is portrayed as one lacking the natural capacity to carry out the task, namely that of inscripturating revelation. This incompetency is brought about by his inherent sinfulness. To solve the predicament, God had to subject man to a long period of comprehensive training. That preparation, however, does not qualify him to execute independently his role in inspiration. Thus, the man that is depicted as active, independent, and naturally competent and ready for revelation is now portrayed at the level of inspiration as one who is naturally incompetent, unready, passive, and totally dependent upon supernatural help. This is despite the fact that man inerrantly receives, understands, remembers, and has the linguistic capacity to articulate revelation. In fact, he had to be given the mind of the Holy Spirit, and even guided in the choice of words. That is, Henry does not allow the competent operation of the writer’s natural faculties in inspiration as he does in revelation. And neither does he admit the weaknesses and limitations of man as depicted in inspiration to have a bearing upon his reception and conveyance of revelation. In view of his insistence upon revelation’s lucidity, its propositional form, man’s linguistic capacity, the content identity between revelation and inspiration, as well as the identicalness of the human agent in the two events, Henry’s divergent portrayal of human role within these phenomena betrays inconsistency. The study concluded by first pointing to Scripture’s depiction of the human role in revelation and inspiration as being broader than that given by Henry. From that perspective, some suggestions were then recommended which hope to supply a degree of consistency in his portrayal of the human role in revelation and inspiration. Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. To My dear mother, Noristina, whose life stands as a tall monument of persevering prayer, love, caring generosity, and family unity. I learned more about the Christian life by observing yours. My daughter, Evonne, from whose lips I first heard the tingling word, “Daddy." You challenge me with the task of being a wise father to a teenager, struggling to find his/her place in the sun. My other daughter, Lavonne, who genetically demonstrated to me the idea of “looking like father." You taught me the art of vibrant living by learning how to Iaugh-and often, to tears- at things that you see or hear as funny. And my wife, Jennie, who powerfully convinced me of the truthfulness of the Genesis pronouncement: “It is not good for man" to live alone. You are my best friend and greatest ally, and my ready solution to computer problems that mysteriously but promptly showed up whenever I used it in writing and crafting this dissertation. Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. TABLE OF CONTENTS Chapter 1. INTRODUCTION ...................................................................................................... 1 Theories of Revelation........................................................................................

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