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Evangelism and Social Concern in the Theology of Carl F. H. Henry

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Evangelism and Social Concern in the Theology of Carl F. H. Henry View metadata, citation and similar papers at core.ac.uk brought to you by CORE provided by Liberty University Digital Commons Liberty Baptist Theological Seminary EVANGELISM AND SOCIAL CONCERN IN THE THEOLOGY OF CARL F. H. HENRY A Dissertation Submitted to the Faculty of Liberty Baptist Theological Seminary In Partial Fulfillment Of the Requirements for the Degree Of Doctor of Philosophy By Jerry M. Ireland July 27, 2014 Copyright 2014 Jerry M. Ireland All Rights Reserved ii To Paula and Charis, through whom I experience the love of God in the most profound ways. iv TABLE OF CONTENTS ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS ............................................................................................ X ABSTRACT ...................................................................................................................... XI CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION .................................................................................... 1 INTRODUCTION ................................................................................................................ 1 RESEARCH QUESTION ...................................................................................................... 4 Relevance of This Study ............................................................................................. 7 METHODOLOGY AND CHAPTER SUMMARIES .................................................................. 10 Potential Bias ............................................................................................................ 11 Nature of the Study ................................................................................................... 11 Chapter Summaries ................................................................................................... 12 DEFINITIONS AND KEY TERMS ....................................................................................... 15 WHAT IS AN EVANGELICAL? .......................................................................................... 16 WHAT IS EVANGELISM? ................................................................................................. 19 NT Terms for Evangelism ........................................................................................ 20 The Gospel ................................................................................................................ 20 Conversion/Repentance ............................................................................................ 24 WHAT IS SOCIAL CONCERN? .......................................................................................... 24 Who are the Poor? ..................................................................................................... 27 The Kingdom of God ................................................................................................ 31 Justice, Righteousness, and Peace ............................................................................ 32 THE PRIORITISM-HOLISM DEBATE ................................................................................. 33 A Modern Debate? .................................................................................................... 38 The Revolt Against Prioritism .................................................................................. 40 Conclusion ................................................................................................................ 44 CHAPTER 2: HENRY’S LIFE AND WORK ............................................................. 46 INTRODUCTION .............................................................................................................. 46 HUMBLE BEGINNINGS .................................................................................................... 47 HENRY THE NEWSPAPER MAN ....................................................................................... 48 CONVERSION ................................................................................................................. 50 THE CALL AND PROVISION OF GOD ............................................................................... 52 v WHEATON AND BEYOND ............................................................................................... 54 THE NAE ....................................................................................................................... 57 HENRY THE PROFESSOR ................................................................................................. 58 HENRY AT FULLER ......................................................................................................... 59 HENRY AND THE FOUNDING OF CHRISTIANITY TODAY .................................................. 61 HENRY AND EVANGELISM AND SOCIAL CONCERN ......................................................... 65 Berlin 1966 ................................................................................................................ 66 Key ‘73 ...................................................................................................................... 70 Chicago Declaration .................................................................................................. 72 Lausanne I ................................................................................................................. 74 World Vision ............................................................................................................. 76 CONCLUSION ................................................................................................................. 77 CHAPTER 3: HENRY’S THEOLOGICAL METHOD ............................................. 79 PART I: ALTERNATIVE APPROACHES TO THEOLOGICAL METHOD .................................. 79 Epistemological Dualisms ........................................................................................ 82 Biblical Foundations and Methodological Assumptions .......................................... 83 CONSERVATIVE-PROPOSITIONAL APPROACH ................................................................. 84 POST-CONSERVATIVE APPROACH .................................................................................. 88 History and Development ......................................................................................... 88 Defining Characteristics ............................................................................................ 89 Defining Narrative Theology .................................................................................... 90 Assessment of a Post-conservative Approach .......................................................... 91 Henry’s Assessment of Narrative Theology ............................................................. 92 PART II: CARL HENRY’S THEOLOGICAL METHOD ......................................................... 95 The Foundations of Revelational Epistemology ....................................................... 95 Axioms and Presuppositions ..................................................................................... 96 God Exists: The Ontological Axiom ......................................................................... 99 The Role of Reason ................................................................................................. 100 God Speaks: The Epistemological Axiom .............................................................. 102 Redemptive Religion .............................................................................................. 106 Henry’s Reformed Perspective ............................................................................... 107 The Imago Dei ........................................................................................................ 114 The Mediating Logos .............................................................................................. 115 vi Propositionalism ..................................................................................................... 117 Problematic Approaches to the Knowledge of God ............................................... 121 CONCLUSION ............................................................................................................... 126 CHAPTER 4: HENRY’S THEOLOGY OF EVANGELISM .................................. 130 INTRODUCTION ............................................................................................................ 130 Defining Evangelism .............................................................................................. 133 The Need for Evangelism ....................................................................................... 134 THEOLOGICAL FOUNDATIONS FOR EVANGELISM ......................................................... 134 The Awesome Disclosure of God ........................................................................... 135 A Place in God’s Kingdom ..................................................................................... 139 Not By Good Tidings Alone ................................................................................... 143 The Hidden and Revealed God ............................................................................... 146 Varieties of Divine Revelation ................................................................................ 147 The Image of God and Evangelism ........................................................................ 151 The Names of God .................................................................................................
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