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VU Research Portal VU Research Portal You Know It Completely Chiew, S.S. 2015 document version Publisher's PDF, also known as Version of record Link to publication in VU Research Portal citation for published version (APA) Chiew, S. S. (2015). You Know It Completely: The Concept of Middle Knowledge and Biblical Interpretation in Luis de Molina, Herman Bavinck, and William Lane Craig. 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Oct. 2021 “You Know It Completely” The Concept of Middle Knowledge and Biblical Interpretation in Luis de Molina, Herman Bavinck, and William Lane Craig Sze Sze Chiew i ii VRIJE UNIVERSITEIT “You Know It Completely” The Concept of Middle Knowledge and Biblical Interpretation in Luis de Molina, Herman Bavinck, and William Lane Craig ACADEMISCH PROEFSCHRIFT ter verkrijging van de graad Doctor aan de Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, op gezag van de rector magnificus prof.dr. F.A. van der Duyn Schouten, in het openbaar te verdedigen ten overstaan van de promotiecommissie van de Faculteit der Godgeleerdheid op dinsdag 30 juni 2015 om 11.45 uur in het auditorium van de universiteit, De Boelelaan 1105 door Sze Sze Chiew geboren te Kuala Lumpur, Maleisië iii promotoren: prof.dr. C. van der Kooi prof.dr. G. van den Brink iv Table of Contents Acknowledgements ix Chapter 1 Introduction 1.1 Foreknowledge and Freedom: Some Initial Observations 1 1.1.1 Theoretical and Practical Issues 1 1.1.2 A Preliminary Contour of What Follows 3 1.2 The Analytical Discussion: A State of the Question 3 1.2.1 Outlining the Problem 3 1.2.2 The Boethian, Ockhamist, Open Theist, and Molinist Solutions 6 1.2.3 Some Concluding Remarks on the Solutions 8 1.3 An Intriguing Solution: The Theory of Middle Knowledge 9 1.4 Approaching the Problem: Re-contextualizing the Issue in Its Biblical 11 Context 1.4.1 Outlining the Inquiry 11 1.4.2 Methodological Considerations 13 1.5 An Overview: Content of Chapters 14 Chapter 2 Middle Knowledge in the 16th-17th Centuries: Luis de Molina 2.1 Introduction 16 2.1.1 Molina’s Role in the Debate 16 2.1.2 An Outline of What Follows 16 2.2 Scientia Media 17 2.2.1 Dispute between the Jesuits and Dominicans 17 2.2.2 Divine Knowledge: Natural, Middle, and Free 20 2.2.3 Objections Raised in the 16th-17th Centuries 24 2.3 Scriptural Grounds of Molina’s Views 25 2.3.1 Scriptural Ground of Molina’s Views of Divine Foreknowledge? 25 a. Psalm 139:3-5 26 b. Isaiah 41:23 and 48:5 28 c. Hebrews 4:13 29 d. John 14:29 31 2.3.2 Scriptural Grounds of Molina’s Knowledge of Counterfactuals? 33 a. 1 Samuel 23:6-13 33 b. Matthew 11:20-24 35 2.4 Evaluation 37 2.4.1 Theological and Hermeneutical Issues in Molina’s Views 37 2.4.2 The Role of the Bible and its Relation with Molina’s Views 38 2.5 Conclusion 39 v Chapter 3 Middle Knowledge and Reformed Theology: Herman Bavinck 3.1 Introduction 40 3.1.1 Bavinck’s Role in this Study 40 3.1.2 An Outline of What Follows 41 3.2 The Reformed Doctrine of Scientia Dei 41 3.2.1 The Principia of the Reformed Orthodox 41 3.2.2 The Problem of Scientia Media 42 3.3 Bavinck’s Organic Motif in Scripture and Theology 45 3.3.1 The Organic Nature of Scripture 46 3.3.2 The Organic Relationship between Scripture and Theology 49 3.4 Bavinck’s Discussion of Divine Foreknowledge 51 3.4.1 Divine Knowing: Its Manner, Objects, and Degree 51 3.4.2 Bavinck’s Criticism of Middle Knowledge 53 3.5 Evaluation 55 3.5.1 Molinism and Reformed Orthodoxy: Scientia Dei and Sola Scriptura 56 3.5.2 Bavinck and Reformed Orthodoxy: Similarities and Differences 57 3.5.3 Bavinck’s Method of Theology: The Role of the Bible 59 3.6 Conclusion 60 Chapter 4 Middle Knowledge in Recent Studies: William Lane Craig 4.1 Introduction 61 4.1.1 Craig’s Role in the Debate 61 4.1.2 An Outline of What Follows 61 4.2 Craig’s Views of Foreknowledge and Freedom 62 4.2.1 The Logical Order of Foreknowledge and Freedom 62 4.2.2 The Logical Possibility of Foreknowledge 64 4.3 Craig’s Theory of Middle Knowledge 66 4.3.1 Three Logical Moments of God’s Knowledge 66 4.3.2 Difference from Classical Defense 68 4.4. A Survey of Recent Objections against Middle Knowledge 69 4.4.1 Objections of Theoretical Issues 69 4.4.2 Objections of Practical Issues 71 4.4.3 Objections Comprising a Mixture of Theoretical and Practical Issues 72 4.5 The Role of the Bible in Craig’s Discussions 73 4.5.1 Biblical Evidences of God’s Comprehensive Knowledge 73 4.5.2 Biblical and Theological Evidence of Middle Knowledge 75 a. Scriptural Indications 75 b. Theological Ramifications 76 4.6 Evaluation 77 4.6.1 Biblical Grounds of Evaluation 77 a. 1 Samuel 23:6-13 and Matthew 11:20-24 77 vi b. “Repenting Texts” 79 4.6.2 Theological Ground of Evaluation 80 a. Divine Prescience 80 b. Divine Existence 81 c. Providence and the Problem of Evil 84 d. Predestination and Freedom 85 4.6.3 Philosophical Ground of Evaluation 86 4.7 Conclusion 87 Chapter 5 The Canonical Approach of Brevard Childs and The Hermeneutical Approach of Anthony Thiselton 5.1 Introduction 89 5.1.1 The Role of Childs and Thiselton in this Study 89 5.1.2 An Outline of What Follows 90 5.2 A Description of Childs’ Canonical Approach 91 5.2.1 Two Key Assumptions of Childs’ Canonical Approach 91 5.2.2 Six Features of Childs’ Exegesis 93 a. The Authority of Scripture 94 b. The Literal and Spiritual Senses of Scripture 95 c. The Two Testaments of Scripture 96 d. Divine and Human Authorship of Scripture 97 e. The Christological Content of Scripture 97 f. The Dialectical Understanding of the History of Scripture 98 5.2.3 Childs’ Application of Canonical Interpretation of the Bible 98 a. First Avenue: Discerning the Plain Sense of the Text 98 b. Second Avenue: An Intertextual Dialogue between the Two Voices 99 c. Third Avenue: Discerning a True Witness to the Living God 99 5.2.4 Concluding Observations: Canon, Community, and Theological 100 Continuity 5.3 A Description of Thiselton’s Approach 102 5.3.1 Hermeneutical Currencies 103 a. The Meaning and Scope of Hermeneutics 103 b. Philosophy and Hermeneutics 104 5.3.2 Biblical Interpretation as the Fusion of Two Horizons 105 a. “Engaging” and “Enlarging” Horizons 105 b. Multidisciplinary and Interdisciplinary Practices 106 5.3.3 Concluding Observations: Hermeneutics, Philosophy, and Doctrine 108 5.4 Conclusion 110 Chapter 6 A Possible Theological Appropriation of the Bible 6.1 Introduction 112 6.1.1 Where Do We Stand Now? 112 vii 6.1.2 An Outline of What Follows 113 6.2 A Possible Theological Appropriation of the Bible 113 6.2.1 The Beginning and Ending of the Knowledge of God: The Bible 113 6.2.2 Encountering the Living God: The Lordship of the Triune God 114 6.2.3 Working towards a Coherent Biblical Vision of God: Creedal Context 116 6.2.4 Relating Scripture and Theology: The Larger Context of Bible and Its 117 Method 6.2.5 Responding with Obedience: Faith Seeking Understanding 118 6.3 An Overall Evaluation of Molina, Bavinck, and Craig 119 6.3.1 The Theological Scope of Scriptural Texts 120 a. Psalm 139:3-5 120 b. Isaiah 41:23 and 48:5 121 c. Hebrews 4:13 123 d. John 14:29 123 e. 1 Samuel 23:6-13 and Matthew 11:20-24 124 6.3.2 The Scriptural Ground of Evaluation 124 6.3.3 The Usage and Role of the Bible 126 6.4 Implications for the Contemporary Debates on Middle Knowledge 127 6.5 Final Conclusion 129 Summary 130 Bibliography 134 viii Acknowledgements I am indebted to a number of people for their invaluable support and assistance throughout the journey of pursuing my doctoral studies. I am sincerely grateful to my supervisors, Prof. dr. C. van der Kooi and Prof. dr. G. van den Brink, for their scholarly expertise, guidance, and encouragement. I am grateful for the financial support received from the Chinese Churches Association of the Christian & Missionary Alliance (C&MA), USA, which enabled me and my husband to live in the Netherlands during the final two years of our doctoral studies. I am similarly grateful to Malaysia Bible Seminary, for granting me the study leaves that enabled me to concentrate on my research and writing.
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