American Theological Inquiry a Biannual Journal
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
AMERICAN THEOLOGICAL INQUIRY A BIANNUAL JOURNAL OF Theology, Culture & History Apostolorum, Nicæno, Quicunque, Chalcedonense Volume 1, No. 1. ST. PAUL, MINNESOTA 2008. American Theological Inquiry AMERICAN THEOLOGICAL INQUIRY A Biannual Journal of Theology, Culture & History ISSN: [Pending] ISBN: 978-1-55635-783-1 General Editor Gannon Murphy, PhD 1280 Grand Avenue, Ste. 304 St. Paul, Minnesota 55105 [email protected] Associate Editor Stephen Patrick, PhD 1280 Grand Avenue, Ste. 304 St. Paul, Minnesota 55105 [email protected] PURPOSE STATEMENT To provide an inter-tradition forum for scholars who affirm the historic Ecumenical Creeds of Christendom (Apostles’, Athanasian, Nicæno-Constantinopolitan, and Chalcedonian) to constructively communicate contemporary theologies, developments, ideas, commentaries, insights, and affirmations pertaining to theology, culture, and history, toward reforming and elevating American Christianity. ATI seeks a critical function as much or more so as a quasi- ecumenical one. The purpose is not, per se, to erase or weaken the distinctions or distinctives of the various ecclesial traditions, but to widen the dialogue and increase inter- tradition understanding while mutually affirming Christ’s power to transform culture and the importance of strengthening American Christianity with special reference to Her historic roots. ABOUT American Theological Inquiry (ATI) was formed in 2007 by Drs. S. Gannon Murphy (PhD, St. David’s College, Univ. Wales, Theology; Presbyterian/Reformed) and Stephen Patrick (PhD, Univ. Illinois, Philosophy; Eastern Orthodox) to open up space for diverse Christian academicians, who affirm the Ecumenical Creeds, to share research throughout the broader Christian scholarly community in America. ATI reaches thousands of Christian scholars throughout the United States, particularly specialists in theology. Though ATI is a new journal, scholars who publish with ATI benefit from exposure to a vast, non-insular network of one of the broadest Christian academic communities possible. - ii - Distribution. ATI is distributed to over 4200 Christian scholars, primarily in the U.S. It is distributed via email to subscribers free of charge in a PDF format, or, for purchase in a print and bound edition through Wipf and Stock Publishers. To order a print copy of ATI, contact Wipf and Stock through one of the following means: Online: www.wipfandstock.com Email: [email protected] Fax: 541-344-1506 Phone: 541-344-1528 Subscriptions, cancellations, and changes of address. To be added, removed, or to make a change to your email address, send a request to [email protected]. Each issue of ATI is also available through www.atijournal.org. Manuscript submissions and communications should be addressed to the Editor. Emailed submissions are acceptable. ATI is open to diverse submissions concerning theology, church, philosophy, culture, and history from the perspective of historic Creedal Christianity. Particular topics of interest, however, generally include: • Orthodox, Catholic, Protestant, Reformed, or Evangelical perspectives on the current state of American Christianity. • Theological, philosophical, ecclesial trends in the Western world. • Cultural/philosophical apologetics. • Ecumenism and/or criticism of other traditions [ostensively] within the scope of ancient orthodoxy (Creedal Christianity). • Systematic theology. • Perspectives on history/historical events from an orthodox viewpoint. • Engaging contemporary culture with the gospel. • Engagement with the Patristical literature. Book reviews should be sent to: Peter Burton, MDiv Editor, Book Reviews 1280 Grand Avenue, Ste. 304 St. Paul, Minnesota 55105 [email protected] ALL submissions MUST conform to the following standards: 1. The writer affirms the tenets of the historic Ecumenical Creeds of Christendom, (Apostles’, Athanasian, Nicæno-Constantinopolitan, and Chalcedonian). The ONLY exceptions to these required affirmations are the filioque clauses in the Nicene and Athanasian Creeds. 2. The submitted material, both MSS and book reviews, must pertain to theology, philosophy, culture, or history from a historic (creedal) Christian viewpoint. - iii - 3. The writer holds a doctorate, is a doctoral student, or is a distinguished member of the clergy. 4. The work has not been submitted elsewhere, or, permissory documentation is provided by the previous publisher indicating approval for publication in ATI. 5. Submit MSS or book reviews in a Microsoft Word or RTF format. Please include your full name, title and/or affiliation, and a brief (i.e., one sentence) statement affirming the tenets of the four Ecumenical Creeds as outlined in Item 1 above. Volume 1, No. 1., January 15, 2008 Copyright © American Theological Inquiry, All Rights Reserved St. Paul, Minnesota - iv - AMERICAN THEOLOGICAL INQUIRY January 15, 2008 Volume 1, No. 1 CONTENTS FROM THE EDITOR 1 Patristic Reading: “Exposition of the Present State of the Churches” 3 St. Basil ARTICLES Why Ask The Fathers? The Dynamics of a Living Tradition 6 Thomas Weinandy, O.F.M. Cap Panentheism, the Other ‘God of the Philosophers’ 11 John W. Cooper The Openness of God and the Historical Jesus 25 Samuel Lamerson Same As It Ever Was: The Future of Protestantism in the Global North 38 D. G. Hart A Case of Mistaken Identity: The Harlot and the Church (1 Corinthians 5-6) 54 Tom Holland A Recent History of the Ordinary Universal Magisterium 68 Raymond W. Belair Praxis Theologies and the Project Welcome Sudanese Refugee Community 78 Joan Mueller, OSC BOOK REVIEWS Schniedewind, William M., How the Bible Became a Book 94 Stephen G. Dempster - v - Roberts, Mark D., Can We Trust the Gospels? Investigating the Reliability of Matthew, Mark, 96 Luke, and John Sam Storms Keillor, Steven, God’s Judgments: Interpreting History and the Christian Faith 99 Bill Muehlenberg Kerr, Fergus, Twentieth-Century Catholic Theologians: From Neoscholasticism to Nuptial 101 Mysticism Lindsay, Mark R., Barth, Israel, and Jesus: Karl Barth’s Theology of Israel 102 Helm, Paul, John Calvin’s Ideas 104 Benjamin Myers THE ECUMENICAL CREEDS 107 - vi - American Theological Inquiry FROM THE EDITOR1 I am very pleased to introduce to you, the reader, this first issue of American Theological Inquiry (ATI). When plans for ATI were first hatched in late 2006, the incipient aim was, and remains, to provide an inter-tradition forum for scholars who affirm the historic Ecumenical Creeds to constructively communicate contemporary theologies, developments, ideas, commentaries, and insights pertaining to theology, culture, and history, toward reforming and elevating American Christianity. I am delighted by the favorable response we have received from the Christian scholarly community toward making this aim a—now present—reality. The lineup of articles in this current volume reflect some of the finest Christian thinking from leading lights in Christian scholarship, spanning multiple traditions. Following a patristical reading (which we intend to make a staple part of each issue of ATI), we begin with Thomas Weinandy’s wonderful essay, “Why Ask The Fathers? The Dynamics of a Living Tradition.” Dr. Weinandy is currently Executive Director of the Secretariat for Doctrine and Pastoral Practices of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB). The essay is the print version of a recent address he delivered to the USCCB. I am confident you will find, as we have, what a fine piece it is concerning the richness of the early church Fathers, and the inestimable benefit they still impart on thoughtful Christians if only we avail ourselves of this vital inheritance. Next, we move to Reformed scholar, John Cooper’s, excellent piece concerning panentheism. Cooper’s recent book concerning this oft-overlooked philosophical substrata, and the manner in which it appears to have crept into numerous theologies, is easily the best work on the topic to date. Indeed, it is probably the only scholarly text devoted to panentheism and its impact on Christian systematics. I trust that ATI’s readers will be as interested and as stimulated as we were after reading Cooper’s piece. Evangelical scholar, Sam Lamerson, then offers us an article concerning the “openness of God” (aka “open theism”) movement, with a critique of the movement in the context of historical-Jesus research. Having done extensive work myself concerning open theism, I was delighted to receive this article and its calculated approach in addressing this movement which has increasingly spread its tentacles in both American and British churches. Well known Reformed scholar, D. G. Hart, next offers us an analysis of Protestant ecclesiology and praxis (especially along liturgical and/or aliturgical lines). In keeping with most of what I have seen by Dr. Hart, the article is both insightful, demanding, and often humorous. ATI’s Protestant readers are likely to be challenged by this piece, while our Catholic and Orthodox readers will appreciate an insider’s view into some of the history and dynamics that have been affecting Protestant worship in America for many decades. Tom Holland of the Wales Evangelical School of Theology then offers us a timely exegesis of 1 Corinthians 5-6. I came to know Dr. Holland while doing research in Wales 1 Gannon Murphy, PhD, is General Editor of American Theological Inquiry and author of Voices of Reason in Christian History: The Great Apologists; Consuming Glory A Classical Defense of Divine-Human Relationality Against Open Theism; and