The Concept of Lordship in the Theology of John M. Frame
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The Concept of Lordship in the Theology of John M. Frame J. J. Barber 25257730 B.F.A., M.A.R., M.Div., Ph.D. Thesis submitted in fulfillment of the requirements for the degree Doctor of Philosophy in Theology at the Potchefstroom Campus of the North-West University Supervisor: Prof. Henk Stoker Co-supervisor: Prof. Sarel van der Walt July, 2014 Acknowledgement Without the input and contributions of several important people, this project would not have reached completion. First, I wish to thank my wife, Bonnie, for encouraging the idea for a monograph that would present Frame’s practical theology to an expanded audience. During times when contemplation of surrendering the work to other priorities, my wife was a strong encouragement to continue. Second, the input by Dr. E. A. de Boer of the Theological University, Gereformeerde Kerken, into the earliest versions of the research sharpened both the writing and the evolvement of the thesis in it conceptual framework. He pushed me to produce a well-argued and theologically consistent document. Third, Drs. Henk Stoker and Sarel van der Walt have kept my central research question focused when it was found to be wandering down “rabbit trails.” More than all, Dr. Stoker’s kindness to allow me to bring my research over to North West University from the Free University of Amsterdam is most appreciated. Forth, I wish to extend great appreciation to for my friend and mentor of many years, Dr. John M. Frame who taught me the gist of Presuppositionalism when I was but a young seminarian at Westminster Theological Seminary. His availability for interviews, which have added content to my research, not found anywhere in his writings, has proved invaluable. Most of all, I express deepest thanks to my Lord who quickened my heart and called me to the ministry. His guiding hand is clearly evident in the maturity of this work. Sola Deo Gloria! i Abstract American philosopher and theologian, John M. Frame (1939—) is respected as one of the most outstanding systematic theologians in our day. Likely due to the fact that he is still living, academic scholarship on Frame is virtually non-existent. Still, his writings demand engagement especially in the light of his distinctive Lordship theology, and its unique core idea: perspectivalism, also known as the lordship principle. The aim of this present research is thus to define precisely what “lordship” means to Frame. Deciphering this meaning requires more than explication, but also interrogative interaction. The research will thus begin with a biblical-theological evaluation of the Framian idea of lordship in dialogue with the eminent, Dutch theologian, Abraham van de Beek. It then moves to an evaluation of how perspectivalism affects Frame’s views on ethics, apologetics, and theology of culture. The research in these areas will scrutinize Frame’s corpus as well as examine his views in colloquia with thinkers with shared interests. Because these disciplines are linked in Frame with other areas of his thought, the data also include explications and appraisals of his work in ontology and epistemology. Frame’s lordship principle is linked with a particular methodology. He sums the whole of God and his involvement with his creation according to three perspectives (hence perspectivalism). Those are God’s control, authority and presence. Frame sums the human response to these perspectives according to three related ideas: the existential, normative, and existential. God’s perspectival interaction with his creation, and the human response, by both Christian and non- Christian alike, leads Frame to original outcomes in dogmatics, which are explored in this work. The finding of this research demonstrates a theological approach that bridges both essential and constructive interests. That is to say that, on the one hand, Frame’s method is guided solely by the voice of Scripture while, on the other hand, his lordship principle presents historic Reformed theology afresh in ways previously undiscovered. Frame’s original approach may well set the ii stage for an awakening of Reformed thought. It is hoped that this seminal work will spark such a revival in theology. Key Words: Lordship, Perspectivalism, Presuppositional, Control, Authority, Presence, Normative, Situational, Existential. iii Table of Contents Acknowledgment I Preface ii Abstract iv List of Figures viii Abbreviations ix 1.0 Introduction 1 2.0 The Significance of Lordship in Frame’s Theology 4 2.1 The Priority of Lordship 2.2 The Lord of the Covenant 2.3 Perspectivalism 2.4 The Practicable Nature of Theology 2.5 Frame the “Radical” 2.6 The Important Link to Bavinck 2.7 Divine Lordship in Relationship to Ethics, Apologetics, and Culture 2.7.1 Relationship pf Lordship and Ethics 2.7.2 Relationship of Lordship and Presuppositional Apologetics 2.7.3 Relationship of Lordship and Culture 2.8 Significance of Lordship Theology as a Whole 3.0 Lordship Theology: A Study in Contrasts 27 3.1 General Observations 3.2 Theology From Below 3.3 Theology From Above 3.3.1 Scripture’s Role in the Debate 3.4 The Person of Jesus Christ 3.4.1 Chalcedon 3.4.2 Elucidating Christ’s Divinity 3.4.3 The Creator/creature Distinction iv 3.5 Redemption 3.5.1 The Substitutionary Atonement 3.5.2 The “Satisfaction” Theory in Historical Theology 3.5.3 The Universal Implications of Jesus 3.5.4 The Question of the “Dominion” of Sin 3.5.5 The Resurrection 3.5.6 Hell and Judgment 3.6 Suffering and History 3.6.1 The Problem of Evil 3.6.1.1 Change in God 3.6.1.2 The Perspectival Answer 3.7 The Specter of Open Theism 3.7.1 Comparison with Clark Pinnock 3.7.2 Frame on God’s Will(s) 3.7.3 Frame on God Changing 3.8 The Coming Pages 4.0 Lordship and Ethics 77 4.1 Frame’s Distinctive Voice in Ethics 4.2 The Square of Opposition 4.2 1 Exemplifications of the Square 4.3 Multiperspectivalism and Christian Ethical Methodology 4.3.1 Continuity and Discontinuity between Frame and Secular Ethicists 4.4 John M. Frame and Richard B. Hays on Ethical Methodology 4.5 A Possible Shortfall in the Lordship Principle 4.6 The Ten Commandment 4.6.1 Absoluteness plus Content 4.6.1.1 Personal Annotations 4.6.1.2 Work and the Genesis Mandate 4.6.2 Objectivity plus Inwardness 4.6.2.1 A Practical Instance 4.6.2.2 Genetic Manipulation: a Slippery Slope 4.6.3 Freedom plus Authority 4.6.3.1 A Modern Moral Issue 4.6.3.2 The Larger Problem v 4.6.3.3 The Answer According to the Lordship Principle 5.0 Lordship and Presuppositional Apologetics 125 5.1 Prolegomena 5.2 Frame’s Important Contribution 5.3 The Triperspectival Emphasis 5.4 Fear of the Lord and the Transcendental Argument 5.4.1 Frame and Can Til on TAG 5.4.2 Frame and Francis Schaeffer 5.4.3 Frame and Greg L. Bahnsen 5.5. Frame’s Problem with “Reductio” 5.6 The Parable of the Fish 5.7 The Fall of Man and Self-Deception 5.7.1 Presuppositions 5.7.2 Barth on Romans 1 5.7.3 McGrath on Romans 1 5.7.4 The Difficult nature of the Problem 5.7.5 Frame’s Covenantal View of Romans 1 5.8 Frame and Ligonier 5.8.1 Frame’s Distinctive Standpoint 5.9 Univocal or Analogical Knowledge? 5.9.1 Toward a Resolution 5.10 The Apologetic Encounter 5.10.1 Natural and Special Revelation 5. 11 Apologetics as Proof 5.12 Apologetics as Defense 5.13 Apologetics as Offense 5.14 Reflections on the Decline of Apologetics 6.0 Lordship and Culture 174 6.1 One Kingdom Starting Point 6.2 Systematics 6.3 Symbiotic Relations 6.4 Biblical Theology 6.5 Applications for a Contemporary Context vi 6.5.1 Culture and Values 6.5.2 Evaluating Culture 6.5.3 Norm and Freedom in Culture 6.5.3.1 Art 6.5.3.2 Medical Ethics 6.6 Polemics on R1K vs. R2K 6.6.1 Law and Gospel 6.6.2 Natural Law and the Bible 6.6.3 The Dutch Philosophy of Law Idea 6.7 Luther’s Two Kingdom Worldview 6.8 Toward a Resolution 6.8.1 R1K vs. R2K 6.8.2 Methodology 6.9 Realistic Expectations in the Culture-War 7.0 Conclusion 224 7.1 To Summarize 7.2 Supporting Evidence 7.2.1 Frame and Van de Beek 7.2.2 Ethics 7.2.3 Apologetics 7.2.4 Culture 7.3 Theology is Application 7.4 The Prospect for Perspectivalism vii List of Figures 1. Fig. 1. The Square of Opposition: Transcendence and Immanence 2. Fig. 2. The Square of Opposition: Irrationalism and Rationalism 3. Fig. 3 The Ten Commandments as Perspectives on the Whole Law viii Abbreviations In the footnotes, I will refer to John Frame’s titles by abbreviation, as he does himself and is commonly done by his publisher, Presbyterian and Reformed Publishing Company. ACT The Academic Captivity of Theology AGG Apologetics to the Glory of God CVT Cornelius Van Til: An Analysis of His Thought DCL The Doctrine of the Christian Life DG The Doctrine of God DKG The Doctrine of the Knowledge of God DWG The Doctrine of the Word of God NOG No Other God: A Response to Open Theism ST Systematic Theology TET The Escondido Theology Additional abbreviations: LW Luther’s Works, American Edition WA The Weimar edition of Luther's Works, also known as the Weimarer Ausgabe (WA) ix 1.0 Introduction 1.1 Background My interest in the theologian is due to the fact that he is considered to be one of the most outstanding, living American systematic theologians of our time (Packer, 2010, xvii).