Uncovering the Protological Hermeneutics of George Mccready Price and Benjamin Warfield
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Andrews University Digital Commons @ Andrews University Dissertations Graduate Research 2017 Uncovering The Protological Hermeneutics Of George McCready Price And Benjamin Warfield Sergio L. Silva Andrews University, [email protected] Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalcommons.andrews.edu/dissertations Part of the Comparative Methodologies and Theories Commons, and the Religious Thought, Theology and Philosophy of Religion Commons Recommended Citation Silva, Sergio L., "Uncovering The Protological Hermeneutics Of George McCready Price And Benjamin Warfield" (2017). Dissertations. 1638. https://digitalcommons.andrews.edu/dissertations/1638 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]. ABSTRACT UNCOVERING THE PROTOLOGICAL HERMENEUTICS OF GEORGE MCCREADY PRICE AND BENJAMIN WARFIELD by Sergio L. Silva Adviser: Martin F. Hanna ABSTRACT OF GRADUATE STUDENT RESEARCH Dissertation Andrews University Seventh-day Adventist Theological Seminary Title: UNCOVERING THE PROTOLOGICAL HERMENEUTICS OF GEORGE MCCREADY PRICE AND BENJAMIN WARFIELD Name of researcher: Sergio Leandro Silva Name and degree of faculty adviser: Martin Frederick Hanna, Ph.D. Date completed: June 2017 Problem The problem this dissertation addresses is the protological hermeneutical impasse between George McCready Price and Benjamin Warfield over whether biblical protology should be interpreted literally or symbolically in response to the evolutionary theory. Method To identify, compare, and contrast the protological hermeneutics of George McCready Price and Benjamin Warfield, this dissertation adopts an interdisciplinary methodology that seeks to integrate historical theology, systematic theology, and exegetical-biblical theology. Conclusions The protological hermeneutical impasse between George McCready Price and Benjamin Warfield over the interpretation of biblical protology was caused by how they applied their views on epistemology. On the hermeneutical level (where ontology, metaphysics, and epistemology inform interpretation), Price held to the meaning of the biblical text interpreted through Scripture alone, and not based on external sources of protological knowledge. While Warfield held that Scripture is “the end of all strife,” he held to an interpretation of the biblical text contingent on the interpretations of nature by mainstream science. This research indicates many similarities between these two thinkers, bringing to an end a two-decades-long misconception that Warfield’s views on science were superior to Price’s views on science. In fact, they held similar views on science (i.e., its definition, task, etc.). In addition, they both agreed that: God is not timeless and he communicates with humankind through reason; “the heavens and the earth” (i.e., the entire galactic universe) might have been created more than six thousand years ago; Genesis 1:2a is a description of the condition of the earth after the creation of inorganic matter and prior to the beginning of the creation week; the seventh day of the creation week is the foundation of the Sabbath (they disagreed on the actual day of observance––Saturday vs. Sunday); and they both understood the biblical flood in Genesis 6-8 as a historical event. This research also challenged the claim that Price is the founder of modern Scientific Creationism. This idea was popularized by two historians who wanted to link Price to Fundamentalism––a term generally used pejoratively––to delegitimize Price’s contribution to theology and to science, and to uplift Warfield. However, this research showed that neither Price nor Warfield are Fundamentalists. The research also showed that the current categorization of the Creationist Movement in the West is obsolete and needs to be updated. The Old Earth vs. Young Earth can no longer account for the views of proponents of biblical protology. The Undated Earth Creation Movement must be included in a landmark publication. Altogether, these findings can facilitate a renewed dialogue about the relationship between theology and science in the writings of Price and Warfield, their interpretations of biblical protology, the history of the Creationist Movement in the West, and the contributions of their protological hermeneutics to contemporary Christian theology. Andrews University Seventh-day Adventist Theological Seminary UNCOVERING THE PROTOLOGICAL HERMENEUTICS OF GEORGE MCCREADY PRICE AND BENJAMIN WARFIELD A Dissertation Presented in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree Doctor of Philosophy by Sergio L. Silva June 2017 ©Copyright by Sergio Silva 2017 All Rights Reserved UNCOVERING THE PROTOLOGICAL HERMENEUTICS OF GEORGE MCCREADY PRICE AND BENJAMIN WARFIELD A dissertation presented in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree Doctor of Philosophy by Sergio Leandro Silva APPROVAL BY THE COMMITTEE: Faculty Adviser Director of Ph.D./Th.D. Programs Martin Hanna Thomas Shepherd Associate Professor of Theology Richard M. Davidson Dean, SDA Theological Seminary Professor of Old Testament Jiri Moskala John T. Baldwin Professor of Theology Cedric Vine Associate Professor of New Testament Warren Johns, PhD, MS, MLS, MDiv Date approved Theological Librarian (retired) Loma Linda University iii TABLE OF CONTENTS LIST OF TABLES ...................................... vii LIST OF ABREVIATIONS ................................ viii ACKNOWLEDGEMENT ................................... x Chapter 1. INTRODUCTION .................................. 1 Historical Background .............................. 3 Statement of the Problem ............................ 12 Statement of Purpose .............................. 12 Justification .................................... 12 Methodology ................................... 14 Conceptual Framework ............................. 18 Delimitations ................................... 20 2. RELIGIOUS CONDITIONS IN AMERICA FROM THE MID-NINETEENTH TO THE EARLY TWENTIETH-CENTURY ..... 21 Science and Religion Dialogue ......................... 26 Genesis and Geology ............................ 27 Genesis and Biology ............................ 32 The Emergence of American Fundamentalism ................ 36 Defining Fundamentalism ......................... 39 Popular Creationist Movements and Models ................. 51 Old Earth Creation Movement ...................... 51 Gap Creation Model ........................... 52 Active Gap Theory (Creation-Ruin-Restoration) .......... 53 Passive Gap Theory (Absolute Creation + Life on Earth) ..... 55 Theistic Evolution Model ........................ 56 Young Earth Creation Movement ..................... 57 YEC Rejectionist Interpretation (Fundamentalist) ......... 58 YEC Inclusivist Interpretation (Non-fundamentalist) ....... 64 Undated Earth Creation Movement .................... 65 Dynamic Creation Model ........................ 66 Summary ...................................... 70 iv 3. THE PROTOLOGICAL HERMENEUTIC OF GEORGE MCCREADY PRICE (1870–1963) ................................. 74 Biographic Outlook ................................ 75 Early Years .................................. 75 Education ................................... 76 Publications ................................. 81 Theological and Philosophical Influences ................... 85 Scripture ................................... 86 Evolutionary Theory ............................ 95 Uniformitarianism as Premise of Darwinism ........... 103 Gradual Succession as Premise of Darwinism .......... 107 Spontaneous Generation as Premise of Darwinism ....... 113 Fundamentalism .............................. 118 Ellen G. White ............................... 121 Descriptive Analysis of Price’s Understanding on Protology ...... 125 The “beginning” in Genesis 1:1 ..................... 125 The Meaning of tohu wabohu in Genesis 1:2 ............. 130 The Meaning of yom in Genesis 1:3-2:4a ............... 132 The Seventh Day in Genesis 2:2-3 ................... 134 The Biblical Flood in Genesis 6-8 ................... 137 Descriptive Analysis of Price’s Protological Hermeneutic ........ 142 The Material and the Teleological Levels ............... 144 The Hermeneutical Level ........................ 146 Ontological Views: Price’s Concept of Reality ......... 147 Metaphysical Views: Price’s Principles of Articulation ..... 152 Epistemological Views: Price’s Foundation of Knowledge .. 154 Summary ..................................... 160 4. THE PROTOLOGICAL HERMENEUTIC OF BENJAMIN WARFIELD (1851–1921) ............................. 166 Biographical Perspectives ........................... 167 Early Years ................................. 167 Education and Scholarly Career ..................... 168 Publications ................................ 169 Theological and Philosophical Influences .................. 171 John Calvin ................................ 172 Scottish Common Sense Realism .................... 178 Westminster Confession of Faith .................... 182 Charles Hodge ............................... 185 The Evolutionary Theory ........................ 191 Modern Science ................................. 203 Fundamentalism ................................. 208 Descriptive Analysis of Warfield’s Interpretation of Protology ..... 210 The “beginning” in Genesis