Ontology and Biblical Theology - A Response to Carl Trueman's Editorial

Abstract

"There is however a difference between a timely warning and an unnecessary alarm. Perhaps the terminology of Marxist revolution is not the most helpful means of pointing out important biblical issues, and one wishes that Carl had exercised his editorial freedom with less provocative images. I contend that he somewhat overstates the case in a way that may cause some to harbour unfounded suspicions about the usefulness of biblical theology as an approach to the biblical data. Trueman makes several important and absolutely incontrovertible points, but these are blunted by some of the reasoning that seems to accompany them and the deductions he draws from them. It is also important to understand where the potential for misunderstanding lies. I will argue that his analysis is lacking in accuracy at certain crucial points and that his terminology gives the distinct impression that the situation with regard to the present acceptance of biblical theology in our churches is far more robust than is the case."