Investigating the Presuppositional Realm of Biblical-Theological Methodology

Abstract

"The first article of this series focused on Dooyeweerd’s interpretation of Reason.1 I intend to draw on Dooyeweerd’s conception for the development of an exegetical methodology that does justice to the multiaspectual phenomena of the text as well as to the chosen hermeneutical presuppositions. As mentioned earlier, Dooyeweerd’s conception must be critically reflected on if an unbiased application of his thought is to be made. In order to allow for a critical analysis of Dooyeweerd’s thought I choose the work of the Christian philosopher Fernando Canale. Thus this article will present (for the first time) Canale’s analysis of Reason. The third article of this series will show how Canale’s and Dooyeweerd’s work can be utilized in order to investigate the ontological foundations of specific methodologies. In the fourth and final article, I will critique Dooyeweerd’s and Canale’s conceptions and sketch my own basic portrait of the functionality of human reason. My aim is to inspire the reader to begin a critical and productive reflection on methodology in general and biblical exegetical methodology in particular"