The Trustworthiness of God: Perspectives on the Nature of Scripture
Digital Logos Edition
Overview
For two millennia the church has affirmed and celebrated Scripture as the written word of God. However, in the twentieth century, the doctrine of Scripture became the focus and flashpoint for division. One legacy of those debates has been a reluctance to address the nature of Scripture. This collection of essays seeks to re-open dialogue on this fundamental tenet of the Christian faith, by offering something of a prelude to a fresh approach to Scripture. In particular, these explorations seek to map out some implications of the fundamental link between the character of God as trustworthy and the trustworthiness of His word.
Following an introductory orientation, the first two sections take soundings in selected texts from the Old and New Testaments. The third section offers perspectives from church history, and also grapples with aspects of the contemporary context and philosophical and epistemological issues. Two responses to the main essays complete the collection. None of the contributors wishes to articulate the discussion in terms of the categories of past controversies, or pretends to offer an exhaustive analysis. All, however, share the desire to engage their readers in constructive dialogue on this vital issue.
- Addresses the link between the character of God as trustworthy and the trustworthiness of His word
- Explores the topic from biblical, systematic, philosophical, and historical perspectives
- Encourages interdisciplinary dialogue
Old Testament
- “A Faithful God Who Does No Wrong”: History, Theology, and Reliability in Deuteronomy - J. Gary Millar
- Divine Speech and the Book of Jeremiah - Gordon McConville
- A God for Life, and Not Just for Christmas! The Revelation of God in the Old Testament Wisdom Literature - Craig G. Bartholomew
- Lying Spirits Sent by God? The Case of Micaiah’s Prophecy - P. J. Williams
New Testament
- Jesus and Scripture - Donald Macleod
- “Let God Be Proved True”: Paul’s View of Scripture and the Faithfulness of God - Drake Williams
- God and Scripture in Hebrews - David Peterson
- Paul’s Literal Interpretation of “Do Not Muzzle the Ox” - David Instone-Brewer
Historical, Systematic,and Philosophical Perspectives
- The Church Fathers and Their Use of Scripture - Gerald Bray
- The God of Unconditional Promise - Carl R. Trueman
- The Diversity and Sufficiency of Scripture - Timothy Ward
- Towards Trust -Stephen Williams
- The Perfect Trustworthiness of God - Paul Helm
- A Realist Conception of Revelation - Sebastian Rehnman
Responses
- Trinity and Trustworthiness - Colin Gunton
- An Evangelical Response - Francis Watson
Carl R. Trueman is pastor of Cornerstone Presbyterian Church in Ambler, Pennsylvania. He has received degrees from St. Catharine’s College in Cambridge, Massachusetts and the University of Aberdeen. Trueman is also professor of historical theology and church history and Paul Wooley Chair of Church History at Westminster Theological Seminary. He has authored several books and was editor of Themelios from 1998–2007.
Paul Helm is a Calvinist theologian and Teaching Fellow at Regent College in Canada since 2005. Helm has also taught at Highland Theological College since 2007 and was the J.I. Packer Professor of Theology and Philosophy at Regent College from 2001-2005. Prior to these positions, he was Professor of the History and Philosophy of Religion, King’s College, London, from 1993-2000. Helm earned his BA and MA from Oxford.