Thy Word Is Still Truth: Essential Writings on the Doctrine of Scripture from the Reformation to Today
"Within the ultramodern secular cultural environment, with its emphasis on relativism, its lack of idealism, its reluctance to commitment, and its disrespect towards authority and the sacred,Thy Word is Still Truthrepresents a major theological landmark. It reminds the church of the rich and significant heritage that we can draw on, going back not only to the Reformation, but also to the Early Church Fathers—a heritage that is deeply rooted in the apostolic faith. This book emphasizes the amazing theological unity, diversity, and coherence of the biblical doctrine of the Word of God. It underscores the relevance of Reformed faith as 'a living tradition engaging with the pressing questions of today.' Edited within a specific historical context, this anthology on the authority and interpretation of Scripture speaks eloquently and boldly to the whole of the contemporary Church of Jesus Christ."—Pierre Berthoud, Professor Emeritus, Faculté Jean Calvin, Aix-en-Provence, France; President, Fellowship of European Evangelical Theologians"Against those who think that a 'high' view of Scripture was the creation of nineteenth-century Princetonians, and against those who think that such a view of Scripture amounts to a defensive posture devoid of profound theological reflection, this excellent volume is a much-needed resource. It stands as a bulwark against every form of the question, 'Did God really say?' The excerpts and essays drawn from Martin Luther to the present represent an immense reservoir of diverse reflections—from Calvin'sInstitutesto Monod'sFarewell, from Owen, Turretin, Gaussen, and Edwards to Spurgeon, Hengstenberg, and Machen, from Reformed confessions to the advent of contemporary biblical theology. Although this collection includes statements on recent controversies at Westminster Theological Seminary, its strength is not its coverage of the last half-century but its ample demonstration that today's Reformed Christians find themselves, on this subject, within a heritage rich in theological reflection and powerful synthesis. To lose sight of this heritage or to stand aloof from it is to impoverish our souls and to distance ourselves from the God who 'looks' to those who are contrite and humble in spirit and who tremble at his word."—D. A. Carson, Research Professor of New Testament, Trinity Evangelical Divinity School, Deerfield, Illinois"Lillback and Gaffin have assembled a trove of resources that will enable serious students of Scripture to mine the wealth of the church's testimony on one of the cardinal doctrines of the Christian faith—the doctrine of Scripture, which proclaims the abiding truthfulness and inerrancy of the Word of God.Thy Word is Still Truthoffers a scholarly exploration from a great cloud of witnesses that is historical, exegetical, and theological, yet imminently practical and hence immensely beneficial. This volume will serve the church for generations to come."—J. V. Fesko, Academic Dean and Professor of Systematic and Historical Theology, Westminster Seminary California---"Since its founding in 1929, Westminster Theological Seminary in Philadelphia has specialized in the doctrine of Scripture. Nearly everyone who has taught there over the years has made some contribution to the subject. The Westminster faculty published three collections of essays on Scripture:The Infallible Word(1946),Scripture and Confession(1973), andInerrancy and Hermeneutic(1988). The present volume, however, is a contribution of a higher order. It not only republishes some of the best articles from the previous collections, but contains important writings on biblical authority from the Reformation and post-Reformation periods (including the churches' creedal statements) down to the present day. There are articles from the faculty of Old Princeton, from which Westminster takes its bearings, articles on controversial matters, and articles describing the rationale for Westminster's distinctive emphasis on biblical theology. And the volume is honest in facing up to the recent controversy over Scripture at Westminster itself and the seminary's forthright response reaffirming biblical inerrancy. Throughout the years, I have been moved again and again by Westminster's willingness to stand against the world and for the Word of God. The issue before the world today, as in the Garden of Eden, is 'has God said?' I know of no body of literature that can be of more help to people wrestling with this vital question."—John Frame, J. D. Trimble Chair of Systematic Theology and Philosophy, Reformed Theological Seminary, Florida"Every generation of Christians must anew believe, confess, understand, and live out the Bible's teaching that it is the inerrant Word of God. This timely book brings together many invaluable historic and contemporary writings that will encourage us to defend and cherish the Scriptures. It will certainly be a great blessing to those who study it."—Robert Godfrey, President and Professor of Church History, Westminster Seminary California"In every generation it is required of the church (and its institutions) to defend and maintain its commitment to the Scriptures as God's Word written. Given the current climate in which pastors and scholars choose to ignore confessional boundaries and recast the faith to suit contemporary predilections, it is vital to establish that the trustworthiness of Scripture is an essential component of historic Christian orthodoxy and the foundational assumption of the Reformed tradition. No branch of the church has been as clearheaded and warmhearted in its defense and articulation of the riches and integrity of the Bible as the Reformed branch. And no seminary has been quite as clear or committed to the primacy of that Word in all its academic branches as Westminster Theological Seminary, following in the tradition of Old Princeton. This book invites us to review the rich legacy of the church, Westminster's place in that tradition, and the necessity of reasserting this conviction for the health of the church and the cure of souls. I cannot stress enough my gratitude to God that Westminster continues to assert this truth in the clearest and most unambiguous manner."—Liam Goligher, Senior Minister, Tenth Presbyterian Church, Philadelphia---"Where do you go to learn what the Reformers and what post-Reformation orthodoxy have to say about the Scriptures? Where do you procure a selection of relevant passages that span a few centuries and yet agree about the truth and the nature of scriptural revelation? Where can you find an anthology that shows the roots of Westminster Theological Seminary's core relationship to scriptural revelation, as well as the contours of a beautiful struggle to remain faithful to that tradition? Now here is a bird's-eye perspective in one volume. Kudos to Richard B. Gaffin and Peter A. Lillback for giving us something so good! This remarkable selection of key authors and passages shares the theme that for many of us is both a passion and an urgent necessity: the Word is still true and it is still truth! Please do not overlook this work."—Davi Charles Gomes, Chancellor, Mackenzie Presbyterian University, São Paulo, Brazil"This is a unique anthology. It gathers material from the Reformation to the present day on the doctrine of Scripture, and does so in keeping with the historical position of Westminster Theological Seminary. The selection is far-reaching, and the addition of a section on biblical theology is an excellent decision. A superb resource has now been provided by this volume."—Allan M. Harman, Research Professor, Presbyterian Theological College, Melbourne, Australia"The affirmation of the epistemological heart of the Christian faith in the Reformation watchcry ofsola Scripturanecessarily entailed what the generations since the Apostles had believed in, namely, the infallible nature of the Bible. Since the battles of the Reformation, this truth about God's Word has come under attack again and again—whether it be from Quaker enthusiasm, deistic rationalism, or liberal Protestantism—and only when this truth has been ardently defended have the fires of Christian piety continued to burn brightly. This tremendous collection of sources about the infallibility and inerrancy of the Scriptures is both a powerful reminder of these facts and a stirring impetus to be 'a people of the Book.' Wrought in recent conflict over this very issue, this volume is a welcome addition to the key reference works of all those who genuinely desire to be Christ-centered and gospel-focused."—Michael A.G. Haykin, Professor of Church History and Biblical Spirituality and Director of the Andrew Fuller Center for Baptist Studies at The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, Louisville, Kentucky."This new anthology of the writings of Reformed thinkers on the infallibility and the inerrancy of Scripture, from the Reformation era to today, is timely and beneficial. Building on the title of E. J. Young's classic bookThy Word is Truth, this collection is committed to the highest view of Scripture. And it affirms Scripture's truthfulness and trustworthiness, which are of crucial importance for the life of the church, her mission to the world, and the state of believers' souls. Reading this collection of contemporary texts, which reflects Westminster Theological Seminary's strong commitment to Scripture, one knows without a doubt that by the providence of God, Westminster has been faithful and consistent with the historic Reformed theological and confessional tradition on the doctrine of Scripture. Through Peter Lillback and Richard Gaffin's masterful work, readers are equipped not only to profit from God's Word but also to defend and affirm its perfection."—Benyamin F. Intan, President, International Reformed Evangelical Seminary, Jakarta, Indonesia---