THE TRUSTWORTHINESS OF GOD: PERSPECTIVES ON THE NATURE OF SCRIPTURE

Written by Paul Helm and Carl Trueman (eds) Reviewed By Geoffrey Grogan

This book’s editors comment that:

the work of biblical scholars, systematicians, historians and others suffers if there is no correlation or interaction among the disciplines. If all truth is God’s truth, then the findings in one sphere of theological endeavour cannot be developed in complete isolation from those in another.

In line with this conviction and taking a topic of major theological importance they have marshalled a formidable team of scholars across various disciplines to explore it from different angles.

The book is divided into four sections. The OT section examines relevant material in Deuteronomy, Jeremiah and the OT Wisdom Literature, areas of special importance for the theme. The article on Deuteronomy is perhaps of special importance because of the pivotal nature of this book in the OT. The NT section also includes three chapters on areas of major importance, the teaching of Jesus, Paul and the Epistle to the Hebrews.

Both biblical sections include a study of a passage of particular difficulty: Micaiah’s Prophecy in 1 Kings 22 and Paul’s interpretation of Deuteronomy 25:4 in 1 Corinthians 9:9–11. This is a good feature, for it shows that such passages can be approached confidently with the use of good exegetical tools.

The third section is a series of Historical, Systematic and Philosophical Perspectives, focusing on the Patristic period, the Reformers, especially Calvin, and recent discussions on the diversity and sufficiency of Scripture, followed by three essays in which theological/philosophical issues are explored. The final section consists of two essays of response, one by Colin Gunton on ‘Trinity and Trustworthiness’ and the other headed ‘An Evangelical Response’ by Francis Watson.

Reviewers often differ as to the chapters in a symposium they most appreciate, for we are largely governed by our special interests. I appreciated all the chapters but am particularly thankful for those on Deuteronomy (Gary Millar), ‘The Church Fathers and their Use of Scripture’ (Gerald Bray), and ‘The Diversity and Sufficiency of Scripture’ (Timothy Ward), each of which seemed to me to be of exceptional quality.

The two essays of response contain valuable criticisms written in a positive spirit. Gunton’s concern to ground the doctrine in Trinitarian theology is very well argued. Watson’s chapter is brief and includes an integrated summary of the arguments of the various contributors. He makes the crucial point that the real issue for us is not the authority of Scripture treated in abstraction, but ‘the authority and trustworthiness of Scripture in its manifold, variegated, infinitely rich testimony to Jesus’. Otherwise we will have ‘a doctrine of scriptural authority dependent on a sub-Christian, nontrinitarian, and unevangelical doctrine of God’. He is surely right. After all, the Jehovah’s Witnesses hold to a conservative view of Scripture, but we look in vain for the authentic gospel in their writings.

The editors make it clear that the book is intended for people in the believing community, and yet this reviewer feels some of the chapters could be of value to someone who knows and wants to believe the Christian faith, but who faces some intellectual difficulties.

The inter-disciplinary nature of the book is a strong feature, and joint work such as this is to be welcomed. The three-yearly joint conferences of the Tyndale Fellowship are, in this respect, a major step in the right direction, for they give scholars a good opportunity of thinking across the disciplines.


Geoffrey Grogan

Glasgow