Category Archives: Theology

Wholly Other or Wholly Given Over? (Gavin Ortlund)

Articles, Gavin Ortlund, Theology

“Wholly Other or Wholly Given Over? What Van Til Missed In His Criticism of Barth” by Gavin Ortlund

In this essay I will examine Van Til’s criticism of Barth in three steps. First, I will describe Van Til’s criticism of Barth as it is articulated in his major anti-Barth writings. Secondly, I will critically evaluate Van Til’s criticism of Barth. My argument will be that Van Til’s critique rests upon a serious misinterpretation of Barth’s theology. Thirdly, I will attempt to explain Van Til’s criticism of Barth by examining some factors in Van Til’s historical context that make his reaction to Barth more intelligible. I will conclude by making some reflections on current evangelical assessment of Barth.

The Problem of Natural Revelation in the Thought of Cornelius Van Til (Andrew Fulford)

Andrew Fulford, Articles, Theology

“The Problem of Natural Revelation in the Thought of Cornelius Van Til” by Andrew Fulford

In recent days we have seen some spirited discussion on the place of natural law and natural theology in the life of the church. One figure who stands out as an important member of the discussion about such matters, at least in Presbyterian circles, is Cornelius Van Til, especially in his essay “Nature And Scripture.” In the course of that essay, Van Til discusses two kinds of “natural theology”: that of the Westminster Confession (which he takes to be identical with scripture’s), and the kind supposedly finding its origin in Greek philosophy. In the following, I will discuss his comments on the first kind, and more particularly, his scriptural argument for his position.

Modernity, “Radical Orthodoxy”, and Cornelius Van Til (Albert R. Haig)

Albert R. Haig, Articles, Theology

“Modernity, ‘Radical Orthodoxy’, and Cornelius Van Til: A Journey of Rediscovery of Participatory Theism” by Albert R. Haig

In this paper, the influence of modern thought on Evangelical Protestant theology is analysed. It is argued that a critical engagement with the theology of Cornelius Van Til represents an ideal starting point for this analysis. Van Til’s claim that all human knowledge must be analogical is defended. It is argued that rationalism is a specifically modern phenomenon, and that its root cause was the severance of the ontological bond between the Creator and His creation that occurred in the late medieval period. Rationalism is seen as inevitably ending in nihilism. Van Til is subject to criticism on the grounds that his metaphysics is inconsistent with his epistemology, and that he adopts the modern ontological Creator/creation split. In sympathy with the contemporary theological movement known as “radical orthodoxy”, it is argued here that a truly Christian theology must embrace the Platonic doctrine of participation. It is suggested that a revisitation of the Renaissance idea of a prisca theologia, thoroughly reformulated in the light of modern historical criticism, might be helpful to this end.

Presuppositional Counseling: An Introduction to Van Til’s Influence Upon Jay Adams (Jared Poulton)

Articles, Jared Poulton, Theology

“Presuppositional Counseling: An Introduction to Van Til’s Influence Upon Jay Adams” by Jared Poulton

Throughout its history, the biblical counseling movement has experienced various periods of “rebranding.” Jay Adams first called his counseling approach “nouthetic counseling,” derived from the Greek word “noutheteo,” meaning to “admonish, correct, or instruct.” In 2013, a leading biblical counseling association “rebranded” from the National Association of Nouthetic Counselors (NANC) to the Association of Certified Biblical Counselors (ACBC), identifying a significant transition within the movement of people identifying primarily as “biblical counselors.” Even more recently, another “rebranding” period has begun within the movement, as people continue to clarify their approach to counseling with labels such as “historic biblical counseling” and “redemptive counseling.” Each period of “rebranding” reveals a desire arising from the movement to clarify (1) the identity of the movement’s counselors and (2) the type of counseling they offer.

 

Within the movement’s history, there is another potential “label” that has not received significant attention: presuppositional counseling. The label “presuppositional counseling” reveals a significant feature of this counseling system that finds its origin in Adams—a desire to analyze counseling ideas and methods according to their presuppositions. In Competent to Counsel, Adams defined the “method” that supports the conclusions of his book as “presuppositional,” footnoting his key source for presuppositional thinking, the Dutch Apologist and his Westminster faculty member, Cornelius Van Til.

Cornelius Van Til: The Godfather of Biblical Counseling (Jared Poulton)

Articles, Jared Poulton, Theology

“Cornelius Van Til: The Godfather of Biblical Counseling” by Jared Poulton

There are many ways to analyze a Christian movement. One can look at its main leaders, its core ideas, its contributions, or its broader impact upon the church. Every movement also has a history, including the biblical counseling movement. There have only been a few books which have addressed the history of biblical counseling, and the historical roots of biblical counseling remain a rich area of potential research.

 

When biblical counselors have searched for the historical roots of biblical counseling, they often investigate the past for examples that look like biblical counseling: a Christian (usually a pastor) with a Bible offering counsel about a particular aspect of life to another person. Thus, it makes sense that many people have drawn connections between biblical counseling and groups such as the Puritans or the Reformers, people committed to the ministry of the Word. Nevertheless, similarities are not sufficient in themselves to establish historical connections.

 

While biblical counselors have much to learn from church history about the practices of counseling and soul care, the biblical counseling movement itself has a clear historical connection. It is the unconventional yet indisputable reality that the closest theological discipline to the biblical counseling movement is not pastoral ministry, nor psychology, nor counseling, but apologetics, due to the biblical counseling movement’s unlikely godfather, Cornelius Van Til.

The Problem of Natural Revelation in the Thought of Cornelius Van Til (Andrew Fulford)

Andrew Fulford, Articles, Epistemology, Theology

“The Problem of Natural Revelation in the Thought of Cornelius Van Til” by Andrew Fulford

In recent days we have seen some spirited discussion on the place of natural law and natural theology in the life of the church. One figure who stands out as an important member of the discussion about such matters, at least in Presbyterian circles, is Cornelius Van Til, especially in his essay “Nature And Scripture.” In the course of that essay, Van Til discusses two kinds of “natural theology”: that of the Westminster Confession (which he takes to be identical with scripture’s), and the kind supposedly finding its origin in Greek philosophy. In the following, I will discuss his comments on the first kind, and more particularly, his scriptural argument for his position.

Junius and Van Til on Natural Knowledge of God (Nathan D. Shannon)

Articles, Epistemology, Nathan D. Shannon, Theology

“Junius and Van Til on Natural Knowledge of God” by Nathan D. Shannon

This article compares the views of Franciscus Junius and Cornelius Van Til regarding pre- and post-fall natural knowledge of God. It is argued that while differences are clear, Junius and Van Til both claimed that pre-fall natural theology was not intended to function independently of special revelation. Junius and Van Til also agree that post-fall natural theology, unaided by special revelation, is not theology in any meaningful sense. The conclusion, borrowed from Willem Van Asselt, is that for both Junius and Van Til the determining factor with regard to the structure and status of natural theology is the God-human relationship. This thesis, so far as it is true, enhances the historical credentials of Van Til’s characteristically neo-Calvinist view of natural theology and natural reason.

The Triune Personal God (Lane G. Tipton)

Dissertations, Lane G. Tipton, Theology

“The Triune Personal God: Trinitarian Theology in the Thought of Cornelius Van Til” by Lane G. Tipton

This study investigates the function of the Trinity in Cornelius Van Til’s theology and apologetics and suggests an exegetical strategy for enriching and developing his foundational insights. The thesis is that God as absolute triune personality supplies in Van Til’s system of thought the fundamental theological structure for both the content and defense of the Reformed faith. Locating Van Til’s historical context in his theological and philosophical interaction with the Boston Personalists, who affirmed personality only of God’s unity, and Gordon Clark, who affirmed personality only of God’s diversity, this study will explore the theological rationale for Van Til’s formulation that God is absolute personality, which can be expressed in the language that the triune God is one person and three persons, or one-conscious and three-conscious.

 

Two Theological Accounts of Logic (Nathaniel Gray Sutanto)

Articles, Nathaniel Gray Sutanto, Philosophy, Theology

“Two Theological Accounts of Logic: Theistic Conceptual Realism and a Reformed Archetype-Ectype Model” by Nathaniel Gray Sutanto

In this essay I analyze two emerging theistic accounts of the laws of logic, one precipitated by theistic conceptual realism and the other from an archetype-ectype paradigm in Reformed Scholasticism. The former posits the laws of logic as uncreated and necessary divine thoughts, whereas the latter thinks of those laws as contingent, accommodated forms of a pre-existing archetypal rationality. After the analysis of the two accounts, I offer an explication of the theological rationale motivating the archetype-ectype model of the laws of logic, and apply that model to recent discussions on theological paradox, abstract objects, and the function of natural-theological argumentation in apologetics. Finally, I respond to three anticipated objections against the archetype-ectype model.

Some Epistemological Reflections on 1 Cor 2:6-16 (Richard B. Gaffin)

Articles, Epistemology, Richard B. Gaffin, Theology

“Some Epistemological Reflections on 1 Cor 2:6-16” by Richard B. Gaffin

In Jerusalem and Athens G. C. Berkouwer expressed disappointment over Van Til’s criticism of his views. He had expected that “exegesis of Holy Scripture would play a decisive role.” Instead, not only did Van Til misunderstand him, he believed, but “of far greater consequence” was “the total lack of biblical reflection and the absence of a reply to all the exegetical questions.” In a brief response Van Til conceded Berkouwer’s point. His critique of Berkouwer’s theology “should have had much more exegesis in it than it has. This is a defect.” He then went on to generalize, “The lack of detailed scriptural exegesis is a lack in all of my writings. I have no excuse for this.”

 

This interchange highlights a frequent perception (and charge): Van Til talks repeatedly about “the Christ of the Scriptures”; his uncompromising concern is to let “the self-attesting Christ of Scripture” speak. Yet his writings provide precious little, if any, argumentation based on a careful treatment of key biblical passages; his approach is assertive and dogmatizing, rather than exegetical.