Journal: Bibliotheca Sacra
Volume: BSAC 60:239 (Jul 1903)
Article: Notes On British Theology And Philosophy
Author: James Lindsay

BSac 60:239 (July 1903) p. 583

Notes On British Theology And Philosophy

James Lindsay

Kilmarnock, Scotland

The purpose of these Notes is to put before readers of the Bibliotheca Sacra some points of current interest in connection with theological and philosophical works and movements in Great Britain.

In theology, the large and important work of Professor Flint on “Agnosticism” has just appeared, and is being cordially received. It is marked, as might be expected, by vigor, lucidity, abundant learning, incisive argumentation, love of objective truth, and thoroughness. I merely welcome it, and say nothing of the nature of criticism, not having had time, at date of writing, to read it. One is the more grateful for its appearance in the midst of Dr. Flint’s laborious undertaking with the “Philosophy of History.” With this work issuing from Scotland, one has only to couple the recent work of Principal Fairbairn, of Oxford, England, on “The Philosophy of the Christian Religion,” in order to see how far theological vision is in Britain from being dimmed, or philosophical power from being abated. Dr, Flint is nothing if not rational, Dr. Fairbairn nothing if not intellectualistic, and against the objections of those who care not greatly for such qualities in religious matters, one cannot but feel that it is assuredly well to have such guarantees in these days that intellect will, in this all-important sphere, come to its own. It is very gratifying, also, to recall how short a time it is, anterior to these works, since Professor Caldecott, of London, gave us his painstaking and highly meritorious work on “The Philosophy of Religion in England and America.”

Dr. Matheson’s “Representative Men of the Bible” continues to be read with delight. Dr. Matheson has a long and honorable record behind him in theological and religious literature, and this latest product of his pen is marked by all those gifts of spiritual insight and imaginative power which make his work perfectly unique, and prized as such.

In these days when social interests, rather than doctrinal, occupy the attention of the churches, one can only be thankful to have attention drawn to any of the great doctrinal truths of our religion. Professor Denney, of Glasgow, does this for the Atonement, setting forth anew the place and interpretation of Christ’s death in the New Testament in his volume on “The Death of Christ.” There is every acknowledgment of the exegetical excellence and the vigor of Dr. Denney’s work. But in laying such exclusive stress on the substitutionary character of Christ’s death, he is doing a work of doubtful benefit to this country, where external, artificial, and forensic theories of the Atonement so long prevailed, and a work th...