Journal: Conspectus
Volume: CONSPECTUS 40:1 (Oct 2025)
Article: Undoing Scriptural Authority? An Appraisal Of Some Anti-Foundational Hermeneutical Approaches From An Evangelical Perspective
Author: Bitrus A. Sarma

SATS 40:1 (October 2025) p. 73

Undoing Scriptural Authority? An Appraisal Of Some Anti-Foundational Hermeneutical Approaches From An Evangelical Perspective

Bitrus A. Sarma

ECWA Theological Seminary, Kagoro

About The Author

Bitrus A. Sarma holds a Ph.D. and a Th.M. from ECWA Theological Seminary (Jos), and a BTh (Igbaja). He is Professor of Biblical Studies (NT/ Greek). He is the former Provost of ECWA Theological Seminary, Kagoro (ETSK) in Nigeria. He has been involved in theological education for over three decades. He also preaches, teaches, and conducts seminars in local churches and conferences. He did postgraduate research at Stellenbosch University, South Africa. He is a Global Research Scholar of the Fuller Global Research Institute (GRI), Pasadena, USA. His publications include Hermeneutics of Mission in Matthew: Israel and the Nations in the Interpretative Framework of Matthew’s Gospel (2015); Blessed New Humanity in Christ: A Theology of Hope for African Christianity from the Book of Ephesians (2021) and Drums of Redemption: A New Testament Theology for Africa (2023). He is married to Sanatu and they are blessed with five children— Esther, Grace, Rejoice, David, and Victoria.

Email: [email protected]

This article: https://www.sats.ac.za/conspectus/undoing-scriptural-authority-appraisal https://doi.org/10.54725/conspectus.2025.2.5

Abstract

Scriptural authority is under siege. From an evangelical perspective, Scripture is the believer’s primary authority for belief and practice. Furthermore, the goal of biblical interpretation is to uncover the original intended meaning of Scripture before application. But some methodologies and presuppositions seem to be overturning the tables. Therefore, this article reviews the foundational beliefs and principles of evangelical hermeneutics vis-à-vis anti-foundationalism in general and then critiques the underlying presuppositions of reader-response and feminist hermeneutics in particular as two of the prominent anti-foundational hermeneutics. The purpose of the paper is to critique some anti-foundational hermeneutical presuppositions and to offer some recommendations, in the conclusion, on sustaining and promoting evangelical hermeneutics.

Keywords

authority, evangelical, antifoundationalism, postmodern, deconstruction

1. Introduction

In the sphere of religion, as in other spheres, the things about which men are agreed are apt to be the things that are least worth holding; the really important things are things about which men will fight (Machen 1923, 1–2).

Biblical interpretation from an evangelical standpoint is grounded on the testimony of S...