Journal: Journal of the Evangelical Theological Society
Volume: JETS 63:2 (Jun 2020)
Article: How Christian Philosophers Can Serve Systematic Theologians And Biblical Scholars
Author: J. P. Moreland

JETS 63:2 (June 2020) p. 297

How Christian Philosophers Can Serve Systematic Theologians And Biblical Scholars

J. P. Moreland

J. P. Moreland is Distinguished Professor of philosophy at Talbot School of Theology, Biola University, 13800 Biola Ave., La Mirada, CA 90639. He may be contacted at [email protected].

Abstract: The article begins by laying out two reasons why much of contemporary theology and scriptural studies are weak in their impact for Christ: these disciplines are often done in isolation from the broader cultural issues facing the church and their results are not presented as knowledge of reality. I argue that an important solution to this problem is for theological and scriptural scholars to appropriate the findings of Christian philosophy and do integrative work with Christian philosophers in their intellectual projects. Next, I state and illustrate four ways that Christian philosophy and philosophers can serve their colleagues in theology and scriptural studies.

Key words: knowledge, naturalism, postmodernism, substance dualism, foundationalism, negative and positive rights, external conceptual problems

While I have a Th.M. in systematic theology from Dallas Seminary, I must admit that I am neither a theologian nor the son of one. The same thing goes for being a biblical scholar. I am, in fact, a Christian philosopher with more than a passing interest in systematic theology (ST) and scriptural studies (SS). I also have a pretty good sense for what is happening in Western culture generally, and church culture particularly.

Why do I mention all this? It is because I am increasingly troubled by what I am seeing in ST/SS as professional disciplines and by the weak impact they are having on the church and culture. I do not mean for this to be harsh. Rather, it is a serious call for us to reflect deeply on what is happening and how we can fix it. Accordingly, in what follows, I will offer a brief description of what alarms me about the way ST/SS are practiced and provide a general solution for turning things around. Because my solution involves the role Christian philosophy can play in ST/SS, the bulk on my paper will contain a statement and illustrations of four ways in which Christian philosophers can help their brothers and sisters in ST/SS. In the conclusion, I will prescind from these four modes of assistance and make brief observations about the way forward.

Before I proceed, I must say that what follows is said out of love and respect for my family members in ST/SS and out of a desire to shed light on how Christian philosophers can be of help in aiding them to flourish in their disciplines in a relevant way in light of our current culture. In n...