Journal: Southern Baptist Journal of Theology
Volume: SBJT 23:2 (Summer 2019)
Article: SBJT Forum
Author: Anonymous

SBJT 23:2 (Summer 2019) p. 137

SBJT Forum

Michael A. G. Haykin is Professor of Church History and Biblical Spirituality at The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. He is also Adjunct Professor of Church History and Spirituality at Toronto Baptist Seminary in Ontario, Canada. Dr. Haykin is the author of many books, including “At the Pure Fountain of Thy Word”: Andrew Fuller As an Apologist (Paternoster Press, 2004), Jonathan Edwards: The Holy Spirit in Revival (Evangelical Press, 2005), The God Who Draws Near: An Introduction to Biblical Spirituality (Evangelical Press, 2007), Rediscovering the Church Fathers: Who They Were and How They Shaped the Church (Crossway, 2011), and Patrick of Ireland: His Life and Impact (Christian Focus, 2014).

SBJT: Is It Legitimate To Think Of Doctrine “Developing” In Church History?

Michael A. G. Haykin: In various spheres of human knowledge, such as astronomy and medicine, the passage of centuries has brought obvious and clear advances in understanding. Can the same be said with regard to doctrinal development in church history? Has the passage of time brought about greater insight into the various facets of biblical truth? While it sometimes seems as if the church has failed to own hard-won theological explications from the past, I think the answer to this question has to be a qualified affirmative.

The determination of the canon of the NT, for example, is a fabulous example in this regard. While the Ancient Church did not create the NT, it was led by the Spirit to recognize those books that had been inspired by the Spirit’s inbreathing. But this did not happen all at once. The first three centuries of church history witnessed an extensive war over the contents of the canon as Gnosticism created its own authoritative works such as the Gospel of Thomas or the Gospel of Philip. Confusing matters even further were adherents of what was called “the New Prophecy,” also known as Montanism, in which the sayings of various prophets and prophetesses were taken to be fresh revelation on a level with Holy Scripture. The church’s determination of the boundaries of the NT—the twenty-seven books now in our Bibles—was essentially complete by the close of the fourth century. And the church has never revisited this issue, notwithstanding, for example, Martin Luther’s low view of the letter of James because he wrongly thought it

SBJT 23:2 (Summer 2019) p. 138

contradicted Paul’s view of salvation as by faith alone. Luther’s view was not followed and was viewed as an aberration.

The conclusion of the debates about the Trinity in the creedal affirmation of Niceno-Constantinopolitan statement of faith is another good example in this regard. Her...