Introduction to the New Testament

By the author's own admission, this work was prepared specifically to contradict the "modern" (or, liberal) theologies --particularly the Formgeschichte of the German schools--which the author perceived as having overtaken and undermined many of the religious institutions of his time. He states, "while the testimony of the apostolic and church Fathers is not infallible, we should put more confidence in it than modern criticism is inclined to do."

Thiessen identifies four principal fields of New Testament study: 1) critical; 2) historical; 3) exegetical; and, 4) theological. Although he defines critical study of the New Testament as "Introduction or Isagogics," Thiessen observes that others have included an assortment of other topics of discussion, such as "grammar, philology, archaeology, geography, hermeneutics, dogma, the history of the translation and interpretation" in their definitions and, hence, in their published works. The present work is primarily concerned with critical studies, which, the reader will ultimately discover, necessarily comes into contact with each of the other three to various degrees.

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chapter on inspiration would fit nicely into the theological views of most fundamental Christians today. As the author states: Unfortunately, few people have come to their views on inspiration by an intelligent first-hand investigation of the whole question. The great majority have accepted the views of their teachers without ever trying to understand what is meant by the term "inspiration" and without considering the question of the possibility and probability of inspiration of the Scriptures. Unfortunately for the reader, who may indeed fit the description above, Thiessen's twenty-page chapter does little to persuade that the author's position is conclusive. Indeed, Thiessen himself seems to recognize this, when he writes, "All that can be expected of us is that we present a plausible argument for every point we advance. To some minds we probably have not done this; to them certain of the above replies may seem evasions of the problem." For the student seeking to solidify his or her understanding of the inspiration of the Bible, Thiessen has missed the opportunity to present as convincing an argument one would have been expected after having read the previous three chapters and the frontice material. The second p
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Approximate Word count = 1719
Approximate Pages = 7 (250 words per page)

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