Jonathan Harris > Recent Status Updates

“The difference between the Christian and the non-Christian position could not be and was not clearly and fully made out except by Calvin… It appeared that if there is to be true challenge of the natural man by the gospel of the sovereign God then the particularism of this gospel must be supported by a commonness of the call of God to all men everywhere. Common grace must support special or saving grace.”

Tipton in this chapter so helpfully unpacks Van Til’s clarification of the distinctiveness of Reformed anthropology (and theology proper) set against Rome’s view of man, as well as the importance of the Covenant of Works.

“Adam did not know a time in which, as the created image of God in natural religious fellowship with God, he existed outside of a covenant relation to God.”

“The best apologetic defense will invariably be made by him who knows the system of truth of Scripture best.”

I am so excited to read this updated translation.

So far this book is excellent. Filled with Scriptural examples as well as practical import

Though I don’t comprehend everything he is saying, I am nevertheless observing something remarkable in terms of encyclopedic knowledge as well as irenic engagement with figures he disagrees with.

But basically it appears that the impact of Kant, Schleiermacher, and Hegel in the field of Christian dogmatics was substantive, particularly by popularizing epistemological agnosticism and metaphysical pantheism.