Avoiding Pantheism and Panentheism in Theological Discourse
Avoiding Pantheism and Panentheism in Theological Discourse
The New Testament pastoral epistles caution against speculative and worldly approaches to theology, emphasizing the importance of maintaining a focus on godliness and the administration of God's plan by faith [1, 3]. In 1 Timothy and 2 Timothy, Paul warns against "myths and endless genealogies" that lead to "useless speculations" and "worldly and empty chatter" [1, 2]. These warnings are relevant to the task of avoiding pantheism and panentheism in theological discourse.
Pantheism and panentheism often involve speculative and unbiblical conceptions of God and the world. The Reformed tradition, as represented by Calvin, emphasizes the importance of avoiding "science" that exalts itself above the plain and humble doctrine of godliness [5]. Calvin's commentary on 1-2 Timothy, Titus, and Philemon highlights the need to "boldly laugh at and despise" hypocritical wisdom that strikes the world with admiration.
The Baptist/Reformed tradition, as represented by John Gill, interprets the warnings against "profane and old wives' fables" in 1 Timothy 4:7 as a call to reject speculative and unbiblical teachings [6]. Similarly, in his commentary on Colossians 2:8, Gill warns against being "spoiled" by false philosophy, suggesting that heretics are like thieves and robbers who seek to divest believers of their spiritual privileges and blessings [9].
The Presbyterian tradition, as represented by Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, also cautions against the dangers of false philosophy, interpreting Colossians 2:8 as a warning against being "led away as spoil" by Judaic-oriental heretics [8]. This warning is relevant to the task of avoiding pantheism and panentheism, as these theological perspectives often involve a blending of biblical and non-biblical ideas.
In the view of these traditions, avoiding pantheism and panentheism requires a commitment to biblical doctrine and a rejection of speculative and worldly approaches to theology. By exercising oneself "unto godliness" and avoiding "perverse disputings" and "idle and foolish enquiries," believers can maintain a focus on the administration of God's plan by faith [6, 4].
The Lutheran tradition, as represented by Keil & Delitzsch, emphasizes the importance of balance and moderation in theological discourse, warning against extremes on the side of good as well as evil [7]. This emphasis on balance and moderation is relevant to the task of avoiding pantheism and panentheism, as these theological perspectives often involve an overemphasis on the immanence of God in the world.
Sources
- I Timothy “I Timothy 1:4 (LEB) — and not to pay attention to myths and endless genealogies, which cause useless speculations rather than God’s plan that is by faith.”
- 2 Timothy “2 Timothy 2:16 (NASB) — But avoid worldly and empty chatter, for it will lead to further ungodliness,”
- 1 Timothy “1 Timothy 1:4 (NASB) — nor to pay attention to myths and endless genealogies, which give rise to mere speculation rather than furthering the administration of God which is by faith.”
- Titus (Nonconformist/Puritan) “Matthew Henry on Titus 3:9: Here is the fifth and last thing in the matter of the epistle: what Titus should avoid in teaching; how he should deal with a heretic; with some other directions. Observe, I. That the apostle's meaning might be more clear and full, and especially fitted to the time and state of things in Crete, and the many judaizers among them, he tells Titus what, in teaching, he should shun, Tit 3:9. There are needful questions to be discussed and cleared, such as make for improvement in useful knowledge; but idle and foolish enquiries, tending neither to God's glory nor the edif”
- CCEL (Reformed) “Calvin, Commentary on 1-2 Timothy, Titus, Philemon, section 29.7: Timothy should be moved by emulation to attempt something of the same kind, but, because those things which have an appearance of subtlety, or are adapted to ostentation, are more agreeable to human curiosity, Paul, on the contrary, pronounces that “science” which exalts itself above the plain and humble doctrine of godliness — to be falsely called and thought a science. This ought to be carefully observed, that we may learn boldly to laugh at and despise all that hypocritical wisdom which strikes the world with admiration and a”
- 1 Timothy (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on 1 Timothy 4:7: But refuse profane and old wives' fables,.... Either Jewish ones, the traditions of the elders; or those of the Gnostics, concerning God, angels, and the creation of the world; or those doctrines of demons, and which forbad marriage, and commanded abstinence from meats before mentioned; which are called profane, because impious and ungodly, and old wives' fables, because foolish and impertinent; and which were to be rejected with abhorrence and contempt, in comparison of the words of faith and good doctrine. And exercise thyself rather unto godliness; either to th”
- Ecclesiastes (Lutheran) “Keil & Delitzsch on Ecclesiastes 7:15: The first of these counsels warns against extremes, on the side of good as well as on that of evil: "All have I seen in the days of my vanity: there are righteous men who perish by their righteousness, and there are wicked men who continue long by their wickedness. Be not righteous over-much, and show not thyself wise beyond measure: why wilt thou ruin thyself? Be not wicked overmuch, and be no fool: why wilt thou die before thy time is? It is good that thou holdest thyself to the one, and also from the other withdrawest not thine hand: for he that fearet”
- Colossians (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Colossians 2:8: Translate, "Beware (literally, 'Look' well) lest there shall be (as I fear there is: the Greek indicative expresses this) any man (pointing to some known emissary of evil, Gal 1:7) leading you away as his spoil (not merely gaining spoil out of you, but making yourselves his spoil) through (by means of) his philosophy," &c. The apostle does not condemn all philosophy, but "the philosophy" (so Greek) of the Judaic-oriental heretics at Colosse, which afterwards was developed into Gnosticism. You, who may have "the riches of full assurance" and "the tre”
- Colossians (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Colossians 2:8: Beware lest any man spoil you,.... Or despoil you; rob you of the rich treasure of the Gospel, strip you of your spiritual armour, take away from you the truths and doctrines of Christ, and divest you of your spiritual privileges and blessings; suggesting, that the false teachers were thieves and robbers, and men of prey: or drive and carry you away as spoils, as the innocent harmless sheep are drove, and carried away by wolves, and by the thief that comes to steal, to kill, and destroy; intimating, that such as these were the heretics of those times; wherefore it ”