Developing New Theology Without Preconceived Notions
Developing new theology without preconceived notions is a complex endeavor, particularly within traditions that emphasize the authority of scripture and established doctrine. For many Christian traditions, theology is not seen as a field for inventing new truths, but rather for understanding and articulating truths already revealed by God [7].
The Reformed tradition, for instance, asserts that the Bible is the sole source of knowledge regarding God's revelations [1, 9]. Charles Hodge, a prominent Reformed theologian, states that Christian theology is "simply the exhibition and illustration of the facts and truths of the Bible in their due relations and proportions" [5]. From this perspective, the theologian's task is to ascertain and present "God’s system" of truth, not to create their own [4]. This approach views the written word as the "only source of knowledge" for faith [1]. John Calvin similarly argued that there is "no room for originality properly so called" in theology, as its materials are entirely contained within God's word [7].
This emphasis on scriptural authority means that "new theology" is often understood as a deeper or clearer apprehension of existing revelation, rather than the introduction of entirely novel concepts. The Holy Spirit is understood to provide an "illumination of the mind" that helps believers apprehend the truth already revealed in scripture, not a "revelation of new truths" [6].
The concept of "preconceived notions" itself can be viewed differently. While some might advocate for a mind entirely free of prior assumptions, the patristic tradition, as seen in Clement of Alexandria, suggests that faith is foundational to knowledge [3]. To obey the Word of God is to believe Him, and knowledge is characterized by faith [3]. This implies that a certain "preconception" of faith is necessary for theological understanding.
Theological systems that attempt to integrate philosophical ideas, such as speculative or pantheistic philosophies, are often critiqued for departing from biblical foundations. Hodge, for example, discusses how such philosophies can lead to a "regeneration of theology" that denies the dualism between God and man, thereby altering fundamental doctrines concerning sin and grace [2]. He also critiques theories of historical development, like those adopted from Schelling and Hegel, when they are seen as superseding the authority of scripture [8].
Sources
- CCEL (Reformed (Old Princeton)) “Charles Hodge, Systematic Theology, Vol. 1, section 37: attained and preserved under that teaching of the Spirit, which secures to believers a competent knowledge of the plan of salvation therein revealed. On the other hand, tradition is with the Romanists entirely independent of the Scriptures. They plead for a common consent in doctrines not contained in the Word of God, or which cannot be proved therefrom. Fourthly. Protestants do not regard “common consent” either as an informant or as a ground of faith. With them the written word is the only source of knowledge of what God has revealed fo”
- CCEL (Reformed (Old Princeton)) “Charles Hodge, Systematic Theology, Vol. 2, section 142: of the speculative, transcendental, or pantheistic philosophy effected an entire revolution, which even such writers as Dorner are accustomed to call “the 731 regeneration of theology.” The leading principle of this philosophy, in all its phases, is Monism, the denial of all real dualism between God and man. If man is only the modus existendi of God, then of course there is an end of all questions about sin and grace. Sin can only be imperfect development, and man’s activity bcing only a form of the agency of God, there is no place for w”
- Schaff ANF/NPNF (Patristic) “ANF Vol 2: Hermas, Tatian, Theophilus, Athenagoras, Clement of Alexandria — CHAP. IV.--FAITH THE FOUNDATION OF ALL KNOWLEDGE. (part 3): an artificer, and the helmsman by being instructed in the art will be able to steer; he does not regard the mere wishing to become excellent and good enough, but he must learn it by the exercise of obedience. But to obey the Word, whom we call Instructor, is to believe Him, going against Him in nothing. For how can we take up a position of hostility to God? Knowledge, accordingly, is characterized by faith; and faith, by a kind of divine mutual and reciprocal ”
- CCEL (Reformed (Old Princeton)) “Charles Hodge, Systematic Theology, Vol. 1, section 8: sin, of liberty, of obligation, from the facts of the Bible. He should remember that his business is not to set forth his system of truth (that is of no account), but to ascertain and exhibit what is God’s system, which is a matter of the greatest moment. If he cannot believe what the facts of the Bible assume to be true, let him say so. Let the sacred writers have their doctrine, while he has his own. To this ground a large class of modern exegetes and theologians, after a long struggle, have actually come. They give what they regard as t”
- CCEL (Reformed (Old Princeton)) “Charles Hodge, Systematic Theology, Vol. 2, section 85: development. While “the mediating theology” concedes all this, it nevertheless admits of a miraculous or supernatural beginning of the world and of the person of Christ, and thus gives up its whole philosophical system. At least the members of one wing of Schleiermacher’s school are thus inconsistent; those of the other are more true to their principles. As Christian theology is simply the exhibition and illustration of the facts and truths of the Bible in their due relations and proportions, it has nothing to do with these speculations. ”
- CCEL (Reformed (Old Princeton)) “Charles Hodge, Systematic Theology, Vol. 1, section 9: by God in His Word ( 1 Cor. ii. 10-16 ). It is not, therefore, a revelation of new truths, but an illumination of the mind, so that it apprehends the truth, excellence, and glory of things already revealed. And second, 16 This experience is depicted in the Word of God. The Bible gives us not only the facts concerning God, and Christ, ourselves, and our relations to our Maker and Redeemer, but also records the legitimate effects of those truths on the minds of believers. So that we cannot appeal to our own feelings or inward experience, as ”
- CCEL (Reformed) “John Calvin, Institutes of the Christian Religion, section 2: with reverence the testimony which God hath been pleased therein to deliver concerning himself. For obedience is the source, not only of an absolutely perfect and complete faith, but of all right knowledge of God” ( Inst. 1, 6, 2). In the words of William Cunningham: “In theology there is, of course, no room for originality properly so called, for its whole materials are contained in the actual statements of God’s word; and he is the greatest and best theologian who has most accurately apprehended the meaning of the statements of Sc”
- CCEL (Reformed (Old Princeton)) “Charles Hodge, Systematic Theology, Vol. 1, section 37: any other influence to diffuse a clear conception of the interior organism of history.” In his work on the “Principles of Protestantism,” 73 73 Page 150. Dr. Schaff says 119 that Schelling and Hegel taught the world to recognize in history “the ever opening sense of eternal thoughts, an always advancing rational development of the idea of humanity, and its relations to God.” This theory of historical development was adopted, and partially Christianized by Schleiermacher, from whom it has passed over to Dr. Schaff, as set forth in his work”
- CCEL (Reformed (Old Princeton)) “Charles Hodge, Systematic Theology, Vol. 1, section 14: important. Among Protestants it is often regarded as a mere department of Philosophy. It has been assumed that Theology has to do with the facts or truths of the Bible; in other words, that the Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments are the only infallible rule of faith and practice. This, however, is not a conceded point. Same claim for Reason a paramount, or, at least a coordinate authority in matters of religion. Others assume an internal supernatural light to which they attribute paramount, or coordinate authority. Others rely on th”