Millard Erickson, Ph.D.: "Christian Theology," Ch. 11: Power of God's Wo...

11. The Power of God’s Word: Authority—The Prof. gives it a go on a definition of authority, religious authority, establishing the meaning and divine origin of the Bible, the internal working of the Holy Spirit, objective and subjective components of authority, various views of illumination, the Bible, reason and the Spirit, tradition and authority, historical and normative authoritativeness. Authority is the right to define, command and enforce in varied sphere. Religious authority can be the Bible, Bible and the Church, or the individualist and atomized ego. He argues, expectedly, for the divine origin of the Bible, noting the need for a “warm heart” and “cool head,” fired by the Holy Spirit but reasoned through careful exegesis. He does engage the no-orthodox relativists, e.g. neo-orthodoxy. He cites a “rude” preacher who we rather liked: “If you have the Bible without the Spirit, you will dry up. If you have the Spirit without the Bible, you will blow up. But, if you have the Bible and the Spirit, you will grow up.” We continue to observer Dr. Erickson’s complete unconsciousness of the Westminster Standards or the piety of the Book of Common Prayer. Theology has been around a lot longer than the suburbs of Minnesota. Otherwise, workable comments more largely. Pp. 241-262.