Old-Line Rationalism
The passage quoted from Paul’s First Epistle to the
Corinthians is not lifted out of context nor placed in a setting that would
tend to distort its meaning. Indeed it expresses the very essence of Paul’s
spiritual philosophy and fully accords with the rest of the Epistle, and I
might add, with the rest of Paul’s writings as we have them preserved in the
New Testament. That type of theological rationalism that is so popular today
would have been wholly foreign to the mind of the great apostle. He had not
faith in man’s ability to comprehend truth apart from the direct illumination
of the Holy Spirit.
I have just now used the word rationalism, and I must
either retract it or justify its use in association with orthodoxy. The latter
I think I shall have no trouble doing. For the textualism of our times is based
upon the same premise as the old-line rationalism, that is, the belief that the
human mind is the supreme authority in the judgment of truth. Or otherwise
stated, it is confidence in the ability of the human mind to do that which the
Bible declares it was never created to do and consequently is wholly incapable
of doing. Philosophical rationalism is honest enough to reject the Bible
flatly. Theological rationalism rejects it while pretending to accept it and in
so doing puts out its own eyes.
Verse
The Spirit searches all things, even the deep things of
God. For who among men knows the thoughts of a man except the man’s spirit
within him? In the same way no one knows the thoughts of God except the Spirit
of God. 1 Corinthians 2:10–11
Thought
The type of theological rationalism that is so popular
today would have been wholly foreign to the mind of the great apostle.
Prayer AGREE WHOLE HEARTLY SIR!!
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