Holy Scripture: A Dogmatic Sketch (Current Issues in Theology)

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Written with intellectual enthusiasm by a theologian who understands the currents of modern secular thought, the volume develops a constructive position on biblical authority. Paperback , pages. To see what your friends thought of this book, please sign up. To ask other readers questions about Holy Scripture , please sign up. Lists with This Book. This book is not yet featured on Listopia. Jul 10, Brent McCulley rated it it was amazing Shelves: The most impactful book under pages I have read all year. Webster's biggest move is in the first section where he urges us to place the ontology of Holy Scripture back in the Doctrine of God.

This has manifold positive consequences. Rather than Scripture's trustworthiness rev The most impactful book under pages I have read all year. Rather than Scripture's trustworthiness revelation being contingent upon inspiration verbal inspiration, i. Not as God revealing epistemic propositional truths, but in God's free creative historical salvific-manifestation of Himself towards a people.

Because of this reorientation, Webster is then able to subsume sanctification under revelation: This, therefore, becomes the platform to place inspiration of Holy Scripture as a human work using human means and purposes. Scripture is not inspired because of divine dictation, or some other theory where human and divine causality work in an antithetical, dualistic manner somehow preserving remnants of both Webster charges the Reformed scholastics of confusion omni-causality with sole causality , but rather it is inspired because it has been set apart and sanctified along with the Church to testify of God's salvific revelation in the economy of grace.

The economy of grace, therefore, is how we must read the Word, and it is within this context that the Church exists. Not autonomously, but as a servant to the Word, submitting to it's authority. Webster's laments that theologians divorced from this setting, equipped with Kant and Hegel's distinction and the rise of rational theology led to the divorce of theology's primary purpose which is to aid and serve the Church in the knowledge of God and salvation as an eschatological witness.

Ultimately the Word cannot be discredited, disected, or criticised through Bultmannean scholarship because these very hermeneutical presuppositions preclude submission to the Word as a sanctifying authority in the economy of grace. Webster is charitable, knowledgeable, and cogent. His interaction with Calvin, Bonhoeffer, Barth and others makes this Dogmatic Sketch as a contemporary and viable model a must read for all students of theology. Jan 19, Jeremy rated it liked it. Reasons to read this book: Webster considers the doctrine from the triple perspective of revelation, sanctification, and inspiration.

Holy Scripture by John B. Webster

This type of "trinitarian" doctrinal perspective is all the rage these days, and Webster also considers the trio of Scripture, church, and canon in chapter 2, and Scripture, theology, and the theological school in chapter 4. Chapter 3 Reasons to read this book: Chapter 3 covers reading the Scripture in the economy of grace. Reasons not to read this book: It is a "sketch" focused on the doctrine of Scripture. In his own words, Webster does not, for example, "offer [a] theory of 'textuality', and say[s] almost nothing about such matters as the impact of deconstruction or of speech-act theory on thinking about the nature of Scripture" 1.

Some of the authors that Webster draws from, you have probably never read. If you are a very, very strong inerrantist and literalist in the literal senses of those words , if you are a very, very committed Barthian, or if you are a liberal, you will probably not enjoy Webster. The real problems lie elsewhere, in our defiance of grace" Apr 11, Andrew rated it liked it.

I would have given this book four stars if I had could? It was a difficult book written by a man who teaches in Scotland. Not only was his English slightly different, his interaction with and in Latin and German stumped me sometimes. I liked his somewhat "non-academic" approach to real Bible study. His emphasis on the doctrine of scripture being under and alongside of the doctrines of Christology and pneumatology were extremely helpful and really caused me to pause and th I would have given this book four stars if I had could?

His emphasis on the doctrine of scripture being under and alongside of the doctrines of Christology and pneumatology were extremely helpful and really caused me to pause and think. Often, I was utterly lost, but I think I mostly agree with him! Aug 03, Mark Alan rated it it was amazing Shelves: Anyone paying any attention to the key works on hermeneutics of Christian Scripture over the past decade will recognize the deep and broad ranging impact this dense and beautiful little book has had. Pound for pound without peer in that arena.

Mar 24, vittore paleni rated it it was amazing. A cool, refreshing, clear drink of water; a balm. May 29, Theron rated it it was amazing Shelves: Jul 24, Andrew Swann rated it really liked it Shelves: A very thought-provoking book. Webster argues that the ontology of Holy Scripture is to be placed in the doctrine of God, not necessarily in categories of inspiration.

This is a book to be poured over again slowly and surely, but I still see a few main issues with it. Very moving at some points, and genuinely attempting to solve very tough issues that advanced undergrads or graduate theological students wrestle with. Very provoking arguments that ought to be studied, and A very thought-provoking book.

Very provoking arguments that ought to be studied, and some of them may even be right. The first chapter of this book is very very weighty and well-written logically. My mind was opened to some possibilities with this new area, but none of which that lead me away from inerrancy.

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More on that in the cons 4. I would recommend this book to well-studied disciples of Christ just for this portion alone. Some of these I saw from my first reading, others were new for me. His categories are synthetically beyond that which the Bible claims for itself, and also the certain right-wing theologians who he attacks.

No one claims the Bible is divine like he says someone does he never names any names or schools of thought. If you want to read a book and have no idea what you read, this is the book for you. I would not wast your time though. Nov 20, Cameron rated it really liked it. Webster was brilliant—and dense.

Nov 13, Herman Douma rated it really liked it Shelves: Apr 23, Daniel Crouch rated it liked it. Webster presents a clearly informed, if not dry take on revelation and Scripture. His perspective holds very much in line with Barth--so take that as you will. This book was a bit tough to read, but once discussed in class, it became more helpful.

I think there are easier books to read on the topic, but was challenged by his ideas.

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Jan 08, Trish rated it liked it Shelves: Probably a fine book if you agree with Reform Theology. Feb 04, Jacob Aitken rated it really liked it Shelves: As the title suggests, this book is merely a sketch. It has its problems, but it also has a number of profound suggestions. Scripture has its place as an act of the God who speaks to and sanctifies his people 8. Webster makes an unusual move: The sanctification of Scriptur As the title suggests, this book is merely a sketch.

Revelation Webster notes a problem when revelation is collapsed into prolegomenal foundations: But not only is God not merely the content of revelation, he is the subject. In fact, Webster concludes: I disagree, but more on that later. Whatever else the Bible may mean in relation to political theology or historical criticism, if it is not first anchored in the sanctifying acts of God towards his people, then we have divorced Scripture from life.

If it is called into being, it stands in the relation of hearing. Invisibility of the Church: It is an act of assent rather than self-derived judgment. It is an act of confession of that which precedes and imposes itself upon the church. It is an act of submission before it is an act of authority. The act of canonization has a backwards reference. The church and all of its acts are ostensive--pointing above and beyond itself. Reading erodes spontenaity and subjects the reader to different modes of learning.

No one believes the pages of the bible as such are divine, for they wear away which an attribute like eternity cannot. Therefore, the bible I have is a copy of something. A copy of what, precisely? What do we mean by means? Does he mean all acts of revelation are reconciliatory? This aspect of revelation is not saving.

It is judgmental and even damning. We should insist on Scripture in usu et actione Jun 26, Matthew Stanley rated it it was amazing. John Webster's compact work about Holy Scripture commanded my attention and has radically shaped how I will approach Scripture in the future. Webster's work stands out in sharp relief against the mass of literature in Academia these days which prioritize communal readings or philosophical investigations into hermeneutics. I myself have gravitated towards such theories as of late.

Holy Scripture

Growing up in a small Christian school, I had never encountered the field of postmodern hermeneutics, and I was c Dr. Growing up in a small Christian school, I had never encountered the field of postmodern hermeneutics, and I was consequently enamored with it upon encountering it. A Dogmatic Sketch" consciously takes aim at such accounts of Scripture and instead constructs an account founded in God's free action of revelation through the text.

In true Protestant fashion, Dr. Webster weaves a beautiful tapestry for us by emphasizing the primacy of Scripture, God's free and sovereign self-revelation, and His reconciling work performed even in spite of our sinfulness. Share your thoughts with other customers. Write a customer review. Showing of 12 reviews. Top Reviews Most recent Top Reviews. There was a problem filtering reviews right now.

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Extremely academic and difficult read, but if you can stick with it and wrestle, Webster has some wonderful insights and understandings. From an Anabaptist perspective, some of what he writes is challenging, but I think Anabaptists would be well served to consider those challenges as necessary emphases for the post-modern era. If this book hadn't been assigned for a graduate-level class, I wouldn't have finished the first chapter. While the subject matter is relevant, the writing style is obtuse, the sentences run on, and the vocabulary will keep all but the most accomplished wordsmiths rushing to the dictionary.

That's not to mention a generous helping of Latin phrases, for which the online translators don't match the author's own occasional but infrequent translations, suggesting that fluency in Latin is a presumption for the reader. I've just finished Chapter Two, the last half of which plunges into an unintelligible exposition of canonization that is blissfully free from either scriptural or experiential evidence, conveniently pronouncing it as dogma, thus in content, form, and character placing it beyond argument.

If you like a brain teaser, this is it. If you read for information Definitely a masters level read but incredibly deep and convicting. Webster's work is a welcome change to the unfortunate tendency for evangelical theologians not devoting much effort to laying out a dogmatic sketch of Scripture.

One person found this helpful. Well written and worth reading as a good conversation partner. Everything was good in ordering and receiving this book.

I haven't read much of it yet, so I don't have much input yet. A professor once told me, "John Webster does not waste his words. While subtitled a "sketch", and only consisting of pgs of text, this is one of the "meatiest" theological works I have read in a long time. It was a difficult read, yet not in the sense that I couldn't understand it, but because Webster is packs in important theological points in every paragraph.

It's as though you're in a lecture and the professor says, "If you doze off for even 10 seconds in the next 20 minutes then you will miss the overall point! I could certainly re-read this book over the next few years and continue to benefit from it.

Webster is an excellent theologian who does first-rate theology with a genuine concern for the church and discipleship in the midst of his discussion of Holy Scripture in light of the Trinity. Other reviewers here have outlined and summarized the book, and so I will not repeat what they have said. Nevertheless, while the reading may be slow, the reward is great. I highly recommend this book to those interested in understand what Holy Scripture is or even those interested in how to do good theology.

Webster makes an unusual move: Revelation Webster notes a problem when revelation is collapsed into prolegomenal foundations: But not only is God not merely the content of revelation, he is the subject. In fact, Webster concludes: I disagree, but more on that later. Whatever else the Bible may mean in relation to political theology or historical criticism, if it is not first anchored in the sanctifying acts of God towards his people, then we have divorced Scripture from life.

If it is called into being, it stands in the relation of hearing. Invisibility of the Church: It is an act of assent rather than self-derived judgment. It is an act of confession of that which precedes and imposes itself upon the church. It is an act of submission before it is an act of authority.

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The act of canonization has a backwards reference.

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