The Authority of Scripture

[Gregory Matthews]

In the following article, Dr. Richard Davidson comments on the spiritual journey he had taken in his understanding of the place that the Bible should have in one's spiritual life.

http://spectrummagazine.org/article/2017/08/23/authority-scripture-personal-pilgrimage

Personally, I have both agreement and disagreement with what Dr. Davidson has said in the above article.  But, I believe that the subject is important and I believe that his voice should be considered.

I intend to comment further on this article.  So, I am locking this thread until I can  do so, after which I will open it up for other comments.

 

[Gregory Matthews]

It is with deep respect that I consider the work of Dr. Richard Davidson.  He is a conservative SDA theologian, who along with his wife, also a respected theologian, has  contributed much to SDA understanding of God, Salvation and the Bible.  When he writes, his work should not be summarily dismissed.

The above article was published in 2006.   IOW, it is eleven years old.  It reminds me of a common experience that I went  through.  At the time I graduated from College, I thought I had it all as to the understanding of God and the  Bible.  I believed that I could write a doctrinal statement (I did  not do so.) that would remain with me for as long as I lived.  With the passage of time, I have learned that salvation involved growth in understanding.  So, today, in some areas of belief, I have matured and advanced beyond where I was when I graduated from college.  I would hope that  Dr. Davidson might in the past eleven years also matured in his understanding of this subject.

Among the agreements that I have with him is his evaluation of the basic importance that this subject should hold for SDAs.  He is correct and it should not be understated.

   Dr. Davidson shares his experience with his faith being shaken in his schooling.  This is a common experience to many of us, and was part of my life.  While my details may not match his in the specifics, I can relate in general terms.  The struggle that one may have in their  faith is not in itself bad.  It can be positive in giving, as it did for me. A more stable foundation. 

This struggle may depend upon two issues:  a)  The ability of the professor to navigate the student through the issues in an appropriate manner.  ‘b)  The willingness of the student to expend the effort needed to work through the issues.  I have seen failures on both.

During the time I was at the Seminary, one of the professors left.  In my thinking, it was not so much what he was actually teaching as it was his inability to reach down to the level of the student and interact on that level.   On the issue of the student:   I remember a fellow student who was taking with me a class in archaeology by Dr. Horn.  He found it of no value and persuaded his Conference President to allow him to leave the Seminary to start doing, as he put it, “The Lord’s Work.”    For those who did not know Dr. Horn,  His classes were considered a blessing by all, to include conservatives and liberals.

As for me, my time at the Seminary was positively shaped by both Dr. Dederan and the three professors who taught the Introduction to the New Testament class.    I may have struggled at points in time.  But, those classes were a very positive encouragement to me in my spiritual life.  

Dr. Davidson makes a very concrete distinction between what he calls the grammatical-historical and the historical-critical approaches to the Bible.  That distinction is not so concrete today.  Scholars on both sides accept some of the presuppositions of the other side.  Both so-called liberals and conservatives, in this area do have some common agreements.

For many, the rejection of the historical-critical method is due to where certain theologians have gone with it.  I will clearly agree that their end-point should be rejected.  But, I will say that such an end-point, is not the ipso facto end-point that happens to all who use some of its principles.

Many who will agree with Dr. Davidson’s rejection of the historical-critical method of approaching Scripture do not understand that it is those foundational principles that guide us in our approach to Ellen White.  E.G.  Her advice on the purchase of bicycles.

I agree with Dr. Davidson as to the Bible being our final test of authority.  So also, do some of the people whom Dr. Davidson would label as being in the historical-critical camp.

To sum up:  I both agree with and disagree with Dr. Davidson.  I am disappointed with his treatment of this subject and his simplification of the issues.  I wonder if this eleven year old document would read the same if he were to write it today.   I would hope that it would differ in some respects.