Philosophy Can Be Dangerous

During my studies at Biola University (1995-1998), which is presently a bastion of philosophical libertarianism and theological semi-Pelagianism, I have noticed a tendency throughout the Evangelical Philosophical Community to do shoddy Biblical exegesis on the relevant Biblical passages pertaining to the free will/sovereignty of God issue, or avoid doing Biblical exegesis at all.

I have seen some of the best Evangelical Philosophers in this nation such as the Molinaist William Lane Craig and JP Moreland simply force their previously held Aristotelian/ Arminian/libertarian presuppositional biases upon the Biblical passages such as Romans 9, Ephesians 1-2 and simply force the Bible to say what they believe should be right according to their Aristotelian paradigm instead of determining through sound Biblical exegesis what is really in the text.

One such Evangelical Scholar which does not do this is Dr. John Piper (B.A. Wheaton, M.A. Fuller, Ph.D. Munich) as evidenced by his compelling and thorough Book entitled, "The Justification of God" his exegetical treatment of Romans 9.

All to often, many Evangelicals appeal to secular philosophical systems such as Aristotelianism and do simply horrid exegesis to command what the Bible should say instead of looking at the text exegetically in it's proper historical, linguistic and grammatical context to determine what the Scripture says on its own merits.

We need to follow the example of Augustine of Hippo, who towards the end of his life published a Latin work entitled Retractiones wherein he retracted many of his previous writings that were overly influenced by his Neo-Platonism through the study of Plutonius and even some latent Manichean influenced views.

In this issue of free will and divine sovereignty, I am only concerned with what the Bible says, not what Molina, Aristotle, Plato or even Augustine or Calvin says. Just give me pure, unbridled exegesis of the Biblical texts. Like the patristic father Tertullian said, "For what accord has Athens with Jerusalem?"

I do not want to stand over the texts of Scripture as their autonomous judge and force the Scriptures to say what they do not.

Having said this, a proper study of the Book of Romans and Ephesians will most definitely demonstrate unequivocally, that God is sovereign over all things and imputes unmerited divine grace upon those who are dead in trespasses and sin due to the transgression of Adam (Romans 5:1-18 and Ephesians 1 and 2).

In other words, the Bible alone, not philosophical and theoretical speculation should be our only guide and foundation by which we can determine the mind of God on the issue of free will and divine sovereignty (2 Timothy 3:15-17).

I want to follow the injunction of the Apostle Paul who said, "Beware lest anyone cheat you through philosophy and empty deceit and not according to Christ, for in Him dwells the fulness of the godhead bodily and you are complete in Him" (Colossians 2:8-9).