Listening to the Past: The Place of Tradition in Theology

by Stephen R. Holmes

Book Overview

Beginning with the question 'Why can't we just read the Bible?' Stephen Holmes considers the place of tradition in theology, showing how the doctrine of creation leads to an account of historical... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0801026423
• ISBN13: 9780801026423
• Release Date: January 2003
• Publisher: Baker Academic
• Length: 184 Pages
• Weight: 0.60 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.4" x 6.1" x 9.0"

Customer Reviews

the value of tradition

This is not the book I thought it would be when I bought it, and in retrospect I wish I hadn't. I give it four stars because it does what it purports to do: show how theologians do not function in theological vacuums with their bibles at their side (not that Holmes disbelieves sola scriptura). I withhold a star because I disagree with its fundamental premise, as you'll read. So I write this review to let you know what it is not, so that you may be better informed, and to give possible alternatives to this book for selected readers. This is not a book about early Christian thought, as I thought it would be. Rather it is, in my view, a disconnected assortment of case studies about the role that tradition plays (which is applied by the author in the broadest of terms) in the lives of theologians from such variant and diverse traditions (see my point!) as Calvin, Barth, Anselm, Edwards, Basil, John of Damascus, Anabaptists, etc. It is good in showing how each person or movement adapted or rejected the past to suit their own needs and fit their own perspectives and readings of the bible since, especially for the post-Reformation thinkers, that is the sole authoritative source, which many would argue is a misunderstanding of the tradition "once delivered", but anyway... To counterbalance this, the author tries to show, not successfully in my view, the middle ground between the Roman two source theory and the individualistic sola scriptura readings of the Anabaptists. (I believe that there is in fact a third way, but it is found in plugging into the Orthodox tradition and not in the claim that the bible is the sole authoritative and self-authenticating source of theology, even if you hold moderate and somewhat traditional theological views, but that is not the point of this review.) Writing that tradition can be given a tentative and soft normative power over the reading and application of Scripture, he still holds to the sola scriptura stance. Here I feel he is not being totally honest about the nature of the canon itself, as if it created itself with no relation to the liturgical communities that produced and authenticated and interpreted the letters and gospels. I see his point, and for years I myself believed it, but it ultimately became unworkable, in my experience. His chapter on baptism in the Fathers was very useful in its overview of the topic, yet it fails to get to the root of the matter. Yes, it is true that many of the Fathers themselves waited to their late teens or twenties to be baptized (one can mention Chrysostom, Gregory Nazianzus, and Jerome). But they did not receive baptism because they thought of it only as an outward sign with no conveying of grace and regeneration. It is the exact opposite! They held too high a view of the purity to maintain afterward and wanted to avoid seriously sinning afterwards. Although itself a misunderstanding of baptism, it proves the opposite point that many Protestants try to make of the exampl

A succinctly written study of lessons already learned

Listening To The Past: The Place Of Tradition In Theology by Stephen R. Holmes (Lecturer in Christian Doctrine at King's College, London and Senior Researcher in Mission and Theology at the Bible Society) comprehensively examines the doctrine of communion of saints, bringing together wisdom concerning atonement, free will, theology, politics, and the importance of listening to and learning from tradition and history. Each individual chapter focuses on a different aspect of modern-day questions and conundrums involving God and faith, in a succinctly written study of lessons already learned throughout the centuries. Listening To The Past is especially recommended for non-specialist general readers with an interest in Christian Doctrine & Theology.