Open Access<I>Claritas Scripturae</I>, Theological Epistemology, and the Phenomenology of Christian Faith
Author(s) -
Steven Nemes
Publication year - 2019
Publication title -
the journal of analytic theology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
ISSN - 2330-2380
DOI - 10.12978/jat.2019-7.181913130418
Subject(s) - doctrine , philosophy , faith , exposition (narrative) , theology , epistemology , phenomenology (philosophy) , meaning (existential) , philosophy of religion , literature , art
The doctrine of the perspicuity of Scripture maintains that the meaning of Scripture is clear to those who are enlightened by the Holy Spirit through faith. But this definition provides no way to know whether one has true faith or has been so enlightened by the Holy Spirit, a problem accentuated by persistent disagreement among persons who claim to be Christians of good will. This is a specific instance of a more general problem afflicting “closed” theological epistemologies. This essay provides an exposition of Kevin Diller’s synthesis of the “closed” theological epistemologies of Karl Barth and Alvin Plantinga and critiques it on phenomenological grounds. It then concludes with a phenomenologically redefined description of Christian faith which entails rejecting the doctrine of the claritas scripturae and motivates an “open” theological epistemology.