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Papers by Walter A Diener Th.D.
November, 2022
The debate about national Israel’s disposition as God’s chosen people continues with little or n... more The debate about national Israel’s disposition as God’s chosen people continues with
little or no movement toward resolution. On one side of the debate are those who argue that Israel
continues to be God’s chosen people, distinct from and simultaneously with the church. They believe
that one day, God will fulfill several remaining covenant promises, granting salvation to a remnant
and restoring their promised land. Conversely, the opposing side of the debate, a view known as
supersessionism, argues that Israel no longer occupies chosen-nation status, having been replaced
by the church. According to this view, covenant promises find fulfillment in the church.
Historically, the debate has held little hope of resolution because each side approaches the issue
from their respective theological positions: Dispensationalism and Covenantalism. Both positions
claim to apply grammatical-historical hermeneutics. However, both groups embrace opposing
theological inferences, contributing to the stalemate.
This paper examines the hermeneutical foundations of covenantal supersessionism to determine
if their definition and application of hermeneutical principles are consistent with traditional
grammatical-historical hermeneutics. The study first summarizes the locus of textual meaning to
establish that grammatical-historical hermeneutics is the appropriate interpretive approach to
ascertain the meaning of the text. Next, the definition and application of grammatical-historical
hermeneutical principles are confirmed. This confirmation provides the standard against which the
definition and application of covenantal supersessionism’s hermeneutics are compared. The specific
hermeneutical principles examined are intertextuality, the assignment of interpretive authority to
the New Testament, the presupposition of extreme continuity between the testaments, typological
interpretation, and the figurative interpretation of prophecies about Israel’s restoration.
This paper's conclusion contends that the way covenantal supersessionists define and apply
hermeneutical principles is inconsistent with traditional grammatical-historical hermeneutics.
Additionally, covenantalists allow an unnecessary theological inference to
influence their definition and application of some hermeneutical principles.
Drafts by Walter A Diener Th.D.
Abraham Kuyper is the father of sphere sovereignty, which experienced a resurgence during the COV... more Abraham Kuyper is the father of sphere sovereignty, which experienced a resurgence during the COVID-19 pandemic. But is sphere sovereignty a biblical doctrine or a theological inference? This essay examines sphere sovereignty against Scripture, allowing the Bible to speak for itself.
The Emerging Church (EC) is a loosely connected group of Christians involved in “conversations” a... more The Emerging Church (EC) is a loosely connected group of Christians involved in “conversations” about how to effectively engage the postmodern generation in spiritual activities. At the heart of these conversational communities lies the conviction that cultural changes from modernism to postmodernism require that a new kind of Christian must rise from the ashes of modernistic evangelicalism to inhabit a relevant church which engages postmodernism on a deeper level.
The philosophical affinity shared by the EC and postmodernism initiates concern about the orthodoxy of their theological trajectory. Investigation of the epistemic impetus behind the EC’s recommendations is necessary.
In light of this need, this study clarifies the EC’s epistemology by means of literary analysis. The same method is used to ascertain the biblical view of truth and knowledge. After summarizing the respective epistemic positions, a comparison was made to establish the extent of congruency which the EC’s epistemology shares with Scripture.
This thesis concludes with a summary of the EC’s faithfulness or infidelity to the biblical view of truth and knowledge. Subsequent to summary of findings, recommendations are made in an attempt to foster an appropriate response to the EC.
The Puritans believed that the only appropriate response to God’s glorious sovereignty was to liv... more The Puritans believed that the only appropriate response to God’s glorious sovereignty was to live a devoted, disciplined life, which was their reasonable service of worship. Their practice of spiritual disciplines was customary and compulsory, not discretionary and extraordinary.
Puritanism was not a monolithic movement in either their theology or practice. The Puritans shared at least four theological equilibria that served to solidify their vision of individual and practical spirituality. Doctrine, for the Puritans, was more than speculation; it was grounded, directional, compelling, and practical. Even in the face of great opposition, the substance of their theology resulted in an unflinching commitment to a distinctive lifestyle of godliness. Having a strong commitment to the word of God, the Puritans’ theology was multi-faceted and precise. Bibliology emerged as the most overarching category of their belief. Characterized by intense love and respect for Scripture, it informed other formative beliefs, such as theology proper, ecclesiology, and soteriology. These beliefs were the equilibria of Puritan spirituality.
How did sin enter the world? What mechanism facilitated its universal transmission to every human... more How did sin enter the world? What mechanism facilitated its universal transmission to every human being? What are the consequences of its pervasive influence? Careful examination of relevant biblical texts reveals that sin gained a foothold in the world through one man, Adam. As the federal representative of his posterity, he acted not as a single man, but as mankind. By means of imputation, all men are born with the guilt and corruption of sin. Death is the consequence of sin; therefore, all men die. In man’s current state, he is morally incapable of pleasing God. It is the eternal blackness of man’s wretched estate that leads the writer of Hebrews to warn against neglecting “so great a salvation” (Hebrews 2:3).
When one looks closely at the nature and extent of the biblical covenants God made with Israel, t... more When one looks closely at the nature and extent of the biblical covenants God made with Israel, the causal relevance for millennial eschatology emerges. There remain significant unfulfilled promises that require the presence of a national Israel and a literal interpretation of the nation's presence in the millennial kingdom.
November, 2022
The debate about national Israel’s disposition as God’s chosen people continues with little or n... more The debate about national Israel’s disposition as God’s chosen people continues with
little or no movement toward resolution. On one side of the debate are those who argue that Israel
continues to be God’s chosen people, distinct from and simultaneously with the church. They believe
that one day, God will fulfill several remaining covenant promises, granting salvation to a remnant
and restoring their promised land. Conversely, the opposing side of the debate, a view known as
supersessionism, argues that Israel no longer occupies chosen-nation status, having been replaced
by the church. According to this view, covenant promises find fulfillment in the church.
Historically, the debate has held little hope of resolution because each side approaches the issue
from their respective theological positions: Dispensationalism and Covenantalism. Both positions
claim to apply grammatical-historical hermeneutics. However, both groups embrace opposing
theological inferences, contributing to the stalemate.
This paper examines the hermeneutical foundations of covenantal supersessionism to determine
if their definition and application of hermeneutical principles are consistent with traditional
grammatical-historical hermeneutics. The study first summarizes the locus of textual meaning to
establish that grammatical-historical hermeneutics is the appropriate interpretive approach to
ascertain the meaning of the text. Next, the definition and application of grammatical-historical
hermeneutical principles are confirmed. This confirmation provides the standard against which the
definition and application of covenantal supersessionism’s hermeneutics are compared. The specific
hermeneutical principles examined are intertextuality, the assignment of interpretive authority to
the New Testament, the presupposition of extreme continuity between the testaments, typological
interpretation, and the figurative interpretation of prophecies about Israel’s restoration.
This paper's conclusion contends that the way covenantal supersessionists define and apply
hermeneutical principles is inconsistent with traditional grammatical-historical hermeneutics.
Additionally, covenantalists allow an unnecessary theological inference to
influence their definition and application of some hermeneutical principles.
Abraham Kuyper is the father of sphere sovereignty, which experienced a resurgence during the COV... more Abraham Kuyper is the father of sphere sovereignty, which experienced a resurgence during the COVID-19 pandemic. But is sphere sovereignty a biblical doctrine or a theological inference? This essay examines sphere sovereignty against Scripture, allowing the Bible to speak for itself.
The Emerging Church (EC) is a loosely connected group of Christians involved in “conversations” a... more The Emerging Church (EC) is a loosely connected group of Christians involved in “conversations” about how to effectively engage the postmodern generation in spiritual activities. At the heart of these conversational communities lies the conviction that cultural changes from modernism to postmodernism require that a new kind of Christian must rise from the ashes of modernistic evangelicalism to inhabit a relevant church which engages postmodernism on a deeper level.
The philosophical affinity shared by the EC and postmodernism initiates concern about the orthodoxy of their theological trajectory. Investigation of the epistemic impetus behind the EC’s recommendations is necessary.
In light of this need, this study clarifies the EC’s epistemology by means of literary analysis. The same method is used to ascertain the biblical view of truth and knowledge. After summarizing the respective epistemic positions, a comparison was made to establish the extent of congruency which the EC’s epistemology shares with Scripture.
This thesis concludes with a summary of the EC’s faithfulness or infidelity to the biblical view of truth and knowledge. Subsequent to summary of findings, recommendations are made in an attempt to foster an appropriate response to the EC.
The Puritans believed that the only appropriate response to God’s glorious sovereignty was to liv... more The Puritans believed that the only appropriate response to God’s glorious sovereignty was to live a devoted, disciplined life, which was their reasonable service of worship. Their practice of spiritual disciplines was customary and compulsory, not discretionary and extraordinary.
Puritanism was not a monolithic movement in either their theology or practice. The Puritans shared at least four theological equilibria that served to solidify their vision of individual and practical spirituality. Doctrine, for the Puritans, was more than speculation; it was grounded, directional, compelling, and practical. Even in the face of great opposition, the substance of their theology resulted in an unflinching commitment to a distinctive lifestyle of godliness. Having a strong commitment to the word of God, the Puritans’ theology was multi-faceted and precise. Bibliology emerged as the most overarching category of their belief. Characterized by intense love and respect for Scripture, it informed other formative beliefs, such as theology proper, ecclesiology, and soteriology. These beliefs were the equilibria of Puritan spirituality.
How did sin enter the world? What mechanism facilitated its universal transmission to every human... more How did sin enter the world? What mechanism facilitated its universal transmission to every human being? What are the consequences of its pervasive influence? Careful examination of relevant biblical texts reveals that sin gained a foothold in the world through one man, Adam. As the federal representative of his posterity, he acted not as a single man, but as mankind. By means of imputation, all men are born with the guilt and corruption of sin. Death is the consequence of sin; therefore, all men die. In man’s current state, he is morally incapable of pleasing God. It is the eternal blackness of man’s wretched estate that leads the writer of Hebrews to warn against neglecting “so great a salvation” (Hebrews 2:3).
When one looks closely at the nature and extent of the biblical covenants God made with Israel, t... more When one looks closely at the nature and extent of the biblical covenants God made with Israel, the causal relevance for millennial eschatology emerges. There remain significant unfulfilled promises that require the presence of a national Israel and a literal interpretation of the nation's presence in the millennial kingdom.