Divine Providence Research Papers - Academia.edu (original) (raw)

This rare book of its kind is a rigorous scholarly examination of critical theories regarding the historical and theological foundations of Christianity. Engaging with the works of leading 19th-century rationalist scholars—including Ernest Renan, David Friedrich Strauss, and the Tübingen School led by Ferdinand Christian Baur—Fisher systematically evaluates their claims, ultimately defending the supernatural origins of Christianity against skeptical interpretations. The book begins by exploring the nature of the intellectual and theological conflict between Christian faith and skepticism, emphasizing the historical reliability of Christian claims. A major focus is the authenticity of the Gospel of John, addressing scholarly disputes over its composition, theological significance, and historical credibility, with supplementary notes discussing recent literature on the Johannine question and the Paschal controversies. Fisher also analyzes contemporary debates on the Synoptic Gospels, particularly theories advanced by scholars like Holtzmann and Meyer, who proposed complex redactional processes shaping the textual tradition.Further, Fisher critiques Baur’s reconstruction of early Christian factions, notably his portrayal of the Book of Acts as a later synthesis of Pauline and Petrine Christianity. He examines the contested role of Ebionitism in early Christianity, challenging Baur’s assertion that Catholic Christianity emerged from a conflict between Jewish and Pauline factions. Turning to Strauss’s mythical theory, Fisher dissects its epistemological and historical assumptions, highlighting its inconsistencies in explaining the rapid formation of early Christian beliefs about Jesus. In a later chapter, he critiques Strauss’s revised interpretation of his theory, exploring its implications for historical Jesus research. The book also engages with Renan’s legendary theory, particularly his treatment of the Resurrection of Jesus. Fisher argues that Renan’s position reflects methodological biases and a selective use of sources, as evidenced in the evolving editions of Renan’s Life of Jesus. Additionally, the work scrutinizes the theological and historical positions of Theodore Parker, assessing his critical views on biblical inspiration and Christian doctrine. A pivotal chapter examines the conversion of Paul, assessing how Baur and Strauss interpreted this event within their skeptical frameworks. Fisher contrasts their conclusions with alternative historical explanations, incorporating Renan’s perspective on Paul’s transformation. Moving into a theological discussion, the book defends the nature and function of Christian miracles, evaluating their role as evidential supports for divine revelation. The testimony of Jesus concerning His own identity is also explored, with a supplemental discussion on the originality of Jesus’ teachings in contrast to prevailing religious traditions. The final sections address broader metaphysical questions, including the nature and personality of God. Fisher critically engages with positivist and pantheist perspectives, defending theism through arguments from design and divine intentionality. Throughout the text, he provides extensive scholarly engagement with contemporary critical literature, presenting a balanced yet firmly theistic response to rationalist critiques of Christianity. This work stands as a significant contribution to 19th-century apologetics and biblical scholarship, offering a well-reasoned defense of Christianity against modern critical theories while engaging deeply with historical-critical methodology.
CONTENTS
INTRODUCTION
I. The Nature of the Conflict of Christian Faith with Skepticism and Unbelief – 1
II. The Genuineness of the Fourth Gospel – 33
• Supplementary Notes:
• The Recent Literature upon the Johannine Question
• The Paschal Controversies in their Relation to the Gospel of John
III. Recent Discussions upon the Origin of the First Three Gospels – 158
• Supplementary Note: The Theories of Holtzmann and Meyer
IV. Baur on Parties in the Apostolic Church and the Character of the Book of Acts – 205
• Supplementary Note:
• Lightfoot on the Apostolic Convention
• Renan’s Work on the Apostles and His Life of the Apostle Paul
V. Baur on Ebionitism and the Origin of Catholic Christianity – 281
• Supplementary Note: Beyschlag on the Character of the Roman Church
VI. The Mythical Theory of Strauss – 339
• Supplementary Note: The Alleged Credulity of Mankind at the Period of the Rise of Christianity
VII. Strauss’s Restatement of His Theory – 421
VIII. The Legendary Theory of Renan – 433
• Supplementary Note: Renan on the Resurrection of Jesus; The 13th Edition of His Life of Christ
IX. The Critical and Theological Opinions of Theodore Parker – 449
X. An Examination of Baur and Strauss on the Conversion of Paul – 469
• Supplementary Note: Renan on the Conversion of Paul
XI. The Nature and Function of the Christian Miracles – 471
XII. The Testimony of Jesus Concerning Himself – 518
• Supplementary Note: The Originality of Jesus
XIII. The Personality of God: In Reply to the Positivist and the Pantheist – 639
• Supplementary Note: The Argument from Design
Tags
Theological Themes:
Christianity, Supernaturalism, Christian faith, Theology, Christology, Divine revelation, Theism, Apologetics, Biblical theology, Christian doctrine, Christian miracles, Resurrection, Christ’s divinity, Incarnation, Redemption, Atonement, Theological debates, Early Church theology, Biblical inspiration, Gospel authenticity, Apostolic tradition, Divine intervention, Providence, Christian philosophy, Metaphysics of God, Divine personality, Divine nature, Biblical miracles, Divine authority, Jesus' teachings, Eschatology, Soteriology, Ecclesiology, Christian mysticism, Spiritualism, Divine testimony, Faith vs. reason, Theological positivism, Theological pantheism, Christian metaphysics, Theological anthropology, Biblical exegesis, Biblical inerrancy, Biblical canonicity, Divine omniscience, Divine omnipotence, Divine omnipresence, Trinitarian theology, Christological debates, Biblical ethics, Natural theology, Teleology, Theodicy, Christian historicity, Theological epistemology.
Historical Context & Biblical Studies:
Early Christianity, New Testament studies, Old Testament studies, Synoptic Gospels, Gospel of John, Historical Jesus, Apostolic Age, Second Temple Judaism, Christian origins, Church history, Biblical archaeology, Johannine literature, Acts of the Apostles, Paul the Apostle, Pauline Christianity, Petrine Christianity, Ebionitism, Jewish Christianity, Gentile Christianity, Hellenistic Christianity, Early Christian sects, Tübingen School, Apostolic writings, Theological development, Canon formation, Christ in history, Religious historiography, Gospel historicity, Early Church Fathers, Patristic theology, Christian traditions, Early Christian writings, Biblical hermeneutics, Scriptural transmission, Christian antiquity, The Dead Sea Scrolls, Intertestamental literature, Rabbinic Judaism, Greco-Roman religion, Ancient Near East religion, Hellenistic influences, Alexandrian theology, Judeo-Christian relations, Heresiology, Martyrdom in Christianity, Early Christian apologetics, New Testament criticism, Biblical criticism, Source criticism, Form criticism, Redaction criticism.
Key Figures & Theories Critiqued:
Ernest Renan, David Friedrich Strauss, Ferdinand Christian Baur, Tübingen School, Holtzmann, Meyer, F.C. Baur, Bruno Bauer, Albert Schweitzer, Strauss’s mythical theory, Renan’s legendary theory, Rationalist theology, Skeptical theology, Higher criticism, Liberal theology, Historical-critical method, German Idealism, Positivism, Pantheism, Theodore Parker, Hegelianism, Strauss’s restatement, Renan on the Resurrection, Renan’s Life of Jesus, Strauss’s critique of miracles, Baur on Paul, Baur on early Church factions, Baur on the Book of Acts, Mythical Jesus theory, German Rationalism, 19th-century skepticism, Renan’s historiography, Strauss vs. Orthodoxy, Historical positivism, Baur’s dialectical method, Strauss’s secularism, Enlightenment skepticism, Rationalism vs. faith, Scientific atheism, Post-Enlightenment theology.
Philosophical & Methodological Issues:
Historical method, Rationalist skepticism, Religious epistemology, Biblical historiography, Enlightenment thought, Historical skepticism, Materialist critique, Empiricism vs. faith, Hermeneutical debates, Historicity of miracles, Miracles vs. naturalism, Supernatural causation, Scriptural literalism, Scriptural allegory, Deism vs. theism, Rational religion, Theological skepticism, Philosophical idealism, Existential theology, Faith and reason, Historical objectivity, Philosophical naturalism, Christian rationalism, Moral theology, Biblical existentialism, Empirical theology, Scholarly exegesis, Religious pluralism, Theistic arguments, Biblical typology, Dialectical theology, Divine inspiration, Theological rationalism, Post-Enlightenment skepticism, Modernism in theology, Historiographical debates, Religious phenomenology, Metaphysics of miracles, Cosmological arguments, Theological idealism, Design argument, Naturalistic worldview, Theological humanism, Historical objectivism, Religious empiricism, Theism vs. atheism, Philosophical apologetics.
New Testament Studies & Gospel Criticism:
Gospel chronology, Synoptic problem, Documentary hypothesis, Johannine question, Q source, Oral tradition, Gospel authorship, Pauline letters, Apocalyptic Jesus, Aramaic substratum, Gospel harmonization, Textual criticism, Paschal controversies, Christ’s parables, Gospel redaction, Early manuscript tradition, Greek textual variants, Codex Sinaiticus, Codex Vaticanus, Biblical interpolations, Gospel discrepancies, Theological interpolation, Biblical manuscript studies, Early textual transmission, Jewish eschatology, Messianic prophecy, Hebrew Gospel sources, Apostolic eyewitness testimony, Transmission of oral traditions, Ancient historiograph...