Biblical faith and philosophic truth

pp. 198-212

in: Leroy Rouner (ed), Philosophy, religion, and the coming world civilization, Berlin, Springer, 1966

Abstract

There seems to be constant conflict, or at least tension, between biblical faith and philosophic truth. The former is historical, personal, concerned, concrete and perhaps even mythological in nature whereas the latter appears to be general, universal, objective and rational. Biblical faith is committed understanding; philosophic truth, on the contrary, is truth for truth's sake. Even the moods and the methods of the two seem to contradict each other. The biblical mood demands involvement; the philosophic attitude precludes partisanship. The biblical method requires obedience, or at least loyalty, whereas the philosophic method will countenance no bias. Within the biblical faith only he who wills to do God's will can know the doctrine, or only he who abides in Christ will know the truth that sets him free. Within the philosophic approach to truth, however, he who chooses concerned faith cannot see so clearly as he who devotes himself unreservedly to truth for its own sake. Such grounds for conflict characterize at least the two main streams of biblical faith and philosophic truth.