Author Archives: Peter Van Kleeck Jr. Ph.D.

Blaise Pascal and Theological Persuasion

Welcome to the Brickyard. This is a place to find quotes for use in your own research. The bricks are free but the building is up to you. The following quotes are from Blaise Pascal’s Scientific Treatises on Geometrical Demonstration. Let’s begin. “I am not speaking here of divine truths, which I am far from bringingContinue reading “Blaise Pascal and Theological Persuasion”

From what source does the divine authority of the Scriptures become known to us? (Part 4)

As you can tell by now Turretin’s treatment of the question, “By what means do we come to know the authority and divinity of Scripture” is quite an extensive treatment, but the show must go on. So, continuing this argument we now turn to section XVIII of Turretin’s treatment of the above question. Addressing againContinue reading “From what source does the divine authority of the Scriptures become known to us? (Part 4)”

Weekly Question – How are we to move forward in the translation of Scripture in America?

If we want to get the American Church back on track with a standard sacred text for English-speaking people we would need to do a few of things. 1.) We need to recognize that everyone apparently wants a standard text. We here at StandardSacredText.com certainly do. It also seems the New American Standard folks wantContinue reading “Weekly Question – How are we to move forward in the translation of Scripture in America?”

The Prophet Jeremiah and Textual Criticism

Today we return to our short series on Bibliology and the prophet Jeremiah. Taking a look again at chapter 36 we find at least four relevant themes: 1.) inspiration, 2.) transmission, 3.) textual criticism, and 4.) the status of the original. Today we will look at the theme of textual criticism. The Scripture reads inContinue reading “The Prophet Jeremiah and Textual Criticism”

Scripture as Touchstone

“lapis lydius: Lydian stone, touchstone, standard, or benchmark; originally a hard black flint used by the ancients to test the purity of gold and silver according to the streaks left on the stone when rubbed by the metals, by extension a standard and invariable test of quality. Scripture is thus frequently referred to as lapisContinue reading “Scripture as Touchstone”

From what source does the divine authority of the Scriptures become known to us? (Part 3)

Continuing our Bibliology Primer and specifically Turretin’s treatment of how a Christian comes to know the authority and divinity of Scripture we now turn to the self-attesting and self-authenticating character of Scripture. Turretin writes, “That the Scripture makes itself known to us is proved: (1) by the nature of Scripture itself.” Turretin, Institutes of ElencticContinue reading “From what source does the divine authority of the Scriptures become known to us? (Part 3)”

Thomas Watson and the Doctrine of Scripture

Welcome to the Brickyard. This is a place to find quotes for use in your own research. The bricks are free but the building is up to you. The following quotes are from Thomas Watson’s A Body of Divinity which was first written in 1692 which is 80 years after the translation of the 1611 KingContinue reading “Thomas Watson and the Doctrine of Scripture”

From what source does the divine authority of the Scriptures become known to us? (Part 2)

Beginning again with Turretin, “But although we do not deny that the testimony of the church has its own weight (as will afterwards be seen), yet we maintain that primarily and principally the Bible is believed by us to be divine on account of itself.” Francis Turretin, Institutes of Elenctic Theology, vol. 1 Second Topic,Continue reading “From what source does the divine authority of the Scriptures become known to us? (Part 2)”

Weekly Question – What is the difference between Confessional, Traditional, Ecclesiastical, and Standard Sacred Text?

If you’ve been around the “version debate” long enough and if you have read at least some of the relevant literature or listened to relevant podcasts you most likely have heard of terms like “Confessional Text position,” or “Traditional Text position,” or the “Ecclesiastical Text.” In today’s post I wanted to give a brief summary/definitionContinue reading “Weekly Question – What is the difference between Confessional, Traditional, Ecclesiastical, and Standard Sacred Text?”