Toward a Sure Faith: J. Gresham Machen and the Dilemma of Biblical Criticism, 1881-1915 by Terry A. ChrisopeMy rating: 4 of 5 stars
Well written and insightful account of Machen's struggle with doubt posed by historicism and higher criticism of the Bible. Chrisope deftly tracks Machen's development as a historian and New Testament scholar, showing that Machen resolved his doubt by honest grappling with history and the Bible's truth claims. Machen worked through his questions while teaching at Princeton and founding Westminster Theological Seminary.
Machen came to the conclusion that higher criticism proceeded from the anti-supernatural bias of the Enlightenment. This bias does not arise from the text or its historical context and inevitably warps biblical interpretation. This is because historicism reduces history to naturalistic causes and cannot adequately deal with the historical truth claims of the Bible.
Paul said if Christ is not raised then our faith is in vain. This claim was falsifiable. The fact that the church still exists can only be explained by the fact that no one could disprove the Christians. Machen exposed historicism as a modern idol and clung to the Faith that had called him to faith.
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