Tuesday, February 01, 2011

Gospel adaptation and presentation

"Much of the pleading for adaptation of the gospel to the needs of this generation is suspect. For it is too often a plea for something other than the gospel. Far more important is the reminder that each generation must be adapted to the gospel. It is true, however, that the presentation of the gospel must be pointed to the needs of each generation. So it is with theology. A theology that does not build upon the past ignores our debt to history and naively overlooks the fact that the present is conditioned by history. A theology that relies upon the past evades the demands of the present."

From John Murray, writing in 1963. I'm reading articles and opening chapters to prepare notes for a lecture introducing systematic theology. Great fun re-reading stuff I'd forgotten.

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