Christian doctrine is unique in that it is an intellectual response to the historical activity and revelatory disclosure of God. Doctrine is rational reflection upon God’s saving activity in Jesus Christ. Foundational to the idea of “doctrine” is the fact that we need to be told what God is like. It is not ours to determine what kind of God we will believe and obey. It is God’s to determine to show Himself to us. Doctrine is our effort to articulate what He has made known. Doctrine is the divinely authorized attempt to describe God in accordance with how He has revealed Himself in creation, in history, in Jesus Christ and in the Scriptures. In doing so, doctrine also serves to expose false interpretations of reality, false concepts of God. It is the aim of doctrine to make sense of the individual’s and the church’s experience of God as He has made Himself known in Jesus Christ.

— Alister McGrath (b. 1953), Theologe, Biophysiker und christlicher Apologet

Topics: The Bible & the Word of God, God, Jesus & the Holy Spirit, Wisdom & Understanding

Alister McGrath

Alister McGrath (* 1953) ist ein britischer Theologe, Biophysiker und anglikanischer Priester, der lange an der Universität Oxford lehrte. Bekannt wurde er durch theologische Standardlehrbücher sowie als Apologet im Dialog zwischen Naturwissenschaft und christlichem Glauben und in der Debatte mit dem Neuen Atheismus. Heutigen Bibellesern vermittelt er eine intellektuell fundierte Reflexion über das Zusammenspiel von wissenschaftlicher Rationalität und biblischem Sinnhorizont.

All quotes by Alister McGrath (18)

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