Who Said That?

"If we give `gospel' a broader definition . . .  it is possible to say that all Scripture is gospel.  But it is similarly possible to say that all Scripture is law, worldview, ethical guidance, etc."

You know the drill.  Leave your guess in the comments section below.  Remember the point is guess, and not cheat to find the answer (through a google search).  Answer to follow next week.

Update on Thursday, October 22, 2009 at 01:59PM by Kim Riddlebarger

This "clear as mud" definition comes from John Frame's review of Mike Horton's book Christless Christianity (footnote 20).

Comments

[Ryan Stoddard]

John Frame from his recent review of Christless Christianity. I remember raising an eyebrow at that line.

[Aaron]

Yeah, this one's kind of a gimme, since most of your readers have just read that. I can only imagine how you guys must feel about getting this kind of reaction from a former professor. I'm going to find all my John Frame books in my "to-read" stack and put them away. The guy's from another universe.

[Philip Walker]

Frame. How multiperspectivalismistitasticalifragilisticexpialidocious can you get?

[Zac Wyse]

It's gotta be Frame!

[David]

John Frame

[Michael]

Frame

[Steve M]

Now how did I guess John Frame *without* reading that book review?

[John Yeazel]

If I remember correctly, Scott Clark had a difficult time accepting the Law/Gospel distinction until some well known theologian kept pressing the issue with him. Luther's three main theological breakthroughs and struggles dealt with the term "the righteousness of God" (from which his understanding of justification by faith alone grew), the Law/Gospel distinction and his slow developing understanding of repentance, confession and absolution. It is these three issues which separated him from the then Catholic Church and which was the main thrust of the reformation. It looks as though history is repeating itself and Frame is taking the side of the evangelicals (I suppose you could call evangelicalism the Catholic Church of today without the liturgy of the Catholic Church).

So, what else is new? It is always a struggle to come to a more clear understanding of the biblical text. Am I wrong to say that he who interprets the text most clearly wins? Our stubborness and falleness always seems to get in the way.

[Zrim]

The same who said, "And the gospel is not only a program for personal change, but societal as well."

It's interesting how moralistic-therapeutic deism coincides with social gospel. Little wonder Frame conceives favorably of Osteen (and against Horton). Prosperity gospel is all about making bad people (and their societies) good, and good people (and their societies) better.

[Philip Walker]

Steve, I read the review, but hadn't committed it to memory, so I was guessing on the basis of the multiperspectivisticismthingummywhatsit.

[Coyle]

Frame, sadly. It really sucks to see Frame (for whom I have a ton of respect as an intellectual) going after Horton (who's the man!)...

[Steve M]

Phil, precisely the way I guessed it as well:)

I wonder if Frame just likes to say inflammatory things so it gets him press (like seeing Osteen in a positive light). You know, the way Kanye does something stupid to get his name in headlines again. Maybe if we just ignored the guy he'd go away. I'm assuming he's too influential to ignore though, and he probably knows it.

[Timinator]

Sounds like John Frame

[Robin]

"Would you tell me, please, which way I ought to go from here?"
"That depends a good deal on where you want to get to," said the Cat.
"I don’t much care where--" said Alice.
"Then it doesn’t matter which way you go," said the Cat.
"--so long as I get SOMEWHERE," Alice added as an explanation.
"Oh, you’re sure to do that," said the Cat, "if you only walk long enough."
(Alice's Adventures in Wonderland, Chapter 6)

[Philip Walker]

Steve, I can just see it, right in the middle of Mike Horton's next book, when we're least expecting it, we get treated to John Frame creeping into the publishers' and changing the text to read: "Yo Mike, you're making an important point and I'm 'a let you finish, but Your Best Life Now was one of the best books of all time!"

[John Yeazel]

OK Robin I will bite- I hope you are saying that John Frame might be on a acid trip like Lewis Carrol obviously was when he wrote Alice in Wonderland. We want to go our own way and tackle our huge problems with ourselves, our families and our society with our own resources. God keeps trying to get through our thick heads that He already did it for us but we have to get the Gospel and the message of redemption in His Word in order to fulfill it through His Church like He did with His Son. John Frame seems to want to do it his way and conjures up these weird interpretation techniques and then holds grudges against people who do not agree with him. This is all really very silly and has more to do with our sinful natures than anything else.

[John Yeazel]

Frame also seems to want to reconcile evangelicalism with confessional and reformation Christianity. Hart's books are very pursuasive in loudly proclaiming that this cannot be done. Frame and his developing staff of cronies will probably try to dig in and bring discredit to all the confessional types. It happened during the reformation and will probably happen again. All it will do will bring the issues more clearly into focus.

[Matt Holst]

This is Frame. I have this quote in my lecture notes from the late 90s. I did not understand it much then, and now I see why.

[Timinator]

John Frame has always been a respected Professor and writer. I do not understand his attack on Horton's new book. I also don't understand his quote, "If we give `gospel' a broader definition . . . it is possible to say that all Scripture is gospel. But it is similarly possible to say that all Scripture is law, worldview, ethical guidance, etc."

I well not be reading anything from John Confused Frame. If he want's to defend Olsteen I will not have anything to do with that.

[Brian Bywaters]

Why, If we give 'gospel' a broader definition . . . pretty soon we won't even need Christ's work anymore.

...But that would sound a little too close to the point of "Christless Christianity."

I'll guess it's John Frame.