Overview of Argumentation:
If doctrine is merely handed down without a clear understanding of the Scriptural premises for that doctrine or creed, God’s people may subtly shift toward treating such creeds as mere religious dogma instead of striving to gain and apply a biblical understanding of the beliefs they hold dear. The Nicene Creed can become akin to a known but not fully understood Rule of Faith. The modern church may be lulled into believing that past issues like Arianism will not resurface, failing to recognize its already active presence. This reality was evident even at the time of the Nicene Council. Ironically, Tertullian refers to the Rule of Faith as the guide in his work, On Prescription Against Heretics, yet his own Trinitarian beliefs show affinities toward Arianism. Today’s church must cling to the doctrines passed down (2 Thessalonians 2:15) and also understand what we believe, discerning afresh whether Creeds and Rules of Faith are Scriptural or will be viewed as merely traditional.
What impact have critical scholarship and culture wars had on the church’s passion for its foundations and creeds? Is there a disconnect and a shift from pursuing theological exegesis to emphasizing creeds that focus on how Christians should behave rather than on how they should believe? The role of theological retrieval is not merely a dry theological duty; it serves as fuel for revival, aiming to recover theological exegesis and provide a deeper biblical understanding of the faith we cherish. Without theological retrieval and a clear understanding of the intention behind the Creed, meaning may be lost for generations, increasing the risk of a resurgence of Arian heresy due to the neglectful doctrinal framework of American Evangelicalism.
Thesis Statement:
This paper aims to demonstrate that Scripture is the Rule of Faith to which the church must adhere through an analysis of the implications of the historical-critical method utilized in recent centuries, along with the influence of culture wars on the church, highlighting the relevancy of theological retrieval in reconnecting classical doctrines to both Scripture and contemporary contexts.
Contribution to the Field:
The paper examines the impact theological retrieval has had and could have on contemporary critical scholarship and the church by analyzing biblical scholarship related to this topic through the ages and the presence of theological retrieval through intertextuality in the Canon itself.