Theological Authority in the Church: Reconsidering Traditionalism and Hierarchy
Ebook
Who in the church has the right to tell others what is to be done or believed for the sake of friendship with God? How are theological disputes and differences of opinion to be resolved? Against the recent trend toward more "traditionalist" and "hierarchical" conceptions of the church's role in theology, this book argues from the New Testament itself for a "low" conception of ecclesial theological authority. Drawing especially from Jesus's polemics against the Pharisees, it makes the case that no one in the church has any further authority than that of derivatively, fallibly, and in principle reversibly relating and bearing witness to the teachings of Jesus and the works of God in him. The book concludes with an extended consideration of the radical anti-dogmatic and anti-metaphysical consequences of this thesis for the future of Protestant Christian theology vis-a-vis the catholic tradition.
“This is not a book for bedtime reading. It is a manifesto for a distinctively Protestant account of theological authority. Nemes argues for a ‘low’ church model of tradition that eschews grand metaphysical schemes. Whether readers are delighted or confounded by his arguments, they will find much in this short work that needs to be pondered.”
—Oliver D. Crisp, University of St. Andrews
“In certain theological circles today, a sort of hyper-traditionalism has taken over the minds of different Protestant and Catholic scholars. With everyone so quick to affirm their own preferred tradition that others must submit to, it is rare to find anyone asking if this brand of traditionalism is consistent with the teachings of Jesus. Nemes offers a lucid, rigorous, and provocative argument that such traditionalism is not in fact consistent with the teachings of Christ.”
—Ryan Mullins, Palm Beach Atlantic University
“This slim volume packs a powerful punch. Nemes contends that the essential clarity of Scripture pertains more significantly to its moral and ethical imperatives than it does to speculative metaphysical claims that have often preoccupied the church. Similarly, he argues that ‘traditionalism,’ with its dubious claims to binding authority, must be rejected, even as he defends the essential role of tradition in theology. This book is a frontal challenge not only to Roman Catholics, but also to many Protestants.”
—Jerry Walls, Houston Christian University
“Although I was unconvinced by aspects of his argument, Nemes provides a great service in clearing away some fog and sharpening key issues, exegetical and theological. As such, this book is an invigorating and tightly argued conversation starter. Indeed, I make it a point to read everything this young scholar writes and, despite my remaining disagreements, know of no other book on theological authority that brings into such sharp relief the subject matter so well.”
—Chris Tilling, St Mellitus College
- Title: Theological Authority in the Church: Reconsidering Traditionalism and Hierarchy
- Authors: Veli-Matti Kärkkäinen, Steven Nemes
- Publisher: Cascade Books
- Print Publication Date: 2023
- Logos Release Date: 2023
- Language: English
- Resources: 1
- Format: Digital › Ebook
- ISBNs: 9781666752601, 9781666752588, 1666752584, 9781666752595, 1666752592, 1666752606
- Resource ID: LLS:9781666752601
- Resource Type: Monograph
- Metadata Last Updated: 2023-04-02T10:16:20Z
Steven Nemes is an instructor of Latin and Greek at North Phoenix Preparatory Academy in Phoenix, Arizona. He is the author of the volumes Orthodoxy and Heresy and Theology of the Manifest: Christianity without Metaphysics, and has published a number of articles on diverse subjects in Christian theology, phenomenological philosophy, and the overlap of the two.