Institute for Leadership and Ethics

Barentsen, Jack. "The Validity of Human Language: A Vehicle for Divine Truth." Grace Theological Journal 9, no. 1 (1988): 21-43.

Doubts have arisen about the adequacy of human language to convey inerrant truth from God to man. These doubts are rooted in an empirical epistemology, as elaborated by Hume, Kant, Heidegger and others. Many theologians adopted such an empirical view and found themselves unable to defend a biblical view of divine, inerrant revelation. Barth was slightly more successful, but in the end he failed. The problem is the empirical epistemology that first analyzes man's relationship with creation. Biblically, the starting point should be an analysis of man's relationship with his Creator. When approached  this way, creation (especially the creation of man in God's image) and the incarnation show that God and man possess an adequate, shared communication system that enables God to communicate intelligibly and inerrantly with man. Furthermore, the Bible's insistence on written revelation shows that inerrant divine communication carries the same authority whether written or spoken.

This paper studies Paul’s recommendation of Stephanas as leader against the background of community formation in Corinth. The divisions in the Corinthian church are shown to be a cultural response to the development of subgroups which expressed loyalty to different Jewish teachers. This resulted in intragroup competition, heightened social tensions, and a communication breakdown between subgroups and their leaders. Social identity theory helps to interpret these events as conflicting norms and values from cross-cutting social identities; the divisions can be understood as benevolent attempts to maintain Christian distinctiveness and social cohesion for these subgroups according to Corinthian cultural patterns. Paul, however, re-envisions the subgroups as nested social identities in an overarching Christian social identity with its focal point in Christ crucified. Thus, he reorients their search for honor towards the glory of the gospel which is shameful to outsiders and their search for social cohesion towards mutual respect and service. To implement his proposed changes in beliefs, norms, and values, Paul sends a letter, sends Timothy, and plans a personal visit. However, his key for long-term effectiveness is Stephanas, recommended as worthy of imitation in the new Christian leadership style needed for the expanding community.