Biblical Foundations by B B Warfield (Tyndale Press) 1958
Introduction
It would probably be true to say of all conservative evangelicals who
take a lively interest in theology that no works have proved to be of
more practical help to them and a greater stimulus than those of B. B. Warfield. For myself I shall never forget my discovery of them in a
library in Toronto in 1932. My feelings were similar to those of ‘stout
Cortez’ as described by Keats. Before me stood the ten sizeable
volumes published by Oxford University Press. But, alas, it was the
OUP of New York only and not of this country also. Friends and
pupils of Warfield had arranged the publication of the volumes. The
fact that they were not published in this country is a sad commentary
on the state and condition of theological thinking here at that time.
The volumes were collections of various articles written by Warfield
in journals and encyclopaedias, classified under various headings.
Here are some of the titles: Biblical Doctrine; Studies in Theology;
Christology and Criticism; Calvin and Calvinism; two volumes on
Perfectionism.
Warfield had never written text books on theology in a large and
systematic manner, but had contented himself with the publication of a
few small works. (This I was given to understand by the late Principal
John Macleod of the Free Church College, Edinburgh, was due to his
loyalty to his friends and teachers, the Hodges of Princeton, and his
fear that anything he might publish might affect the sale of their
works.) The ten volumes, however, published about ten years after his
death which took place in 1921, have served to compensate us for that
loss and to give us the essence of his teaching.
There is even a positive advantage in having his teaching in this form
rather than in a more systematic one. Warfield was first and foremost a
defender of the faith. The title of his chair in the old Princeton
Theological Seminary was "Professor of didactic and polemic
theology" and the writing of articles and reviews of books, rather than
formal treatises, gives greater scope for the display of this polemical
element. Warfield lived and taught and wrote in this period (1880-1921) when what was then called Modernism was virtually in control.
It was the age of the 'liberal Jesus' and 'the Jesus of history' who was
contrasted with the 'Christ of Paul'. The Bible had been subjected to
such drastic criticism that not only was its divine inspiration and
unique authority denied but the whole idea of revelation was in
question. The Lord Jesus Christ was but a man, 'the greatest religious
genius of all time', miracles had never happened because miracles
cannot happen, our Lord's mission was a failure, and His death on the
cross but a tragedy. The great truths proclaimed in the historic Creeds
of the Church, and especially in the great Confessions of Faith drawn
up after the Protestant Reformation, concerning the Bible as the Word
of God and the person and work of the Lord Jesus Christ were being
questioned and rejected by the vast majority of 'scholars'.
While there were many who fought valiantly to stem this tide and to
refute the errors which were being propagated, it can be said without
any fear of contradiction that B. B. Warfield stood out pre-eminently
and incomparably the greatest of all. He was peculiarly gifted for such
a task. He had a mathematical mind and had at one time considered
the possibility of a career as a mathematician. His precision and
logical thinking appear everywhere. Added to this he was a first class
New Testament scholar and a superb exegete and expositor.
Furthermore, he had received the best training that was available at the
time, and not only in his own country. He thus could meet the liberal
scholarship on its own grounds and did so.
His method was not to meet criticisms of the traditional theology with
mere general philosophical and theological arguments, though he
could and did do that also. It was rather along the following lines. He
would first state the case as presented by the critic in a fair and clear
manner. Then he would proceed to analyse it and deal with it clause
by clause and word by word. He was thoroughly familiar with all the
literature but for him the test always was "to the law and to the
testimony". For him the question was, Was this a true exegesis and
interpretation of what the Scripture said? Was it consistent and
compatible with what the Scripture said elsewhere? What were the
implications of this statement? and so on. It was really the method of
the advocate in the law courts who obtains his verdict, not by
passionate and emotional appeals to an unlearned jury, but rather as
the result of a masterly analysis and patient dissection and refutation
of the case of the opponent, followed by a crystal clear and positive
exposition of the truth addressed to the 'learned judge on the bench'.
No theological writings are so intellectually satisfying and so
strengthening to faith as those of Warfield. He shirks no issue and
evades no problems and never stoops to the use of subterfuge. One is
impressed by his honesty and integrity as much as by his profound
scholarship and learning. The result is that there is a finality and
authority about all he wrote. Those who disagreed with him seemed to
recognise this. They did so by simply ignoring him. This has
continued to be his fate since his death and since the publication of the
ten volumes. It is quite amazing to note the way in which this massive
theologian is persistently ignored and seems to be unknown. A
'conspiracy of silence' is perhaps the only weapon with which to deal
with such a protagonist.
Some may wonder why the writings of such a man who died nearly
forty years ago should be republished and may feel that they are of
necessity out of date. The answer is that the writings of Warfield are,
as indicated above, not merely polemical and designed to expose error,
but also positive expositions of truths which are eternal and which are
as vital today as they ever have been. This can be said of the subjects
dealt with in each chapter of this present volume, the contents of
which have been culled from the ten volumes of his writings. Never
have they been more urgent than today and the reader will find, thanks
to Warfield's particular method, that he will be helped to face and to
answer criticisms of the historic evangelical faith in their most modern
form and guise.
A final word. While Warfield was such an outstanding scholar and
theologian that the most learned can profit by reading him, it is also
true to say that any intelligent lay person though lacking in technical
knowledge, can be greatly helped by reading him. His mind was so
clear and his literary style so chaste and pellucid that it is a real joy to
read his works and one derives pleasure and profit at the same time.
The selection of subjects for this volume is most judicious and
representative and should serve as a perfect introduction to the works
of the greatest exponent, expounder and defender of the classic
Reformed faith in the 20th Century.
D Martyn Lloyd-Jones
