Starting point Quote by William D. Dennison
““Although Kuyper, Bavinck, and Hepp attempted to distance themselves from scholasticism and classicism, nevertheless, Van Til believed that they never overcame abstraction. That is to say, although they gave God the strategic place in their system—the starting point and foundation of knowing, understanding, and interpreting all things—nevertheless, they permitted the non-Christian to define the terms they adopted as God’s terms. Hence, in the realm of natural and general revelation, God is merely the prelude and the appendix in the structure; rather, according to Van Til, he must be the Being who defines the entire structure. Only in this context can the structure be properly holistic and concrete.””
About This Quote
Source Book: Theological Philosophy, 2010
Van Til argues God must define all reality, not just be a prelude in revelation.
In simple terms: God should be the foundation of all knowledge.
Key Takeaway
Ground all understanding in divine definition.
Themes
theology
philosophy
ontology
Mood
analytical
serious
Type
theological
philosophical
When to use this quote
- academic debate
- faith education
- philosophical inquiry
Key Concepts
God’s sovereignty
holistic epistemology
Questions to Reflect On
- How does this view affect interfaith dialogue?
- Can secular knowledge coexist with divine primacy?
A Different Perspective
Overemphasis on divine definition may limit human reason.
