Bruce Waltke on Evolution

[Beoga]

I am aware that Waltke came out with a Genesis Commentary a while back, does this mean he is going to have to come out with a Second/Next edition?

 

[DMcFadden]

An April 9 Chrisitanity Today online piece had the following:

At issue: the March 24 release of a BioLogos interview in 2009 where Waltke states:
“...if the data is overwhelmingly in favor of evolution, to deny that reality will make us a cult…some odd group that is not really interacting with the world. And rightly so, because we are not using our gifts and trusting God’s Providence that brought us to this point of our awareness.”

Reformed Theological Seminary asked Waltke to have the video removed. Waltke's resignation was announced April 6.

Waltke clarified his comments in the video, specifically his belief in a historical Adam and Eve and his support for those who hold creationist views. He also issued a joint statement with BioLogos president Darrel Falk regarding the importance of this debate within higher education.

JR Daniel Kirk notes that another big OT name, Tremper Longman III, was disinvited from RTS for expressing doubt over the historicity of Adam in
September 2009. Reformation21 is making allusions to the Peter Enns controversy at Westminster Theological Seminary in 2008.

We need to be in prayer. Waltke was a giant in the field of OT. I am heartbroken to hear of this turn of events. It is also frustrating (as a Westmont alum) to see Longman, Robert H. Gundry Professor of Biblicdal Studies at Westmont, mentioned in the same piece.

 

[ChristianTrader]

An April 9 Chrisitanity Today online piece had the following:

At issue: the March 24 release of a BioLogos interview in 2009 where Waltke states:
“...if the data is overwhelmingly in favor of evolution, to deny that reality will make us a cult…some odd group that is not really interacting with the world. And rightly so, because we are not using our gifts and trusting God’s Providence that brought us to this point of our awareness.”

Reformed Theological Seminary asked Waltke to have the video removed. Waltke's resignation was announced April 6.

Waltke clarified his comments in the video, specifically his belief in a historical Adam and Eve and his support for those who hold creationist views. He also issued a joint statement with BioLogos president Darrel Falk regarding the importance of this debate within higher education.

JR Daniel Kirk notes that another big OT name, Tremper Longman III, was disinvited from RTS for expressing doubt over the historicity of Adam in
September 2009. Reformation21 is making allusions to the Peter Enns controversy at Westminster Theological Seminary in 2008.

We need to be in prayer. Waltke was a giant in the field of OT. I am heartbroken to hear of this turn of events. It is also frustrating (as a Westmont alum) to see Longman, Robert H. Gundry Professor of Biblicdal Studies at Westmont, mentioned in the same piece.

He IS a giant in the field of OT. This is why the internet is abuzz about the closed-minded Reformed seminaries and why they are supposedly proving their irrelevance etc. This is also why he was picked up by Knox Seminary almost as soon as the ink was dry on his resignation.

CT

 

[DMcFadden]

I was not expressing support for his position, merely acknowledging that the "resignation" will be used to make conservative Christians look like idiots.

 

[TimV]

OT Professor Bruce Waltke resigns from RTS Orlando Faculty amid historical Adam and Eve controversy

So let's get this straight. Evolutionist/feminist Tim Keller helps organise a workshop to convince key Christian leaders to accept evolution. Some guy from Reformed Theological Seminary shows up and says we're all a bunch of cultists if we disagree. He ends up leaving RTS and James Kennedy's old church, now run by a hip grandson of Billy Graham, makes him an offer he can't refuse on condition he spreads his teaching at the seminary Kennedy founded.

Is that right?

 

[Marrow Man]

In the Aquila Report link (posted by TimV above), Waltke states two things that I am having trouble reconciling:

Adam and Eve are historical figures from whom all humans are descended; they are uniquely created in the image of God and as such are not in continuum with animals.

... I believe that creation by the process of evolution is a tenable Biblical position, and, as represented by BioLogos, the best Christian apologetic to defend Genesis 1-3 against its critics.

I do not understand how one can hold to Adam and Eve as being historical persons while also holding to the theory evolution (or "creation by the process of evolution"). It would seem that he is saying either 1) the process of evolution was used to "create" the unique and real human beings named Adam and Eve or 2) the animals evolved but humans were unique special creations apart from evolution. I doubt it is the second one; what about the first? Or am I completely missing something here? How would Waltke reconcile the two statements?

 

[DMcFadden]

The fact that Kennedy was such a stalwart against evolution makes this MORE than a little ironic.

For Ken Ham's take on the controversy, see Evangelical Scholar Leaves Seminary over Evolution | Around the World with Ken Ham

Part of the problem relates to Walke's evident support for Francis Collins. Up until now, conservative evangelicals attempting to harmonize Genesis and science have tended to use either a Kline or Hugh Ross approach. Denying the historicity of Adam (e.g., Longman) or embracing the "hands off" theistic evolution of Collins has been beyond the pale. Evidently no more, at least at Knox.

 

[TimV]

I do not understand how one can hold to Adam and Eve as being historical persons while also holding to the theory evolution

People like NT Wright come out and say that at some point a proto human like Neanderthal had a divine revelation, and thus became the first human while at the same time was the product of evolution. The others believe this, but won't quite come out and say it, although it doesn't exactly take a genius to know people like Keller believe this.

 

[Peairtach]

Well maybe some (more) "evangelicals" will become evolutionists, just as its being challenged in new ways by biochemistry and microbiology etc.

What TV programmes, literature, magazines do they feed their minds on? National Geographic.

If I fed my soul on e.g. Liberal Theology, maybe I'd become a Liberal Theologian? If I fed my soul on evolution/theistic evolution, maybe I'd become an evolutionist? Even although I'm converted!

Look at Solomon who was a true believer in God. He fed his soul on (presumably) pretty ladies and ended up as an idolater. Ecclesiates was presumably written when he was restored.

We have to guard our hearts as evangelicals and Reformed against the idolatry of finite, fallible and fallen human reason.

 

[ChristianTrader]

Evangelical Scholar Believes in Evolution? - ABC News

 

[DMcFadden]

Thanks for posting! I missed the broadcast and appreciate hearing and seeing the piece. Peter Enns is a "Sr. Fellow" at the "Biologos Foundation"???