All Truth Is God's Truth

by Arthur F. Holmes

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Genres: Philosophy, Christian, Theology, Christianity, Religion, Nonfiction

Paperback

First published July 1, 1977

About the author

Arthur Frank Holmes (March 15, 1924 – October 8, 2011) was Professor of Philosophy at Wheaton College, Illinois (1951–1994). Before his retirement in 1994, he had served for several decades as Chairman of Wheaton's Department of Philosophy. Thereafter, he held the title of Professor Emeritus. After his retirement, he returned and taught half of the yearlong history of philosophy sequence, particularly the medieval (Augustine to Ockham) and the modern (Descartes to Quine) quarters in 2000-2001.

He became widely known for his body of work on topics related to philosophy, including ethics, philosophy applied to Christian higher education, and historical interactions between Christianity and philosophy. Holmes also has served as a guest lecturer at many colleges, universities, and conferences on these topics.

Holmes was a graduate of Wheaton College, where he earned an undergraduate degree in philosophy. He earned the Ph.D. in philosophy from Northwestern University in Chicago. Reportedly, before he immigrated to the United States in 1947, he had flown for the Royal Air Force in England during World War II.

Holmes died in Wheaton, Illinois, on October 8, 2011, at age 87.

Reviews

[Timothy Darling · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is a philosophical guided tour through the reasons why Christians, particularly evangelical Christians, need to figure out that there is more to our faith than evangelism and quiet time. The massive responsibility of seeing the world, life, humanity, history and all the disciplines thereby suggested in light of God calls for a more generalized approach to seeing and communicating the gospel. We cannot become so engrossed in the practical that we lose sight of the transcendent. God Himself expresses concern for many things the evangelical church feels comfortable ignoring.

Christian reason must become more disciplined and more informed, not just in its own narrow specialty but in the world at large. We must become more well-read and conversent in philosophies with which we may somewhat disagree, looking not for points of criticism but for points of commonality. Holmes' thesis that all truth is God's truth suggests that critiquing humanist thought is about more than debunking. It is about understanding and perhaps even agreeing. More than that, it is about analyzing and assessing, looking for errors, not in the interest of silencing those in error, but in the interest of finding their contribution to the whole body of understanding truth and therefore understanding Christ.

It goes against the evangelical grain to admit that somebody whose agenda differs from theirs may have a point. But that is exactly what Holmes is calling for, along side an increased integrity in the Church which contributes significantly to human thought.

[Scott · Rating 2 out of 5]

I've had overcooked chicken that was less dry than this book. Content was alright, but reading it was like taking a beating.

[JR Snow · Rating 5 out of 5]

Quite good.

[Nayy · Rating 5 out of 5]

All Truth Is God's Truth

[Jared Mindel · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was pretty good. Nothing astounding, but Holmes has been formative to my intellectual development and I'm glad I read this.