13 books
—
4 voters
Goodreads helps you keep track of books you want to read.
Start by marking “Biblical Authority After Babel: Retrieving the Solas in the Spirit of Mere Protestant Christianity” as Want to Read:
Biblical Authority After Babel: Retrieving the Solas in the Spirit of Mere Protestant Christianity
by
How the Five Solas Can Renew Biblical Interpretation
In recent years, notable scholars have argued that the Protestant Reformation unleashed interpretive anarchy on the church. Is it time to consider the Reformation to be a 500-year experiment gone wrong?
World-renowned evangelical theologian Kevin Vanhoozer thinks not. While he sees recent critiques as legitimate, he argues ...more
In recent years, notable scholars have argued that the Protestant Reformation unleashed interpretive anarchy on the church. Is it time to consider the Reformation to be a 500-year experiment gone wrong?
World-renowned evangelical theologian Kevin Vanhoozer thinks not. While he sees recent critiques as legitimate, he argues ...more
Get A Copy
Hardcover, 269 pages
Published
October 18th 2016
by Brazos Press
Friend Reviews
To see what your friends thought of this book,
please sign up.
Reader Q&A
To ask other readers questions about
Biblical Authority After Babel,
please sign up.
Be the first to ask a question about Biblical Authority After Babel
Community Reviews
Showing 1-30

Start your review of Biblical Authority After Babel: Retrieving the Solas in the Spirit of Mere Protestant Christianity

Really enjoyed the thesis of this meaty book. And when I say "meaty" I am talking about a thick-cut sirloin, and not talking about any watered down sloppy joes.
The Reformation was not responsible for unleashing interpretive anarchy into the world, and furthermore, on top of that, a "mere Protestant" approach to the issues revolving around the five solas is the only way out. This is a worthwhile book. ...more
The Reformation was not responsible for unleashing interpretive anarchy into the world, and furthermore, on top of that, a "mere Protestant" approach to the issues revolving around the five solas is the only way out. This is a worthwhile book. ...more

4.5 stars.
Another solid effort from KV. See this review for some helpful tables that show the coherence of Vanhoozer's argument. He tries to show, through a "retrieval" of the five solas, that the Protestant Reformation did not cause secularization, skepticism, or schism, at least not necessarily or in a way that undermines the Reformation itself. More specifically, he tries to show that the Reformation did not introduce a necessary and vicious "pervasive interpretive pluralism" (17)
Put positiv ...more
Another solid effort from KV. See this review for some helpful tables that show the coherence of Vanhoozer's argument. He tries to show, through a "retrieval" of the five solas, that the Protestant Reformation did not cause secularization, skepticism, or schism, at least not necessarily or in a way that undermines the Reformation itself. More specifically, he tries to show that the Reformation did not introduce a necessary and vicious "pervasive interpretive pluralism" (17)
Put positiv ...more

Reading the introduction of this book got me very excited about exploring a common and very good question -- hasn't Protestantism unleashed a kind of interpretive chaos when it comes to understanding the Bible? How else do we explain that there are apparently 38,000 Protestant denominations? The phrase that Vanhoozer has coined to describe this phenomenon is "pervasive interpretive pluralism." Problem is, when I got done with the book, I still wasn't sure exactly what is Vanhoozer's proposed sol
...more

Approaching and in this, the 500th anniversary of the Protestant Reformation, many books have been released that assess the religious revolution/reclamation ushered in by the monk from Eisleben. Brad S. Gregory speaks of Protestantism's "unintended reformation" that inadvertently secularized Western culture. Sociologist Christian Smith has pointed out the impossibility of biblicism (both Gregory and Smith are converts to Roman Catholicism). Even Protestant scholars such as Hans Boersma and Peter
...more

How the solas of the reformation explain the real authority and unity of the church instead of being the foundations of a schismatic and subjective church (even world). That’s the question Vanhoozer brilliantly answers.
This is a great book ! Well written, with an excellent interaction with his sources.
I’m proud te be protestant.
This is a great book ! Well written, with an excellent interaction with his sources.
I’m proud te be protestant.

Impressively researched but unconvincing. Like Leithart, Vanhoozer pretends at offering a generic Protestant view but in reality it is only inclusive of those directly descended from Luther and Calvin. Full review here: http://drewbmcintyre.com/2017/02/22/b...
...more

Summary: A proposal that the five Solas of "mere Protestant Christianity" provide a framework to check the interpretive anarchy for which Protestant Christianity is criticized.
One of the most serious criticisms of post-Reformation Protestant Christianity is that it unleashed a kind of interpretive anarchy, a confusing of the languages similar to what happened after the tower of Babel incident in scripture. In fact, one of the major appeals of Roman Catholic Christianity is that in the Pope and t ...more
One of the most serious criticisms of post-Reformation Protestant Christianity is that it unleashed a kind of interpretive anarchy, a confusing of the languages similar to what happened after the tower of Babel incident in scripture. In fact, one of the major appeals of Roman Catholic Christianity is that in the Pope and t ...more

With the 500th Anniversary of the Protestant Reformation's accidental start coming up next year, we'll be seeing a lot of books celebrating and/or critiquing the movement (more than usual, that is). This is one of the former, but done mostly in the way of a defense against some of the most common critiques. There's a very real sense in which I'm not qualified to discuss this book -- and I'm really looking forward to reading reviews from those who are. But, there's another sense in which I am --
...more

I had high expectations for this book. Indeed, some of its parts were excellent. However, I disappointed at the overall argument Dr. Vanhoozer was attempting to defend. His arguments defending the 35,000+ Protestant denominations include pointing out at one historical moment, there were three competing claims to the papacy. When he severely downplays the problem with fissiparousness that has become Protestant Christianity, his following points ring hollow. For instance, by invoking the spiritual
...more

Feb 10, 2018
Eric
rated it
it was amazing
Recommends it for:
Bible study teachers
Recommended to Eric by:
Brandon Wolfram
This is the Kevin J. Vanhoozer book people should read. In a defense of the five solas, and the right of private interpretation even in the face of interpretive chaos, Vanhoozer puts forth a cogent, sustained argument that the Church, by and through its Spirit appointed prophets, pastors and teachers has been lead into all truth and has the authority and duty to interpret scripture, over time, for the Church universal. Is There a Meaning in This Text?: the Bible, the Reader, and the Morality of
...more

In summary, Vanhoozer did a great job in casting a vision of unity – churches coming together in faith, to dialogue, to share, holding fast to the gospel and to one another. The BAAB is indeed a timely book for today schismatic church. He sheds light to this depressing situation not by offering us something new that we have to learn, but he is redirecting us to look back to the Reformation – the supposedly culprit to today’s gloomy situation, and to rediscover again the good old gems of the Refo
...more

It was good. I think all people who self-identify as Protestants or evangelicals should read this. The most important aspect was how biblical authority isn’t just individuals running wild with their own ideas. Tradition matters. Scholarship matters. History matters. Teachers and pastors matter. Interpretive communities matter.
Vanhoozer admitted he might be betraying people with his last chapter where he calls for evangelicals to be the main interpretive community when it combines powers with Pr ...more
Vanhoozer admitted he might be betraying people with his last chapter where he calls for evangelicals to be the main interpretive community when it combines powers with Pr ...more

This is a book that should not be tossed aside lightly — instead, it should be hurled with great force! In fairness, I am tempted to give it 2 stars because the introduction raised some great questions. However, the rest of the book gave terrible answers, some were not even answered at all. E.g., it was never answered how to decide truth when different denominations contradicted each other. Instead, he seemed to relate as if it were all various facets of truth, different emphases. Also, this boo
...more

I cannot say enough good things about this book. My only issue with the book is that I had not read it sooner. Have a pen and highlighter handy. I take notes in the margin but if you don't then have a notepad handy as well. There is something to highlight or mark up on every single page. Vanhoozer takes the solas as they relate to one another, expounding on Sola Scriptura. He sees a parallel between the escape from Roman selfishness of the text and the pluralism of today's society. Sola Scriputr
...more

This is not a lay level book. I thought it was going in but was quickly disillusioned of that notion.
Now, with that said this was an excellent work. Vanhoozer shows how the Solas together form a robust catholicity that Protestants shouldn’t be ashamed of and should rejoice in! The evangelical gospel is beautiful.
He ably demonstrates how Protestant and Evangelical go hand in hand, and why the reformation didn’t loose interpretive chaos on the church.
If you’re a Protestant thinking about swimming ...more
Now, with that said this was an excellent work. Vanhoozer shows how the Solas together form a robust catholicity that Protestants shouldn’t be ashamed of and should rejoice in! The evangelical gospel is beautiful.
He ably demonstrates how Protestant and Evangelical go hand in hand, and why the reformation didn’t loose interpretive chaos on the church.
If you’re a Protestant thinking about swimming ...more

I quite enjoyed this book. I also attended the lectures which were a precursor to this book and was pleasantly surprised to see a lot of humour come through into the book, making it an enjoyable read despite being quite thorough in places.
Ultimately the question is do Protestants have any authority to interpret the Bible without a Magesterium?, and the five solas are used to answer that.
So a good read, good length chapters, and very engaging.
Ultimately the question is do Protestants have any authority to interpret the Bible without a Magesterium?, and the five solas are used to answer that.
So a good read, good length chapters, and very engaging.

Love this book! Dr. Vanhoozer provides an engaging analysis of Protestantism and shows that it is not the cause of a Babel of biblical interpretations by arguing that the five solas of the Reformations—and a robust affirmation of the doctrine of the Church—serve as guard posts for mere Protestantism. I hope all Protestants will read this book and deal with the suggestions that Dr. Vanhoozer has humbly offered.

I think I agree with the author’s basic argument: that true Protestantism was never intended to be individualistic (as it so often is today) but conciliar in nature. That being said, I found the title somewhat opaque, and the content of the chapters did not seem to match their headings. Also, I had never been aware previously of five “solas”.

This is not your typical book on the solas. It will require your full attention (and a fair amount of imagination), but will richly repay the effort. Vanhoozer has given a resounding answer to the accusation that the Reformation has condemned us to radical interpretive individualism that needs to be heard by any who think Protestant unity is nothing more than a wish upon a star.

Superb - I love the way Vanhoozer approaches theology, I don't agree with everything he proposes, but he writes in a way that forces me to rethink many of my own assumptions and conclusions in ways I find helpful - he also has a sense of humour that helps to lighten even the most dense of theological arguments.
...more

A must read for all Protestants. Kevin Vanhoozer summarizes the doctrine of the five solas, the logic behind the solas, and how they do not lead to secularization or interpretative anarchy. Instead, the Protestant Church can apply the one, holy, catholic and apostolic Church as taught in the Nicene Creed consistently.

Not a big fan. I agree with what Vanhoozer is saying
for the most part, but it seems rather poorly said.
Perhaps I was expecting more specific answers to the question
of interpretive authority. I also don't think that his rubric of
the five solas helped him make his points. ...more
for the most part, but it seems rather poorly said.
Perhaps I was expecting more specific answers to the question
of interpretive authority. I also don't think that his rubric of
the five solas helped him make his points. ...more

I loved the vision he presented of mere Protestantism and thought he argued it well; but, even though I'm not from Missouri, my reaction was "Show me." I'd really like to see what he described.
...more

Good study of the 5 solas and Protestant identity, with emphasis on contemporary issues.
It's good, but it was more than I was looking to get into.
More for specialists than laity. ...more
It's good, but it was more than I was looking to get into.
More for specialists than laity. ...more

This is not a good book. It is a great book and by the time I sat down to review the book it had been selected as one of the best books of the year by Christianity Today. I did not read that review I already had formed my opinion.
Except for what seemed a strange title the book is a reminder of what evangelical protestants are about. I use that term intentionally because that is a term used by the author and because it reminds the reader there are other kinds of Protestants.
The author begins by ...more
Except for what seemed a strange title the book is a reminder of what evangelical protestants are about. I use that term intentionally because that is a term used by the author and because it reminds the reader there are other kinds of Protestants.
The author begins by ...more

I've read a lot of Vanhoozer here and there, and this is probably my favorite. The work is up to his usual intellectual rigor, but written more clearly than some of this other writings. In this book he is responding to those who blame the Protestant Reformation for the disintegration of church unity and interpretative authority.
In fact, Vanhoozer argues, today's evangelicals (and yes, he defends this term, and this movement, explicitly, although not until the conclusion) have a better claim on t ...more
In fact, Vanhoozer argues, today's evangelicals (and yes, he defends this term, and this movement, explicitly, although not until the conclusion) have a better claim on t ...more
There are no discussion topics on this book yet.
Be the first to start one »
Kevin J. Vanhoozer is currently Research Professor of Systematic Theology at Trinity Evangelical Divinity School. From 1990-98 he was Senior Lecturer in Theology and Religious Studies at New College, University of Edinburgh. Vanhoozer received a BA from Westmont College, an M.Div from Westminster Theological Seminary, and a Ph.D. from Cambridge University, England having studied under Nicholas Las
...more
Related Articles
“I'm in a weird place because the book is about to come out. So I'm basically just walking around like a raw nerve and I'm not sure that I...
41 likes · 8 comments
No trivia or quizzes yet. Add some now »
“It is well known that Pentecost reverses Babel. The people who built the tower of Babel sought to make a name, and a unity, for themselves. At Pentecost, God builds his temple, uniting people in Christ. Unity – interpretive agreement and mutual understanding – is, it would appear, something that only God can accomplish. And accomplish it he does, but not in the way we might have expected. Although onlookers thought that the believers who received the Spirit at Pentecost were babbling (Acts 2:13), in fact they were speaking intelligibly in several languages (Acts 2:8-11). Note well: they were all saying the same thing (testifying about Jesus) in different languages. It takes a thousand tongues to say and sing our great Redeemer’s praise.
Protestant evangelicalism evidences a Pentecostal plurality: the various Protestant streams testify to Jesus in their own vocabularies, and it takes many languages (i.e. interpretive traditions) to minister the meaning of God’s Word and the fullness of Christ. As the body is made up of many members, so many interpretations may be needed to do justice to the body of the biblical text. Why else are there four Gospels, but that the one story of Jesus was too rich to be told from one perspective only? Could it be that the various Protestant traditions function similarly as witnesses who testify to the same Jesus from different situations and perspectives?”
—
1 likes
Protestant evangelicalism evidences a Pentecostal plurality: the various Protestant streams testify to Jesus in their own vocabularies, and it takes many languages (i.e. interpretive traditions) to minister the meaning of God’s Word and the fullness of Christ. As the body is made up of many members, so many interpretations may be needed to do justice to the body of the biblical text. Why else are there four Gospels, but that the one story of Jesus was too rich to be told from one perspective only? Could it be that the various Protestant traditions function similarly as witnesses who testify to the same Jesus from different situations and perspectives?”
“For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God” (Rom. 13:1). God”
—
0 likes
More quotes…