Searching for the Self: Classic Stories, Christian Scripture, and the Quest for Personal Identity

by Adrian T. Smith

Firstly, Clowney underscored the Christocentric character of the unfolding of biblical revelation.770 So imaginative, so compelling were his visions of Jesus in the Law, Prophets, and Writings, tempting speculation that Clowney himself had journeyed to Emmaus and heard Jesus expound the Old Testament (Luke 24:27)! Secondly, Clowney emphasized the practical utility of biblical theology. Harvie Conn describes this dimension of Clowney’s contribution: He brought to every course biblical insights shaped by his studies in the history of special revelation. Whether homiletics or Christian education, missions or ecclesiology, each class moved from Genesis through Revelation, drawing together the whole of Scripture with new insights that pointed in a fresh way to Christ and His redemptive purposes.771 Thirdly, Clowney begins to articulate biblical theology via more explicit use of “story” vocabulary: “The Bible is the greatest storybook, not just because it is full of wonderful stories but because it tells one great story, the story of Jesus.”772 This appreciation of narrative dovetailed with Clowney’s strong aesthetic sensibilities. As a gifted amateur painter, he was well-equipped to appreciate the artistic dimensions of the biblical story: The rich literary art in the Scriptures displays the wealth of allusiveness in which God’s revelation is given. Symbolism appears not only in metaphorical language but also in the elaborate patterns of the Old Testament ceremonial cultus. It ...