The theological method of Stanley J. Grenz

About this book

This book examines Canadian theologian Stanley J. Grenz's proposed model for evangelical theological construction. This model utilizes scripture, tradition and culture as the sources for theology, and has the Trinity, community, and eschatology as its focal motifs. In spite of the rapid growth of evangelicalism there is a paucity of reflection on its theological method. The transition from modernity to postmodernity, with the accompanying call for a postfoundationalist rather than a foundationalist method, has provided additional challenges to evangelicalism. In exploring and evaluating Grenz's theological method, this work tests the proposition 'that Stanley Grenz's theological method effectively revisions evangelical theology.' To ascertain the validity of the proposition, it utilizes four evaluative questions which explore the originality, theological coherence, appropriateness and effectiveness of Grenz's method for evangelical theology. The application of his model in his text, Welcoming but Not Affirming, serves as a test case to determine the implications of his method. Concluding that Grenz's model makes only a modest contribution towards revisioning evangelical theological method, the concluding chapters of the research explore ways to supplement Grenz's model to allow a stronger affirmation of the research proposition. Utilizing Wolterstorff's concept of control beliefs, it proposes that Grenz's model would be more effective if he added control to his belief to guide theological construction, and motivates for adopting the control belief the gospel liberates.