Greg Bahnsen's Attack on the Holy Spirit

Greg Bahnsen -- "Presuppositional Apologist" and disciple of Cornelius Van Til at Westminster Theological Seminary -- wrote, "we come into this world cognitively "conditioned" or PREPARED to RECOGNIZE the indications of our Creator in nature and SCRIPTURE." (p222-3. Note: All quotes in this video are taken from "Van Til's Apologetic: Readings and Analysis" compiled by Bahnsen.)

So Bahnsen says unbelievers can understand the Bible. Such a statement is not a slip-up. In fact, it is very consistent with his system. Bahnsen says that the unbeliever already knows God "deep down". If that's right, then it logically follows that unbelievers have the ability to judge the Bible.

For example, imagine a member of your family -- whom you have known all your life -- writes an autobiography. You would be competent to judge the reliability of the book, right?

Now, the Bible is God's autobiography. So if unbelievers have known God all their lives, "deep down" then they're going to think they are competent to judge the Bible, right? "Why do we need the Holy Spirit to understand the Bible, when we already understand the Being who wrote it?", they can say.

The Apostles constantly battled people who thought they knew God apart from the Bible. They tried to convince men they did not know God "deep down" by nature. A man convinced he is ignorant of God by nature will know he is unable to judge the Bible. Paul declares, "the thoughts of God no one knows except the Spirit of God ... [believers] have received ... the Spirit who is from God, so that [they] may know the things given to [them] by God.." (1 Cor 2:11-12)

Category:

Film & Animation

Tags:

• Greg
• Bahnsen
• Cornelius
• Van
• Til
• Presuppositional
• Apologetics
• Westminster
• Theological
• Seminary

[leonardstilwell]

I also want to encourage every Christian who responds to videos like this to do it in a manner consistent with the way our Lord has called us to do it.

2Tim 2:24-25: The Lord's bond-servant must not be quarrelsome, but be kind to all...with gentleness correcting those who are in opposition.

It's easy for me to respond sarcastically and impolitely when I don't agree with someone on these issues. Instead, let's respond gently, pray, and trust the Lord with the outcome

[psk6565]

Romans 1 is absolutely clear that man knows God (as the creator, not as a Father) but they suppress the truth in unrighteousness. You attack these men in your videos that clearly believe biblically that God is known by all men, but they rebel against Him as the Creator.

[wawabbit]

Is that really what he's saying in your quote? "the indications of our Creator in nature and Scripture" he says. [in your quote] What does he mean by "indications" do you think? I, personally, do not see where he says that unbelievers "can understand the Bible." In my opinion, they are two different things.

[Kirkwood2020]

Andy, I think you have engaged in distortion and wooden logic. If something is like some other thing (or person) we do not mean those two things are the same, but rather that they share some attribute. You, I, and Bill Clinton are all image bearers of God. We share (in a limited sense) some of God's attributes. Indeed, the only way we can begin to think about God, is by thinking about him in relationship to things we can experience. That is where "like" begins.

[leonardstilwell]

First to Andrew: You have misunderstood the point Bahnsen is trying to make. I think ymeagle and psk6565 are on the right path here.

There are two ways God can be known. First, as Romans 1 makes clear, all men know God through the created order. That is not knowledge that is equivalent to salvation, but simply a recognition that the God of the Bible exists.

Second, there is a knowledge that leads to saving faith. Bahnsen is simply referencing the first type of knowledge.

[ymeagle]

This is really just creepy. You are just smart enough to understand Bahnsen. The "knowing" of God Bahnsen talks about is not the "knowing" of God as in being a believer.

[lahridon2000]

Are you the voice over at the end of the political party campaign advertisments in Australia? slow down....Oh yea - your theology is crap too

[8675965]

whooo! back up the bus! You haven't taken into account the fall. Dr Bahnsen isn't a stupid as you portray him to be. Andrew you are a showing the marks of a spiritual babe i.e the self righteous stage! I assume you are a Clarkian, and it's Bahnsen, not "Bansen"!

[got2liv4him]

your comprehension is horrible???

[MonkeyGuitar]

No one wants to hear you saying 5 words per second. And again you fail.