Holy Scripture, volume 2 of the Confessional Lutheran Dogmatics series, seeks to explicate and defend the truthfulness of the Bible as well as its Christocentricity in response to the challenges of contemporary theology. This study appropriates the theological resources of Scripture and the Lutheran Confessions in order to counteract the destructive theological trends found in contemporary Catholicism, Evangelicalism, and theological Liberalism. By explicating and defending the scriptural principle of the Lutheran Reformation, this volume will equip readers to confess clearly both the unity of Scripture in Christ and the truthfulness of all that God has spoken in His historic revelation.
Both freedom from the Law before God and freedom for the Law before
humanity are guaranteed by the absolute truthfulness of the Scripture in its
presentation of the history of salvation as well as the Law and promise attached to that history. As a result, the opinio legis’s aporia between submission and autonomy is overcome by a free and joyful submission to the works of the Law in a believing life proleptically secured by the eschatological promise of the Gospel. This free submission also grants the ability to confess everything the Scriptures teach as inerrant and true. Contrary to the claims of the Enlightenment, the assertion that Scripture is absolutely truthful and must be trusted is not a form of epistemic oppression but a grant of freedom.
John W. Hoyum, pastor of Denny Park Lutheran Church in Seattle and PhD student in systematic theology at the University of Aberdeen on Logia: A Journal of Lutheran Theology wrote:"While indisputably conservative, Kilcrease's work is creative and not slavishly repristinating. This dogmatic locus is challenging for conservatives because disagreement over the nature of scriptural inspiration contributed to schism in the Missouri Synod almost a half century ago. While Missouri has world-renowned historians, the stature of its theologians is not as noteworthy. With this text, Missouri Synod theologian Kilcrease raises the bar for theology amongst conservative Lutherans" (LQ 36, no. 1, Spring 2022, p. 102).
Rev. Rodney Zwonitzer on Amazon wrote:"Holy Scripture is a commendable contribution to the recent, renewed interest in the theology of classic Protestantism. Most helpfully, it is not a reactionary presentation of a rarefied version of the Lutheran doctrine of scripture, but ably presents the historic Lutheran position in conversation with the many objections that have accumulated since the Reformation, and especially the Enlightenment. In this, Kilcrease has also rendered a great service by texturing his presentation with attention to the underlying theological basis of a historically Lutheran view of the bible and its authority. Pastors, students, and scholars will profit from engaging with this book’s many substantial insights."
"Particularly impressive and useful is the author's presentation of philosophy and church history to show the doctrinal range of confessions concerning this dogma.... Many will want to read, ponder and re-read this fine volume as this reviewer will. It is well worth the purchase and addition to one's library to refer to often."