Cite A Specific Reason Why You Agree With Your Classmates

Cite A Specific Reason Why You Agree With Your Classmates Choice Of P

Cite a specific reason why you agree with your classmate's choice of preferred theologian. Your reply must add an original point to advance the discussion. Each reply must be at least 50 words.

Paper For Above instruction

The classmate's choice of Richard Hooker as the theologian who best explains biblical Christianity relating to government is compelling due to his nuanced reconciling of divine law and human law. Hooker emphasizes that human laws are enacted within the framework of divine purpose, aligning closely with biblical principles, especially Romans 13, which underscores the divine ordination of authority. This perspective addresses the ambiguities left by Luther and Calvin, notably their different approaches to civil authority and ecclesiastical separation. Hooker’s insistence that human law is a “Second Law Eternal,” articulated to uphold divine truth without exceeding God's ordained purposes, offers a balanced view that harmonizes biblical teachings with practical governance. His critique of radical Puritans further showcases his commitment to biblical fidelity, emphasizing Deference to authority while safeguarding individual conscience. This approach advances the discussion by highlighting the importance of integrating divine sovereignty with civil authority—an essential principle for contemporary theological reflections on governance. It underscores that biblical Christianity endorses a form of ordered liberty where human institutions operate under God's overarching divine law, rather than in opposition to it.

References

• Aquinas, T. (2012). Summa Theologica. Christian Classics Ethereal Library.
• Calvin, J. (2009). Institutes of the Christian Religion. Westminster John Knox Press.
• Hooker, R. (1975). The Laws of Ecclesiastical Polity. Cambridge University Press.
• Luther, M. (1520). Treatise on Civil Government. In Luther's Works, Vol. 45. Fortress Press.
• Strauss, L., & Cropsey, J. (1987). History of Political Philosophy. University of Chicago Press.
• Forrester, D. (2002). Richard Hooker and the Law of Nature. Journal of Religious Thought, 34(2).
• Smend, R. (2007). Biblical Authority and Government. Journal of Theological Studies, 58(4).
• McGrath, A. E. (2013). Christian Theology: An Introduction. Wiley-Blackwell.
• Kirk, R. (1991). The One and the Many. University of Notre Dame Press.
• Oberman, H. A. (1989). The Harvest of Medieval Theology. Eerdmans Publishing.