Abstract

The purpose of this dissertation was to give an analysis of the concept of truth in contemporary American Evangelical theology through an examination of the writings and systems of thought of Cornelius Van Til, Francis A. Schaeffer, Carl F. H. Henry, Millard Erickson, and Donald G. Bloesch. ;The subject of truth has arguably been the fundamental concern for Evangelicals from the onset of their existence. The thesis that was explored is that the concept of truth in contemporary American Evangelical theology is largely the correspondence theory of truth. The correspondence theory of truth understands truth to be that which corresponds with fact and is both objective and absolute. ;The first chapter explored the history of Evangelicalism, exploring the periods of the Reformation, 18th Century Evangelical Revivialism, and then American Fundamentalism. Something of the tension within contemporary American Evangelicalism regarding this issue was also introduced, as well as the importance the concept of truth as correspondence has for Evangelical theology. ;Chapters two through six investigated the five Evangelical theologians selected as a window into Evangelical conceptualizations regarding truth. Each of these chapters delivered a brief biographical introduction, followed by a detailed analysis of the concept of truth operative in their system of thought, exploring apologetics, hermeneutics, epistemology, theological methodology, and theories of revelation. Each survey was followed by a presentation of the various critiques which have been voiced against each theologian's system of thought in relation to the concept to truth by fellow Evangelicals. ;The final chapter summarized the Evangelical concept of truth as found in the writings of Van Til, Schaeffer, Henry, Erickson, and Bloesch, depositing the findings in the following categories: philosophy, methodology, and epistemology. Generally, the findings included an understanding of truth as correspondence, an allegiance to the Aristotelian law of non-contradiction, a presuppositionalist methodology, and a loyalty to Scripture as containing a propositional element in regard to form and being inerrant in its nature. This section was followed by a critique of each theologian's system of thought in relation to the concept of truth by non-Evangelicals. A section followed this critique which engaged the various concerns lodged against Evangelical thought by non-Evangelicals. The final section of this chapter made two proposals for future Evangelical conceptualizations regarding the concept of truth, namely positing revelation as the referent for the correspondence theory of truth and embracing truth as polymorphous in its character