Bernard Ramm
Encyclopedia
Bernard L. Ramm was a Baptist
theologian and apologist within the broad Evangelical
tradition. He wrote prolifically on topics concerned with biblical hermeneutics
, religion and science, Christology
, and apologetics
. The hermenuetical principles presented in his 1956 book Protestant Biblical Interpretation influenced a wide spectrum of Baptist
theologians. During the 1970s he was widely regarded as a leading evangelical theologian as well known as Carl F.H. Henry. His equally celebrated and criticized 1954 book The Christian View of Science and Scripture was the theme of a 1979 issue of the Journal of the American Scientific Affiliation
, while a 1990 issue of Baylor University
's Perspectives in Religious Studies was devoted to Ramm's views on theology.
)—initially studying chemistry then switching to philosophy of science in preparation of ministry, B.D. (Eastern Baptist Seminary), M.A. in 1947 & Ph.D in 1950 (University of Southern California
). He also undertook additional studies at the University of Pennsylvania
, the University of Basel
, Switzerland (1957-1958 academic year with Karl Barth
), and the Near Eastern School of Theology, Beirut, Lebanon.
, La Mirada, California). He became Professor of Philosophy at Bethel College and Seminary, and then Professor of Religion at Baylor University
, Texas. Most of his academic teaching was conducted at the American Baptist Seminary of the West
at Covina, California, where he taught between 1958–74 and again from 1978-86. At that seminary he held the post of Professor of Systematic Theology
.
In his contributions to Christian apologetics, Ramm began his career in the evidentialist camp. However his later work reflected a shift in viewpoint over to a modified form of presuppositional apologetics
that had some affinity with the work of Edward John Carnell
. In spite of harsh criticisms of Karl Barth
from other theologians such as Cornelius Van Til
, Gordon Clark
, and Carl F. H. Henry
, Ramm would explore much of Barth's theological viewpoint, eventually embracing Barth's theology almost wholeheartedly as outlined in Ramm's own book After Fundamentalism (Harper & Row, 1983).
Ramm did not utilise the classical or Thomist approach in arguments for God's existence. He maintained that apart from faith God was unknowable. He likewise emphasised that the noetic effects of sin rendered the theistic proofs useless. For Ramm the proof of God's existence is in Holy Scripture.
He argued that the primary use of Christian evidences is to create a favourable climate of opinion so that the Gospel may be proclaimed, and believed. In this respect he felt that both fulfilled prophecy and miracles provided a factual basis for that climate of opinion. Ramm placed strong emphasis on the inner witness of the Holy Spirit verifying the gospel to the believer.
In some respects Ramm's emphasis on the inner witness of the Spirit reflected the view of John Calvin
, but it also reflected the influence of Karl Barth
under whom he studied in Switzerland.
Near the end of his life Ramm was honored with a book of essays by his colleagues and younger contemporaries.
(ASA) in not supporting "flood geology" during the 1950s before Henry M. Morris
and John C. Whitcomb
popularised Young Earth Creationism
and Flood geology
in their 1961 book entitled "The Genesis Flood".
Reformed theologian Meredith G. Kline
known for advancing the framework interpretation of Genesis cites this book in his influential article "Because It Had Not Rained" after having reviewed it three years earlier , stating "It is, indeed, informative and provocative. Moreover, it has some good emphases. It can, therefore, be read profitably if read critically." yet cautioning "It would be well...for teachers of God's people to be hesitant or, at the least, very careful in providing public documentation of the history of their personal struggle after the truth." Kline also found Ramm's defense of the authority of scripture potentially inconsistent and Ramm's hermeneutical question regarding the place of natural revelation in interpreting scripture while a valid one, his approach in exploring and attempting to answer it done with too much zeal and dangerously close to being error-prone.
The publisher's choice of title in particular its initial article The turned out to be a magnet for criticism. Ramm's original title was 'The Evangelical Faith and Modern Science', but the publisher changed this in order for it to be similar to the title of James Orr
's 1893 book The Christian View of God and the World.
The year 1979 marked the book's 25th anniversary, which was celebrated by the American Scientific Affiliation
in devoting that year's December issue of its journal JASA to Ramm by including evaluations from theologians on the influence of The Christian View of Science and Scripture as well as an interview with Ramm and his wife Alta.
In a survey of Religion and Science books, Covenant Theological Seminary professor and ordained PCA
minister C. John Collins called this book "a classic from a conservative evangelical author."
Professor Ramm is often quoted for writing the following in his work Protestant Christian Evidences:
Ramm also stated, in his often cited work Protestant Christian Evidences, the following: "A historic person named Jesus gave certain men such an impact as to be unequaled by far in the entire annals of the human race. After nearly two thousand years the impact is not at all spent, but daily there are people who have tremendous revolutionary experiences which they associate with Jesus Christ, be He dead or risen in Heaven. The personality of Jesus is without parallel. It is unique and incomparable" (Protestant Christian Evidences [Chicago: Moody, 1953], p. 171).
Baptist
Baptists comprise a group of Christian denominations and churches that subscribe to a doctrine that baptism should be performed only for professing believers , and that it must be done by immersion...
theologian and apologist within the broad Evangelical
Evangelicalism
Evangelicalism is a Protestant Christian movement which began in Great Britain in the 1730s and gained popularity in the United States during the series of Great Awakenings of the 18th and 19th century.Its key commitments are:...
tradition. He wrote prolifically on topics concerned with biblical hermeneutics
Biblical hermeneutics
Biblical hermeneutics is the study of the principles of interpretation concerning the books of the Bible. It is part of the broader field of hermeneutics which involves the study of principles for the text and includes all forms of communication: verbal and nonverbal.While Jewish and Christian...
, religion and science, Christology
Christology
Christology is the field of study within Christian theology which is primarily concerned with the nature and person of Jesus Christ as recorded in the Canonical gospels and the letters of the New Testament. Primary considerations include the relationship of Jesus' nature and person with the nature...
, and apologetics
Apologetics
Apologetics is the discipline of defending a position through the systematic use of reason. Early Christian writers Apologetics (from Greek ἀπολογία, "speaking in defense") is the discipline of defending a position (often religious) through the systematic use of reason. Early Christian writers...
. The hermenuetical principles presented in his 1956 book Protestant Biblical Interpretation influenced a wide spectrum of Baptist
Baptist
Baptists comprise a group of Christian denominations and churches that subscribe to a doctrine that baptism should be performed only for professing believers , and that it must be done by immersion...
theologians. During the 1970s he was widely regarded as a leading evangelical theologian as well known as Carl F.H. Henry. His equally celebrated and criticized 1954 book The Christian View of Science and Scripture was the theme of a 1979 issue of the Journal of the American Scientific Affiliation
American Scientific Affiliation
The American Scientific Affiliation is a Christian religious organization of scientists and people in science-related disciplines. The stated purpose is "to investigate any area relating Christian faith and science." The organization publishes a journal, Perspectives of Science and Christian Faith...
, while a 1990 issue of Baylor University
Baylor University
Baylor University is a private, Christian university located in Waco, Texas. Founded in 1845, Baylor is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools.-History:...
's Perspectives in Religious Studies was devoted to Ramm's views on theology.
Education
Ramm's tertiary education included a B.A. (University of WashingtonUniversity of Washington
University of Washington is a public research university, founded in 1861 in Seattle, Washington, United States. The UW is the largest university in the Northwest and the oldest public university on the West Coast. The university has three campuses, with its largest campus in the University...
)—initially studying chemistry then switching to philosophy of science in preparation of ministry, B.D. (Eastern Baptist Seminary), M.A. in 1947 & Ph.D in 1950 (University of Southern California
University of Southern California
The University of Southern California is a private, not-for-profit, nonsectarian, research university located in Los Angeles, California, United States. USC was founded in 1880, making it California's oldest private research university...
). He also undertook additional studies at the University of Pennsylvania
University of Pennsylvania
The University of Pennsylvania is a private, Ivy League university located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States. Penn is the fourth-oldest institution of higher education in the United States,Penn is the fourth-oldest using the founding dates claimed by each institution...
, the University of Basel
University of Basel
The University of Basel is located in Basel, Switzerland, and is considered to be one of leading universities in the country...
, Switzerland (1957-1958 academic year with Karl Barth
Karl Barth
Karl Barth was a Swiss Reformed theologian whom critics hold to be among the most important Christian thinkers of the 20th century; Pope Pius XII described him as the most important theologian since Thomas Aquinas...
), and the Near Eastern School of Theology, Beirut, Lebanon.
Career
His academic teaching career began in 1943 when he joined the faculty at the Bible Institute of Los Angeles (now Biola UniversityBiola University
Biola University is a private, evangelical Christian, liberal arts university located near Los Angeles. Biola's main campus is in La Mirada in Los Angeles County, California. In addition, the university has several satellite campuses in Chino Hills, Inglewood, San Diego, and Laguna Hills.-...
, La Mirada, California). He became Professor of Philosophy at Bethel College and Seminary, and then Professor of Religion at Baylor University
Baylor University
Baylor University is a private, Christian university located in Waco, Texas. Founded in 1845, Baylor is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools.-History:...
, Texas. Most of his academic teaching was conducted at the American Baptist Seminary of the West
American Baptist Seminary of the West
The American Baptist Seminary of the West is a theological school affiliated with the American Baptist Churches USA and the Progressive National Baptist Convention. It is located in Berkeley, California, USA. It is part of the Graduate Theological Union, a consortium of theological schools and...
at Covina, California, where he taught between 1958–74 and again from 1978-86. At that seminary he held the post of Professor of Systematic Theology
Systematic theology
In the context of Christianity, systematic theology is a discipline of Christian theology that attempts to formulate an orderly, rational, and coherent account of the Christian faith and beliefs...
.
Writings
Ramm wrote eighteen books, contributed to chapters to other books, and composed over one hundred articles and book reviews in various theological periodicals.In his contributions to Christian apologetics, Ramm began his career in the evidentialist camp. However his later work reflected a shift in viewpoint over to a modified form of presuppositional apologetics
Presuppositional apologetics
In Christian theology, presuppositionalism is a school of apologetics that presumes Christian faith is the only basis for rational thought. It presupposes that the Bible is divine revelation and claims to expose flaws in other worldviews...
that had some affinity with the work of Edward John Carnell
Edward John Carnell
Edward John Carnell was a prominent Christian theologian and apologist, was an ordained Baptist pastor, and served as President of Fuller Theological Seminary in Pasadena, California. He was the author of nine major books, several of which attempted to develop a fresh outlook in Christian...
. In spite of harsh criticisms of Karl Barth
Karl Barth
Karl Barth was a Swiss Reformed theologian whom critics hold to be among the most important Christian thinkers of the 20th century; Pope Pius XII described him as the most important theologian since Thomas Aquinas...
from other theologians such as Cornelius Van Til
Cornelius Van Til
Cornelius Van Til , born in Grootegast, the Netherlands, was a Christian philosopher, Reformed theologian, and presuppositional apologist.-Biography:...
, Gordon Clark
Gordon Clark
Gordon Haddon Clark was an American philosopher and Calvinist theologian. He was a primary advocate for the idea of presuppositional apologetics and was chairman of the Philosophy Department at Butler University for 28 years...
, and Carl F. H. Henry
Carl F. H. Henry
Carl Ferdinand Howard Henry was an American evangelical Christian theologian who served as the first editor-in-chief of the magazine Christianity Today, established to serve as a scholarly voice for evangelical Christianity and a challenge to the liberal Christian Century.-Early Years and...
, Ramm would explore much of Barth's theological viewpoint, eventually embracing Barth's theology almost wholeheartedly as outlined in Ramm's own book After Fundamentalism (Harper & Row, 1983).
Ramm did not utilise the classical or Thomist approach in arguments for God's existence. He maintained that apart from faith God was unknowable. He likewise emphasised that the noetic effects of sin rendered the theistic proofs useless. For Ramm the proof of God's existence is in Holy Scripture.
He argued that the primary use of Christian evidences is to create a favourable climate of opinion so that the Gospel may be proclaimed, and believed. In this respect he felt that both fulfilled prophecy and miracles provided a factual basis for that climate of opinion. Ramm placed strong emphasis on the inner witness of the Holy Spirit verifying the gospel to the believer.
In some respects Ramm's emphasis on the inner witness of the Spirit reflected the view of John Calvin
John Calvin
John Calvin was an influential French theologian and pastor during the Protestant Reformation. He was a principal figure in the development of the system of Christian theology later called Calvinism. Originally trained as a humanist lawyer, he broke from the Roman Catholic Church around 1530...
, but it also reflected the influence of Karl Barth
Karl Barth
Karl Barth was a Swiss Reformed theologian whom critics hold to be among the most important Christian thinkers of the 20th century; Pope Pius XII described him as the most important theologian since Thomas Aquinas...
under whom he studied in Switzerland.
Near the end of his life Ramm was honored with a book of essays by his colleagues and younger contemporaries.
Influence of The Christian View of Science and Scripture
In his book, The Christian View of Science and Scripture, published in 1954, he was critical of "flood geology" and the notion of a young earth and influenced the American Scientific AffiliationAmerican Scientific Affiliation
The American Scientific Affiliation is a Christian religious organization of scientists and people in science-related disciplines. The stated purpose is "to investigate any area relating Christian faith and science." The organization publishes a journal, Perspectives of Science and Christian Faith...
(ASA) in not supporting "flood geology" during the 1950s before Henry M. Morris
Henry M. Morris
Henry Madison Morris was an American young earth creationist and Christian apologist. He was one of the founders of the Creation Research Society and the Institute for Creation Research...
and John C. Whitcomb
John C. Whitcomb
John Clement Whitcomb, Jr. is an American Old Testament theologian and young earth creationist. Whitcomb is sometimes credited for establishing the modern young earth creationist/creation science movement by authoring with Henry M...
popularised Young Earth Creationism
Young Earth creationism
Young Earth creationism is the religious belief that Heavens, Earth, and all life on Earth were created by direct acts of the Abrahamic God during a relatively short period, sometime between 5,700 and 10,000 years ago...
and Flood geology
Flood geology
Flood geology is the interpretation of the geological history of the Earth in terms of the global flood described in Genesis 6–9. Similar views played a part in the early development of the science of geology, even after the Biblical chronology had been rejected by geologists in favour of an...
in their 1961 book entitled "The Genesis Flood".
Reformed theologian Meredith G. Kline
Meredith G. Kline
Meredith G. Kline was an American theologian and Old Testament scholar advance in Archeology, both Assyriology and Egyptology.-Academic career:...
known for advancing the framework interpretation of Genesis cites this book in his influential article "Because It Had Not Rained" after having reviewed it three years earlier , stating "It is, indeed, informative and provocative. Moreover, it has some good emphases. It can, therefore, be read profitably if read critically." yet cautioning "It would be well...for teachers of God's people to be hesitant or, at the least, very careful in providing public documentation of the history of their personal struggle after the truth." Kline also found Ramm's defense of the authority of scripture potentially inconsistent and Ramm's hermeneutical question regarding the place of natural revelation in interpreting scripture while a valid one, his approach in exploring and attempting to answer it done with too much zeal and dangerously close to being error-prone.
The publisher's choice of title in particular its initial article The turned out to be a magnet for criticism. Ramm's original title was 'The Evangelical Faith and Modern Science', but the publisher changed this in order for it to be similar to the title of James Orr
James Orr (theologian)
James Orr was a Scottish Presbyterian minister and professor of church history and then theology. He was an influential defender of evangelical doctrine and a contributor to The Fundamentals.- Biography :...
's 1893 book The Christian View of God and the World.
The year 1979 marked the book's 25th anniversary, which was celebrated by the American Scientific Affiliation
American Scientific Affiliation
The American Scientific Affiliation is a Christian religious organization of scientists and people in science-related disciplines. The stated purpose is "to investigate any area relating Christian faith and science." The organization publishes a journal, Perspectives of Science and Christian Faith...
in devoting that year's December issue of its journal JASA to Ramm by including evaluations from theologians on the influence of The Christian View of Science and Scripture as well as an interview with Ramm and his wife Alta.
In a survey of Religion and Science books, Covenant Theological Seminary professor and ordained PCA
Presbyterian Church in America
The Presbyterian Church in America is an evangelical Protestant Christian denomination, the second largest Presbyterian church body in the United States after the Presbyterian Church . The PCA professes a strong commitment to evangelism, missionary work, and Christian education...
minister C. John Collins called this book "a classic from a conservative evangelical author."
Influence of Protestant Christian Evidences
His work Protestant Christian Evidences is considered a classic and is still often cited.Professor Ramm is often quoted for writing the following in his work Protestant Christian Evidences:
"Jews preserved it as no other manuscriptManuscriptA manuscript or handwrite is written information that has been manually created by someone or some people, such as a hand-written letter, as opposed to being printed or reproduced some other way...
has ever been preserved. With their massora they kept tabs on every letter, syllable, word and paragraph. They had special classes of men within their culture whose sole duty was to preserve and transmit these documents with practically perfect fidelity – scribeScribeA scribe is a person who writes books or documents by hand as a profession and helps the city keep track of its records. The profession, previously found in all literate cultures in some form, lost most of its importance and status with the advent of printing...
s, lawyerLawyerA lawyer, according to Black's Law Dictionary, is "a person learned in the law; as an attorney, counsel or solicitor; a person who is practicing law." Law is the system of rules of conduct established by the sovereign government of a society to correct wrongs, maintain the stability of political...
s, masoretesMasoretesThe Masoretes were groups of mostly Karaite scribes and scholars working between the 7th and 11th centuries, based primarily in present-day Israel in the cities of Tiberias and Jerusalem, as well as in Iraq...
.
In regard to the New Testament, there are about 13,000 manuscripts, complete and incomplete, in GreekGreek languageGreek is an independent branch of the Indo-European family of languages. Native to the southern Balkans, it has the longest documented history of any Indo-European language, spanning 34 centuries of written records. Its writing system has been the Greek alphabet for the majority of its history;...
and other languages, that have survived from antiquityClassical antiquityClassical antiquity is a broad term for a long period of cultural history centered on the Mediterranean Sea, comprising the interlocking civilizations of ancient Greece and ancient Rome, collectively known as the Greco-Roman world...
.
A thousand times over, the death knell of the Bible has been sounded, the funeral procession formed, the inscription cut on the tombstone, and committal read. But somehow the corpse never stays put. No other book has been so chopped, knifed, sifted, scrutinized, and vilified. What book on philosophy or religion or psychology or belles lettres of classical or modern times has been subject to such a mass attack as the Bible? With such venom and skepticism? With such thoroughness and erudition? Upon every chapter, line and tenetTenetA tenet is one of the principles on which a belief or theory is based. Tenet may also refer to:* Tenet , a Canadian heavy metal band* Tenet Healthcare, a hospital holding company* Tenet people, an ethnic group in Sudan...
?
The Bible is still loved by millions, read by millions, and studied by millions."
Ramm also stated, in his often cited work Protestant Christian Evidences, the following: "A historic person named Jesus gave certain men such an impact as to be unequaled by far in the entire annals of the human race. After nearly two thousand years the impact is not at all spent, but daily there are people who have tremendous revolutionary experiences which they associate with Jesus Christ, be He dead or risen in Heaven. The personality of Jesus is without parallel. It is unique and incomparable" (Protestant Christian Evidences [Chicago: Moody, 1953], p. 171).
Selected publications
- Problems in Christian Apologetics, Western Baptist Theological Seminary, Portland, Oregon, 1949.
- Protestant Christian Evidences, Moody Press, Chicago, 1953.
- Types of Apologetic Systems, Van Kampen Press, Wheaton, 1953.
- Christian View of Science and Scripture, William B. Eerdmans, Grand Rapids, 1954.
- The Pattern of Authority, William B. Eerdmans, Grand Rapids, 1957.
- The Witness of the Spirit, William B. Eerdmans, Grand Rapids, 1960.
- Special Revelation and the Word of God, William B. Eerdmans, Grand Rapids, 1961.
- Varieties of Christian Apologetics: An Introduction to the Christian Philosophy of Religion, Baker Book House, Grand Rapids, 1962.
- The Christian College in the Twentieth Century, William B. Eerdmans, Grand Rapids, 1963.
- Them He Glorified, William B. Eerdmans, Grand Rapids, 1963.
- A Handbook Of Contemporary Theology, William B. Eermans, Grand Rapids, 1966.
- Protestant Biblical Interpretation: A Textbook of Hermeneutics, 3rd revised edition, Baker Book House, 1970.
- Right, the good and the happy: The Christian in a world of Distorted Values, Word, Waco, 1971.
- The God Who Makes A Difference: A Christian Appeal to Reason, Word, Waco, 1972.
- The Evangelical Heritage, Word, Waco, 1973.
- Rapping About the Spirit, Word, Waco, 1974.
- Devil, Seven Wormwoods, and God, Word, Waco, 1977.
- After Fundamentalism: The Future of Evangelical Theology, Harper & Row, San Francisco, 1983.
- An Evangelical Christology: Ecumenic and Historic, Thomas Nelson, Nashville, 1985.
- Offense to Reason: A Theology of Sin, Harper & Row, San Francisco, 1985.
- God's Way Out: Finding the Road to Personal Freedom Through Exodus (Bible Commentary for Laymen), Regal, Ventura, 1987.
- Ramm and others, Hermeneutics, Baker Book House, Grand Rapids, 1987.
Books about
- Stanley Grenz (ed). Perspectives on Theology in the Contemporary World: Essays in Honor of Bernard Ramm, Mercer University Press, Macon, Georgia, 1990.
Ph.D. Theses about
- A critique of Bernard Ramm's doctrine of the Bible by Kenny Regan Pulliam. 1986.
- Scripture and theology an analysis of Bernard Ramm's proposal to adopt Karl Barth's methodology by Robert L Jones. 1985.
- The theological system of Bernard L. Ramm by David Miller. 1982.
- The concept of revelation the theology of Bernard Ramm by R. Alan Day. 1979.
External links
- Issue 04 - Winter 1990 (entire issue devoted to Bernard Ramm). Perspectives in Religious Studies.
- Volume 31 Number 4 Dec. 1979. (Bernard Ramm FestschriftFestschriftIn academia, a Festschrift , is a book honoring a respected person, especially an academic, and presented during his or her lifetime. The term, borrowed from German, could be translated as celebration publication or celebratory writing...
issue). JASA. - List of Ramm's Papers in the Journal of the American Scientific AffiliationAmerican Scientific AffiliationThe American Scientific Affiliation is a Christian religious organization of scientists and people in science-related disciplines. The stated purpose is "to investigate any area relating Christian faith and science." The organization publishes a journal, Perspectives of Science and Christian Faith...
- Partial list of papers about Ramm in the Journal of the American Scientific AffiliationAmerican Scientific AffiliationThe American Scientific Affiliation is a Christian religious organization of scientists and people in science-related disciplines. The stated purpose is "to investigate any area relating Christian faith and science." The organization publishes a journal, Perspectives of Science and Christian Faith...
- "An Interview with Bernard Ramm," Journal of the American Scientific Affiliation 31 (September 1979) 179-186.
- "Changing Views of Science and Scripture: Bernard Ramm and the ASA". PSCF 44. March 1992. pp. 2–9.
- Short critical review by Ramm of Lovelace's Dynamics of Spiritual Life in Theology Today. 37 (1). April 1980.
- Short critical review of Ramm's book Offense to Reason in Theology Today. 43 (2). July 1986. p.306.
- Ramm's Worldcat identity