Robert H. Gundry
Encyclopedia
Robert Horton Gundry is a Biblical scholar. He received a B.A. and a B.D. degree from the Los Angeles Baptist College and Seminary, and his Ph.D. from Manchester University in Manchester, England in 1961 and has taught for several decades at Westmont College
in California
. He became a prominent member of the Evangelical Theological Society
(ETS), and as such signed their statement affirming Biblical inerrancy
.
In 1973 Gundry published The Church and the Tribulation: A Biblical Examination of Posttribulationism. In 1977 he followed up with another book addressing the controversy regarding the timing of the Second Coming when he published First the Antichrist: Why Christ Won't Come Before The Antichrist Does.
In 1982 he published Matthew: A Commentary on His Literary and Theological Art analyzing the Gospel of Matthew
. Gundry used redaction criticism
in his work. He thus argued that Matthew adapted the story of Jesus to appeal to the intended audience. Especially problematic was Gundry's assertion that Matthew made ahistorical additions to the infancy story in Matthew 1
and 2
.
This sparked a major controversy in the Evangelical Theological Society. Gundry contended his work did not question the inerrancy of Matthew. Rather he argued that inerrancy must be considered in light of authorial intent. Matthew, Gundry claims, "treats us to history mixed with elements that cannot be called historical in a modern sense." Thus, the book of Matthew should not be measured against the standards of the genre of modern historical writing in order to be called inerrant. On the other hand, "Luke states a historical purpose along lines that run closer to modern history writing…" Gundry's view was supported by a significant portion of the ETS. The Society's executive looked into the matter and at first cleared Gundry. However a campaign against Gundry was launched, spearheaded by Norman Geisler
. This campaign succeeded and in December 1983 Gundry resigned from the ETS.
In Fall 2001, Robert H. Gundry spoke at ETS on "Jesus the Word According to John the Sectarian. A Paleofundamentalist Manifesto For Contemporary Evangelicalism Especially its Elites in North America." In that message, Gundry suggested that "Our circumstances call for John's Word Christology, for evangelicalism to take a sectarian turn, a return, mutatis mutandis, to the fundamentalism of The Fundamentals and their authors at the very start of the twentieth century."
Westmont College
Westmont offers 26 majors, including: alternative major, art, biology, chemistry, communication studies, computer science, economics and business, education program, engineering physics, English, history, European studies, kinesiology, liberal studies, mathematics, modern languages , music,...
in California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
. He became a prominent member of the Evangelical Theological Society
Evangelical Theological Society
The Evangelical Theological Society is a professional society of Biblical scholars, educators, pastors, and students with the stated purpose of serving Jesus and his church by advancing evangelical scholarship. It was established in 1949 in Cincinnati. The number of members in 2005 was over 4,200...
(ETS), and as such signed their statement affirming Biblical inerrancy
Biblical inerrancy
Biblical inerrancy is the doctrinal position that the Bible is accurate and totally free of error, that "Scripture in the original manuscripts does not affirm anything that is contrary to fact." Some equate inerrancy with infallibility; others do not.Conservative Christians generally believe that...
.
In 1973 Gundry published The Church and the Tribulation: A Biblical Examination of Posttribulationism. In 1977 he followed up with another book addressing the controversy regarding the timing of the Second Coming when he published First the Antichrist: Why Christ Won't Come Before The Antichrist Does.
In 1982 he published Matthew: A Commentary on His Literary and Theological Art analyzing the Gospel of Matthew
Gospel of Matthew
The Gospel According to Matthew is one of the four canonical gospels, one of the three synoptic gospels, and the first book of the New Testament. It tells of the life, ministry, death, and resurrection of Jesus of Nazareth...
. Gundry used redaction criticism
Redaction criticism
Redaction criticism, also called Redaktionsgeschichte, Kompositionsgeschichte, or Redaktionstheologie, is a critical method for the study of Bible texts. Redaction criticism regards the author of the text as editor of his or her source material...
in his work. He thus argued that Matthew adapted the story of Jesus to appeal to the intended audience. Especially problematic was Gundry's assertion that Matthew made ahistorical additions to the infancy story in Matthew 1
Matthew 1
Matthew 1 is the first chapter of the Gospel of Matthew in the New Testament. It contains two distinct sections. The first lists the genealogy of Jesus's legal father Joseph from Abraham...
and 2
Matthew 2
Matthew 2 is the second chapter of the Gospel of Matthew in the New Testament. It describes the events after the birth of Jesus. The first section deals with the visit of the magi and the attempt by King Herod to kill the infant messiah. The second portion deals with Jesus' Flight into Egypt, and...
.
This sparked a major controversy in the Evangelical Theological Society. Gundry contended his work did not question the inerrancy of Matthew. Rather he argued that inerrancy must be considered in light of authorial intent. Matthew, Gundry claims, "treats us to history mixed with elements that cannot be called historical in a modern sense." Thus, the book of Matthew should not be measured against the standards of the genre of modern historical writing in order to be called inerrant. On the other hand, "Luke states a historical purpose along lines that run closer to modern history writing…" Gundry's view was supported by a significant portion of the ETS. The Society's executive looked into the matter and at first cleared Gundry. However a campaign against Gundry was launched, spearheaded by Norman Geisler
Norman Geisler
Norman L. Geisler is a Christian apologist and the co-founder of Southern Evangelical Seminary outside Charlotte, North Carolina, where he formerly taught. He holds a Ph.D. in philosophy from Jesuit Loyola University...
. This campaign succeeded and in December 1983 Gundry resigned from the ETS.
In Fall 2001, Robert H. Gundry spoke at ETS on "Jesus the Word According to John the Sectarian. A Paleofundamentalist Manifesto For Contemporary Evangelicalism Especially its Elites in North America." In that message, Gundry suggested that "Our circumstances call for John's Word Christology, for evangelicalism to take a sectarian turn, a return, mutatis mutandis, to the fundamentalism of The Fundamentals and their authors at the very start of the twentieth century."