In Defense of Proof-Texting

In the latest issue of of JETS—the Journal of the Evangelical Theological Society 54.3 (September 2011) 589-606—Michael Allen (of Knox Theological Seminary) and Scott Swain (of Reformed Theological Seminary, Orlando) offer a helpful defense of (good) proof-texting.

Here is their opening:

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Proof-texting has been maligned as of late, charged in the court of theological inquiry. Many biblical scholars snicker and jeer its employment, while many systematic theologians avoid guilt by association.

In this context, we wish to mount an argument in defense of proof-texting. In so doing, we claim neither to defend all that goes under the name of prooftexting, nor to dismiss its critics’ charges. Rather we argue that proof-texting is not necessarily problematic. What is more, historically it has served a wonderful function as a sign of disciplinary symbiosis amongst theology and exegesis. We believe that a revived and renewed practice of proof-texting may well serve as a sign of lively interaction between biblical commentary and Christian doctrine.

For systematicians, they offer two suggestions:

1. “Systematic theologians must be aware of the burden of proof upon them to show that they are using the Bible well in their theological construction. They should seek to promote a biblically saturated culture amongst fellow evangelical systematic theologians.”

Under this point, they suggest “two ways in which to promote a biblically saturated culture amongst evangelical systematic theologians.”

a. “Engage in writing theological commentary (whether of whole books of the Bible or simply of particular passages in journal articles).”

b. “Enrich dogmatic arguments with a great deal of exegetical excurses and engagement with works of exegetical and biblical-theological rigor.”

2. “Biblical scholars should expect rigorous exegesis to lie behind such proof-texting and should engage it conversationally and not cynically.”

For those interested in the interplay between systematic theology and biblical theology, this is a good piece that points the way forward.