Objawienie – uświęcenie – natchnienie. Johna Webstera doktryna Pisma Świętego z perspektywy katolickiej

Sławomir Zatwardnicki

doi:10.21697/ct.2022.92.3.04

Published: 2022-09-30

Vol. 92 No. 3 (2022)

Revelation – Sanctification – Inspiration: John Webster’s Doctrine of Scripture from a Catholic Perspective

Sławomir Zatwardnicki

Collectanea Theologica

Section: Articles

https://doi.org/10.21697/ct.2022.92.3.04

Abstract

The first part of the article presents John Webster’s ‘ontology of the Holy Scripture.’ The theologian views the biblical texts in the light of their origin and role in the divine self-communication. The scholar introduces the term sanctification, which means the state of being set apart by God and appointed to serve the ‘economy of grace.’ Webster subordinates the doctrine of inspiration to the notion of revelation and places the former within the framework of sanctification. The second part of the article assesses the reflections of the author of Holy Scripture: A Dogmatic Sketch which are made according to the principles of the reformed doctrine. Notwithstanding numerous coincidences with Catholic theology, Webster’s doctrine of the Bible should be considered as insufficiently fitting the nexus mysteriorum, and his theology as not ‘incarnational’ enough. Catholic theology, in turn, can take inspiration from the soteriological dimension of revelation and the Holy Scripture, which are stressed by Webster.

Keywords:

John Webster, ontology of the Holy Scripture, Bibliology, God’s revelation, sanctification, inspiration, incarnational analogy

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Zatwardnicki, S. (2022). Revelation – Sanctification – Inspiration: John Webster’s Doctrine of Scripture from a Catholic Perspective. Collectanea Theologica, 92(3), 97–147. https://doi.org/10.21697/ct.2022.92.3.04

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Sławomir Zatwardnicki

zatwardnicki@gmail.com
https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7597-6604

Affiliation:

Pontifical Faculty of Theology in Wrocław Poland

Bio Statement (e.g., department and rank)

Sławomir Zatwardnicki (PhD) – doctor of theology; Assistant Professor at the Pontifical Faculty of Theology in Wrocław; Secretary of the editorial office of “Wrocław Theological Review;” lecturer, publicist, author of many articles and eighteen books; member of the Society of Dogmatic Theologians in Poland and the Association of Fundamental Theologians in Poland; he is involved in evangelization and formation activities, responsible for one of the branches of the School of Christian Life and Evangelization of Saint Mary of Nazareth and Mother of the Church.