An Interview with Dan Wallace, Part 3 of 3

In light of some of the recent discussion over at Conservative Reformed Mafia I thought it would be a good idea to check in with Dan Wallace to get his perspective on inerrancy, Christ-centered theology, the current state of evangelicalism and more. For those unfamiliar with Dan Wallace and his work, here is a brief biographical sketch from the blog he contributes to, Parchment & Pen:

"Dan has taught Greek and New Testament courses on a graduate school level since 1979. He has a Ph.D. from Dallas Theological Seminary, and is currently professor of New Testament Studies at his alma mater. Dan also serves at Stonebriar Community Church in Frisco, TX as an instructor to The Theology Program teaching elective courses in New Testaments studies. His Greek textbook Greek Grammar: Beyond the Basics is a standard text in seminaries and colleges. Dan is also an advisor and instructor at Reclaiming the Mind Ministries. Visit Dan’s website."

Part 3 of 3

Jeff Wright: Comment on the current state of affairs in American evangelicalism, specifically regarding our ability to deal with questions concerning historical Jesus studies, the reliability of Scripture, and the area of Christology as a whole.

Dan Wallace: I’m encouraged by those who are on the front lines of evangelical scholarship—at least by those whose first passion is Christ himself. To be sure, there are many evangelical leaders—in academia, in pastoral ministries, in parachurch organizations—who are far more interested in making a name for themselves than for making a name for Christ. And, of course, we can’t really know anyone else’s heart well except our own. But those scholars whom I most deeply respect are the ones who pursue truth at all costs and whose devotion to Christ is evident in their whole being. These are the scholars who are energized by his reputation and who pour their lives into their studies because of what is at stake. I thank God for their integrity, their zeal, and their knowledge. Scholars such as Darrell Bock, Ed Komoszewski, Rob Bowman, D. A. Carson, Larry Hurtado, and last but not least, the four horsemen of the ‘Craigocalypse’—Craig Evans, Craig Blomberg, Craig Keener, and William Lane Craig—come readily to mind. This is just the tip of the iceberg, but each of these scholars has made a significant contribution to historical Jesus studies and/or Christology. I would have mentioned Richard Bauckham, James Dunn, and several others, but since you restricted the list to ‘American evangelicalism’ I assumed that you wanted to know about Americans (and Canadians) who have made an impact (even if some of them are teaching in Europe)...

Click here to read the rest of Part Three