Because some readers of the NTJ took exception to a recent article, and because we had no intention of giving offense, we offer the following apology:
With reference to the article “Priorities” in the last NTJ (Winter 2009), the editors unreservedly apologize for implying that there is any tension between the position of Carl Trueman and Richard Gaffin on the matter of justification regarding the bounds of confessional orthodoxy; we also apologize for the fact that Dr. Gaffin was quoted out of context in the article in a manner that distorted his views, and we affirm that his recent response to John Fesko in Ordained Servant (March 2009) represents a satisfactory clarification of the comment we misquoted; we further apologize for implying that Dr. Gaffin’s views are contrary to the Protestant confessional consensus on justification and for writing that they constitute “a new perspective on Paul,†which uses eschatology to overturn the consensus of the Reformers and the Reformed creeds; and we acknowledge that the biblical notion of union with Christ does not contradict or contravene, directly or impliedly, anything taught in the Westminster Standards.
D. G. Hart and John R. Muether
4 Comments
DGH: We both know I’m not sycophant of yours, but I’m impressed by this apology!
Thanks. One of the things lacking in our circles has been the ability to apologize instead of claiming to be misunderstood. Hopefully more of us will follow your example.
Hmm, just came across this. Hopefully God will be gracious to those of us who can’t shake our cynicism/skepticism toward the good doctor’s constructions.
Whatever happened to the Biblical idea of asking forgiveness? An apology may recognize one’s own error but forgiveness is a two-way street. Every Christian should be required to read Jay Adams’ Forgiven to Forgiving. An apology is another example of Christians handling their problems in the world’s way, not God’s way. Perhaps, one day, Christians will recognize that God does have the best way… for all our rhetoric about being “Biblical” and “Reformed.”