Richard Hooker and the Sufficiency of Scripture. Issue 2 (4th March 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: LeTourneau, Mark
• Is Part Of: Journal of Anglican studies. Volume 14:Issue 2(2016)
• Page Start: 134
• Page End: 155
• Publication Date: 2016-03-04
• Subjects: autopistis, -- autopisticity, -- John Calvin, -- Richard Hooker, -- internal testimony of the Holy Spirit, -- Reformed theology, -- scriptural omnicompetence, -- sufficiency of scripture, -- Thirty-Nine Articles of Religion; Anglican Communion -- Periodicals; Anglicans -- History -- Periodicals; 283.05
• DOI: 10.1017/S174035531500025X
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1740-3553

Abstract

Abstract: This article compares the doctrine of scripture in Richard Hooker's Lawes of Ecclesiasticall Politie with that of John Calvin's Christianae religionis institutio ( Institutes of the Christian Religion ) to assess Hooker's Reformed credentials in this domain. Hooker departs from Reformed orthodoxy in two ways: first, as is generally recognized, in denying the autopisticity of Scripture; second, though less widely recognized, in decoupling autopistis from the internal testimony of the Holy Spirit. These departures must be weighed against countervailing considerations: the unanimity between Hooker and Calvin on the substance of autopistis and the need for Church testimony in attesting to Scripture; their disparate audiences and exigencies, including, in Hooker's case, possible Puritan association of autopistis with scriptural omnicompetence; Hooker's reliance on Article 6 of the Articles of Religion in its entirety in defending scriptural sufficiency; and the silence of Hooker's contemporary critics regarding his denial of autopistis .