Discuss the controversy between modernism and fundamentalism

Question 1

The Auburn Affirmation

Answer 1

(1924) Drafted by liberals of the Northern Presbyterian Church, such as Henry Slone Coffin and Robert Nichols, a history professor at Auburn Theological Seminary; this document challenged the procedure of repeatedly affirming additional standards of orthodoxy, besides the Bible and WCF; so in this specific case they challenged the right of the GA to impose the Five Fundamentals as a test of orthodoxy without the concurrence of a vote from the presbyteries; six sections, including—the Bible is not inerrant; the GA has no authority to dictate doctrine to the presbyteries, etc. viewed as the culmination for the Fundamentalist-Modernist controversy (1274 signed it)

Question 2

The “Five Fundamentals”

Answer 2

The GA’s response to the controversy arising out of Fosdick’s sermon; the GA declared that every candidate seeking ordination ought to affirm

(1) The inerrancy of Scripture
(2) The virgin birth (and the deity of Jesus)
(3) The doctrine of the substitutionary atonement
(4) The bodily resurrection of Jesus
(5) The authenticity of Christ’s miracles

Question 3

Harry Emerson Fosdick

Answer 3

(1878-1969) Most prominent liberal of the 20th century and the central figure for the modernists; Riverside Church; famous sermon, “Shall the Fundamentalists Win?”

Question 4

J. Gresham Machen

Answer 4

(1881-1937) Last of the great Princeton theologians (Archibald Alexander, Charles Hodge, A. A. Hodge, B. B. Warfield)—he was a professor of NT (1915-29); when the Northern Presbyterian Church (PCUSA) and Princeton accepted some of modernist theology, he led a conservative revolt and formed Westminster; in opposition to his denomination’s foreign missions agencies, he created The Independent Board for Presbyterian Missions (1933), for which he was tried, convicted, and suspended—lead to the formation of the OPC; Came face to face with modernism in Germany, where he studied; became the chief defender of Christianity/orthodoxy, notably his books The Origin of Paul’s Religion and Christianity and Liberalism

Question 5

How was Westminster Theological Seminary formed?

Answer 5

• Princeton adopted the Auburn affirmation in 1929, leading Machen, Murray, Van Til and others to leave.
• Westminster formed in 1929
• OPC formed in 1936