The Old Gospel for a New Age: The Relevancy and Sufficiency of the Scriptures for the Space Age

Abstract

Frederic E. Blume defends the enduring relevance and sufficiency of Scripture amid modern philosophical, scientific, and theological challenges. He traces historical attacks on biblical authority—from Darwin and Dewey to Marx and Bultmann—and critiques contemporary theological trends such as the historical-critical method, existentialism, and religious relativism. Blume argues that these ideologies undermine the Gospel’s core doctrines: creation, original sin, vicarious atonement, and justification by faith. He affirms Scripture as God’s living revelation, divinely inspired and historically reliable, and warns against reducing it to mere literature or communal theology. Drawing on Lutheran confessional heritage and the writings of Johannes P. Meyer, Blume calls for doctrinal discipline, faithful preaching, and careful Bible translation. He concludes that the Gospel remains fully sufficient for the spiritual needs of humanity—even in the space age—and urges the church to continue “in His Word” with conviction and clarity. —Abstract generated by Microsoft Copilot (GPT-4)