LOUISVILLE, Ky. (BP)–Southern Baptist Theological Seminary and its Carl F.H. Henry Institute for Evangelical Engagement, along with Crossway Books, debuted the re-publication and release Jan. 22 of internationally known theologian and author Carl F.H. Henry’s magnum opus, “God, Revelation and Authority.”
About 100 people crowded into the Louisville, Ky., seminary’s bookstore for a book signing session with the author and for remarks and presentations to Henry by Southern President R. Albert Mohler Jr. and Crossway Books President Lane Dennis. The event coincided with the first annual summit meeting of the Carl F.H. Henry Institute for Evangelical Engagement and with Henry’s 86th birthday.
“‘God, Revelation and Authority’ represents a rebirth of evangelical thought in the 20th century,” Mohler said.
“Dr. Henry has set forth a stalwart defense of biblical authority and biblical revelation regarding the inerrancy and infallibility of Scripture,” Mohler continued. “As evangelical theology is still defined variously through different models and by different persons, Dr. Henry’s book stands as the definitive and signal statement of evangelical theological method and of evangelical theological conviction.
“His convictions are clearly seen even in the first word in the title of the book, ‘God,'” Mohler said. “As Dr. Henry has often articulated, the major issue facing human beings, human meaning and human existence is indeed the existence or nonexistence of the God of the Bible.”
First published in 1976, Henry’s six-volume work was touted by The New York Times as “the most important work of evangelical theology in modern times,” Dennis said. He also recounted Time magazine said the work “establishes Henry as the leading theologian of the evangelical flank.”
Dennis related his gratitude to Henry not only for the book, but for Henry’s influence in helping to establish Crossway Books. “My father knew Dr. Henry back in the late ’30s and early ’40s. And without [Henry’s] contact and influence, I would not be here today.
“Equally significant is the honor to make this presentation in connection with the first meeting of Carl F.H. Henry Institute,” Dennis said. “Indeed, it is a most fitting way to honor Dr. Henry, as his lifelong commitment has been to the truth, authority and primacy of God’s Word in every area of life and culture.”
Dennis presented Henry with a limited edition, leather-bound set of the books and read the inscription, which said, in part: “[Your book] offers a convincing and convicting presentation and defense of historic evangelical theology and its critical importance in engaging the issues of the day.”
In a later interview Dennis explained his father had written some gospel tracts that Henry happened to see in 1939. Henry was so impressed with the tracts that he contacted a man in Chicago who loaned the money that ultimately established Crossway Books. “Without Dr. Henry, our company wouldn’t exist at all,” Dennis said.
Also on Jan. 22, the Carl F. H. Henry Institute for Evangelical Engagement held its first invitational summit meeting in which a group of scholars met to discuss the recovery of the evangelical mind-set and the challenge of authentic evangelical scholarship in a postmodern age.
“Southern Seminary is committed to provide leadership for the Southern Baptist Convention and other evangelical Christians through this institute which is a think tank for the engagement of the most critical issues of the day from a comprehensive Christian worldview,” Mohler explained.
“In so doing, the institute honors Dr. Henry who modeled that convictional engagement which confronts a secular world with biblical truth.”
“God, Revelation and Authority” is now available nationwide through the Southern Baptist bookstore chain, LifeWay Christian Stores.
