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(Volume 1: Number 4) -- May 27, 1997
The controversy over How Wide the Divide?
About the Authors
Craig Blomberg (Ph.D., Aberdeen) is professor of New Testament at Denver Seminary and the author of The Historical Reliability of the Gospels and Interpreting the Parables.
Stephen Robinson (Ph.D., Duke) is professor of ancient Scripture at Brigham Young University and the author of Are Mormons Christians?
A Brief Chronology
1991: Stephen Robinson publishes (Bookcraft) Are Mormons Christians?
Spring 1992: Craig Blomberg, Gordon Lewis and two other Denver Seminary faculty respond to Robinson in a school forum and invite Robinson's reply.
Fall 1992: Gordon Lewis reviews Robinson's book in Christian Research Journal.
Early 1993: Robinson responds to the Denver forum
Spring 1993: Blomberg begins written correspondence with Robinson
1994: Blomberg and Robinson finalize book project with IVP
Early April 1997: InterVarsity Press publishes How Wide the Divide?
An overview of the book's content
Robinson and Blomberg both have 12-page introductions
Section 1: Scripture
Section 2: God & Deification
Section 3: Christ & The Trinity
Section 4: Salvation
These sections consist of a presentation on the topic by each man of roughly twenty pages apiece with a joint conclusion of two pages. Each offers their views, "avoiding misconceptions and ongoing misgivings about the other side."
Both men contribute to the joint final conclusion, eight pages.
From the final conclusion: "On the one hand, we jointly and sincerely affirm the following foundational propositions of the Christian gospel as we both understand it."
This is followed by a second list: "On the other hand, the following important issues continue to divide us."
The above, especially the excerpts from the final conclusion, should serve to give you an idea as to whether or not you will want to read this book for yourself.
Apologia Report interview with Craig Blomberg
The questions:
What were the events which led up to writing How Wide?
When did you begin the project?
If you could go back in time, is there anything else you would have done differently?
Do you have any plans for future writing or further involvement in the area of Mormon-related apologetics in the future?
Do you have a feel yet for the reaction of the evangelical countercult ministry community regarding your book, or is it still too early?
What activities and involvement or work in the area of Mormonism in the past has helped to prepare you for this project?
(Read the text of the interview, here)
The Controversy (minor revisions June 5, 1997)
Supportive of the book:
Opposed to the book:
.
Reviews (updated September 17, 1997)
Pro
By Richard Mouw -- (noted in Apologia Report on September 8, 1997)
Con
By L.L. (Don) Veinot -- (noted in Apologia Report on July 21, 1997)
By Eric Pement -- (noted in Apologia Report on August 18, 1997)
By Bill McKeever & Eric Johnson
Follow-up
Additional content from Apologia discussion groups, AR-talk and AR-vent (currently not available)
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