Mark E. Powell is associate professor of theology at Harding University Graduate School of Religion, Memphis, Tennessee. He is also a contributor to Canonical Theism: A Proposal for Theology and the Church (Eerdmans).
Brian Daley
"A Protestant theologian strongly committed to ecumenical Christian
understanding, Mark Powell offers here a perceptive critical review
of the Catholic doctrine of papal infallibility, by studying in
depth the approaches taken to it by four major Catholic thinkers of
the nineteenth and twentieth centuries. His treatment is clear,
lively, and fair-minded, and it should be welcomed by both
Catholics and Protestants as a careful and constructive
contribution to contemporary discussions of religious
epistemology." William J. Abraham
"It has been a long time since a Protestant theologian in the
English-speaking world took up the topic of papal infallibility and
gave it the kind of serious attention it deserves. Papal
infallibility is intrinsically interesting and has been a critical
ecumenical issue over the last century. Mark Powell rightly locates
the doctrine of papal infallibility within the epistemology of
theology before providing a sensitive overview of the various ways
in which it has been conceived and elaborated. Throughout this
work, Powell is sensitive, accurate, and irenic. His own
substantial evaluations and final conclusions are carefully stated
and defended. The result is a splendid book--indispensable reading
for all future treatments of this topic." Ron Highfield
"Mark Powell's lucid and insightful study makes an important
contribution to current discussions of religious epistemology and
ecumenical dialogue on religious authority. In bringing the
insights of canonical theism to bear on the Roman Catholic doctrine
of papal infallibility, Powell highlights the essentially epistemic
function of this teaching and shows its weaknesses in fulfilling
this role. But this work is not just for Roman Catholics.
Protestants too have quested futilely for certainty of knowledge
and indisputability of interpretation. Powell's criticisms of
Catholic efforts to bypass these problems apply equally to
Protestant strategies. And his constructive proposal for discerning
and maintaining Christian identity--that is, canonical
theism--pertains to Protestants as much as to Roman Catholics. This
book begs to be followed by a study of how an infallible and
perspicuous scripture functions in Protestant theology." Jason E.
Vickers
"In recent years, many Protestant theologians have made their way
from Protestant denominations to the Roman Catholic Church. While
there are various motives for this move, among them is surely a
growing frustration with the hermeneutical and theological chaos
now rampant within Protestantism. Over against this chaos is the
promise of doctrinal unity and stability secured by an
authoritative teaching office known as the magisterium. However,
within Catholicism itself, the magisterium raises as many questions
as it answers. In a thorough and lively examination of the doctrine
of papal infallibility, Mark Powell brings these questions into the
full light of day. For Protestants disillusioned with sola
scriptura, this volume offers a probing and sobering account of an
alternative solution to the problems of doctrinal disunity and
instability in Western Christianity."
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