Laeuchli's Contribution to Christian Language

Abstract

A SWISS-BORN graduate of University of Basel, Samuel Laeuchli received his Th.D. from Union Theological Seminary, New York. He is presently professor of patristics at Garrett Theological Seminary. This is his first book, and comprises his contribution to current debate about Christian It is an unusually able study. Laeuchli wishes to show that church has been concerned with question of appropriate since its origins. Reflecting some of James Barr's suspicion over treating as basic keys to theological comparisons (Semantics of Biblical 1961), Laeuchli seems to provide a better alternative to such practice than does Barr by showing that key to a system of thought is its chain of pivotal (p. 16). In an effort to demonstrate his basic argument, author first discusses language. While he is quite aware that Gnostics employed many words, he nevertheless goes on to affirm that speaks its own language (p. 18). In this first chapter Laeuchli offers a penetrating and long-overdue analysis of relationship of Gnostic to its dominant concepts. Because of this section book should take its place alongside other major treatments of Gnosticism, like those of Jonas and Schoeps. One questionable point of procedure should be pointed out. Because Gnosticism is so diverse in its individual expressions, Laeuchli chooses to define Gnostic by distinguishing it from biblical speech (p. 19), rather than by studying systematically diverse texts. To achieve this objective, he has to focus upon main New Testament streams-Synoptic, Johannine, Pauline-to neglect of others and to neglect of consideration that even within these there is an incipient Gnosticism. One wonders why he did deem it appropriate to contrast Gnostic speech with speech of second century, such as he finds in Irenaeus. Laeuchli is to be commended, however, for his appreciation of Gnostic attempt to solve perennial problem of Christian communication, viz., the conflict between word of and word about Christ (p. 19). While desideratum of a sympathetic appraisal of Gnostic experience remains, words of author, though complimentary, are in right direction: All this [i.e., late Gnostic speculation] is utterly unchristian. But for all its eccentricity this syncretistic foolishness [sic!] is a poetic utterance of a new faith. It reveals life and courage. More than that, it reveals imagination and adventure (p. 26). In a section on Creative Element in Gnostic Language, Laeuchli makes point of negative character of Gnostic theology, viz., the pronouncement of God's essence in a dualistic world (p. 23). The discussion would have been improved by showing relation of this application of negative particle (i.e. Greek alpha privative) to same development in Ignatius (Eph. 7.2: Unborn and impassible) and orthodox creeds (Nicene: not made; Chalcedonian: inconfusedly, unchangeably, indivisibly, inseparably). In his exposition of way in which God Father concept was altered in Gnosticism into a biological concept by introduction of * The Language of Faith: An Introduction to Semantic Dilemma of Early Church. By SAMUEL LAEUCHLI. New York-Nashville: Abingdon Press, 1962. 269 pages. $5.50.