By Schubert Ogden
1. Making or implying claims to validity anticipates critically validating them, even as critically validating claims to validity presupposes making or implying them.
But Christian witness is a special case of making or implying claims to validity, even as theology is a special case of critically validating them. Therefore, Christian witness anticipates theology, even as theology presupposes Christian witness.
2. Critically validating claims to validity presupposes critically interpreting what makes or implies them, even as critically interpreting what makes or implies claims to validity anticipates critically validating them.
But theology is a special case of critically validating claims to validity, even as historical theology is a special case of critically interpreting what makes or implies them.
Therefore, theology presupposes historical theology, even as historical theology anticipates theology.
25 June 1990