The Princeton Theologians of the 19th Century seem to get credit for a number of standard contemporary Evangelical doctrines, particularly related to the doctrine of Scripture. In the most recent Foundations Journal, Carl Trueman, Professor of Historical Theology and Church History at Westminster Theological Seminary, takes to task those who accuse the Princetonians of inventing the doctrine of inspiration.
Generally Trueman highlights how at least some simple view of inspiration was held as far back as the early Polycarp, Clement, and Gregory the Great. It gets a more full development in Augustine, where we even see specific language regarding the inspiration of the original autographs. This is well before the Princeton theologians like Warfield and Hodge.
Moving on he highlights the presence of the doctrine in the writings of Thomas Aquinas and the Reformers (Luther, Calvin, and Bullinger), and post-Reformation theologians like the Lutherans and the Puritans. Of course he lacks the space to fully develop a thorough historical tracing of the doctrine, but without a doubt he demonstrates that the Princetonians were not the innovators of this doctrine.
Trueman sums it up, then, with these final words:
As a result, if the Princetonians are to be seen as innovators, it cannot be in terms of their articulation of the concept of inerrant autographs or in their concern for verbal inspiration and the connection of this to notions of truth. On these points, they stand within an established tradition of Christian discourse which goes back beyond the Reformation to the early church (12).
Everybody likes to pick on Warfield and Hodge, but if you’re going to challenge orthodox theology and cite certain theologians as innovators of doctrines which are not substantiated in tradition or Scripture you should at least do your homework first!
Sparrow & Heart Soul Care 