In two previous posts I sketched out two principles I think are important to keep in mind for an accurate and honest statement of inerrancy: taking the Bible is taken on its own terms and the idea of divine accommodation. I now offer a third: distinguishing literary...
inspiration
Is It the Autograph, a Copy, or Something Else?
Ivan has surfaced again! Ivan emailed me this missive yesterday, so I thought I'd post it. Ivan spotlights some very interesting content in Jeremiah that pertains to our discussion. That book of Jeremiah just seems to play with our minds! Here's Ivan, between...
Let’s Talk About Divine Accommodation
So far in my forays into inerrancy, on the heels of laying out my thoughts on inspiration, I've put forth the idea (with the help of Chet) that I just want to make sure the Bible is taken on its own terms, not terms that we, in the wake of Enlightenment empiricism,...
Inspiration and Inerrancy: Distinguishing Ends and Means, Process and Product
In the last post, I focused on 2 Tim 3:17 for an answer to the question, "What was the point of the exercise of inspiration?" Paul gives us four purposes in this text, and it seems wise to me to approach the question from that perspective. I also noted that I have no...
What’s the Point of the Inspiration Exercise?
This is a question I've raised a few times now on the blog with respect to this topic. I'm going to answer it below (or at least kick it off) in startlingly brief fashion. It will serve as a transition point into inerrancy (at least that's how I'm thinking of it...
1 Samuel 13:1 – The Matter of Missing Words in the Bible
1 Samuel 13:1 is sort of a classic OT textual criticism problem. The United Bible Society's Handbook for Translators of 1 Samuel describes the problem this way:[1. Omanson, R. L., & Ellington, J. (2001). A handbook on the first book of Samuel. UBS handbook series...
The Naked Bible’s Thoughts on Inspiration, Part 4 – Which Edition of the Book of Joshua Originated with God but not the Human Writers?
My focus for this post is Joshua 8:30-35. For centuries scholars have considered the placement of Joshua 8:30-35 to be a odd problem in that book. The reason is that it is completely out of place (or so it seems) with the campaigns of Joshua. In Joshua 5 the new...
The Naked Bible’s Thoughts on Inspiration, Part 3 – The Myth of the Holy Stapler
In the previous two posts I've laid out my thoughts on the relationship of the human writers to God's role in producing the Scriptures. I have argued that it is flawed thinking to deny that Scripture originated with humans in ANY sense; that is, anthropopneustos is...
The Naked Bible’s Thoughts on Inspiration, Part 2
In this post I want to turn to 2 Peter 1:20-21 and share a few thoughts on how this passage dovetails with my views on 2 Tim 3:16. Here's the passage (ESV): 20 knowing this first of all, that no prophecy of Scripture comes from someone's own interpretation. 21 For no...
An Interlude: The Ahaziah-Jehu Problem
Well, Chet gave us a good example -- so good that I have to bump my next inspiration post. The conflicting accounts of the death of Ahaziah is a good example of a genuine problem for inerrancy. The late Raymond Dillard, former OT prof at Westminster called it "one of...
The Naked Bible’s Thoughts on Inspiration, Part 1
I've reached a point with this subject where I think it's time to just start putting out what I think about inspiration and inerrancy. It'll probably take a few posts on the former before I get to the latter. Your comments have been helpful, but I'm sensing that I...
Parsing the “God Alone” View of Inspiration
I've tried to put forth what I think is the standard "only God is responsible for the Bible" view reflected in the Westminster addendum quotation (the theopneustos, not anthropopneustos one reproduced in two posts already). I've noted a few questions in the course of...
Sifting the Posts and Comments on Inerrancy
I thought it might be helpful to direct our attention to some specific thoughts / items that have appeared in posts or (mostly) comments. I've reproduced a dozen below. These thoughts seem to me to be fundamental to beginning a problem-solving path or paths. 1. To...
A Short Explanatory Note on the “Westminster Addendum”
Just a quick clarification on what is meant by the "Westminster Addendum" in my last post. The "addendum" refers Primarily to a statement made by Westminster Seminary, not the Westminster Confession (but see below). The seminary, in suspending Peter Enns in regard to...
The Chicago Statement: The Good, the Bad, and the “wish it had said more”
The title pretty much sums up my feelings about the Chicago Statement. Below I have pasted its (sort of) preamble, and then its affirmations and denials. I've interspersed a few comments (blocked off). I. SUMMARY STATEMENT 1. God, who is Himself Truth and speaks truth...