Re: [asa] Question on inerrancy

From my point of view, it depends on what you mean by
"inerrant". I think the theological message of
salvation and God's design for our way of life can be
"inerrant" without every single word in the Bible
being inerrant. If that's what you mean by inerrant,
then I would agree with that, although that's what I
would label "inspired".

In thinking of the Bible's purpose and proper place, I
rather like this analogy I was taught once (I believe
it was Luther's?)--the Bible is like the manger of the
baby Jesus. Though it is constructed by human hands
and is imperfect and ordinary in and of itself, it
contains and points to the perfect and saving Son of
God--it is the Son which gives the manger its meaning,
not the other way around; likewise, without the Son,
the Bible would be just another interesting book.

As an aside, if you set the Bible up to be "inerrant"
in the sense the every single word of it is literally
true and holy, do you not establish for yourself an
idol as it were, claiming that something other than
God Himself is perfect?

In Christ,
Christine (ASA member)

--- David Heddle <heddle@gmail.com> wrote:

> Bernie,
>
> They have to, it seems to me, go together
> (inerrancy and inspiration). If
> the bible is not inerrant, then first of all there
> is no reason to believe 2
> Tim. 3:16. Secondly, if we magically knew that 2 Tim
> 3:16 was true, but that
> the bible was (pardon the double negative) not
> inerrant, then only verse we
> could trust is 2 Tim. 3:16.
>
> I think in general biblical inerrancy is
> demonstrated by stating that 2 Tim.
> 3:16 sets an extremely high standard--like a teacher
> who claims "I am never
> wrong." The statement by itself proves nothing--but
> every time the teacher
> speaks, we measure it against the lofty claim. If an
> error is discovered,
> the teacher falls harder than if he hadn't boasted.
> So it is with scripture.
> We bootstrap ourselves into biblical innerancy by
> weighing scripture against
> the standard set by 2 Tim. 3:16.
>
> That's my take.
>
> Of course, even with inerrancy and inspiration
> affirmed, there is still the
> question of "what is scripture." Catholics have
> sacred tradition, but
> Sola-Fide Protestants (that includes me) have to
> accept that the canon might
> contain errors. Unless we assume that the Holy
> Spirit guided the selection
> process--giving us one Sacred Tradition.
>
> David P. Heddle
> Associate Professor of Physics
> Christopher Newport University, &
> The Thomas Jefferson National Accelerator Facility
> http://helives.blogspot.com
>
> On Fri, May 9, 2008 at 4:07 PM, Dehler, Bernie
> <bernie.dehler@intel.com>
> wrote:
>
> > I'm arguing with a Pastor friend who supports
> biblical inerrancy. Here's
> > a point I came up with- does it hold water?
> >
> >
> >
> > 1. To be "Bible-based," we should teach what
> the Bible teaches, but not
> > go "beyond what is written."
> > 2. The Bible claims to be 'inspired' but not
> 'inerrant'
> > 3. Therefore, the popular Evangelical claim
> that "the Bible is
> > inerrant" is to go "beyond what is written" and
> is not a Bible-based concept
> >
> >
> > * *
> >
> > Therefore, for someone who wants to teach the
> Bible in all sincerity and
> > truthfulness, should not claim more for the Bible
> than it claims for
> > itself. This is ironic, because this statement
> says the more the one takes
> > the Bible seriously, the less they should claim it
> is inerrant.
> >
> > * *
> >
> > *Back-up:*
> >
> > * *
> >
> > *For point 1:*
> >
> >
> >
> > *1 Corinthians
>
4:6<http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?book_id=53&chapter=4&verse=6&version=31&context=verse>
> > *
> > Now, brothers, I have applied these things to
> myself and Apollos for your
> > benefit, so that you may learn from us the meaning
> of the saying, "Do not go
> > beyond what is written." Then you will not take
> pride in one man over
> > against another.
> >
> >
> >
> > *For point 2:*
> >
> > * *
> >
> > *2 Timothy
>
3:16<http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?book_id=62&chapter=3&verse=16&version=31&context=verse>(NIV)
> > *
> > All Scripture is *God-breathed* and is useful for
> teaching, rebuking,
> > correcting and training in righteousness,
> >
> > * *
> >
> > * -- and ---*
> >
> > * *
> >
> > *2 Timothy 3:16** (KJV)*
> > All scripture is given by *inspiration* of God,
> and is profitable for
> > doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for
> instruction in righteousness
> >
> >
> >
> > *For point 3*:
> >
> >
> >
> > National Assoc. of Evangelicals:
> >
>
http://www.nae.net/index.cfm?FUSEACTION=nae.statement_of_faith
> > We believe the Bible to be the inspired, the only
> infallible, authoritative
> > Word of God.
> >
> >
> >
> > *Comments?*
> >
> > * *
> >
> > Please keep comments short, as this post is.
> >
>

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Received on Fri, 9 May 2008 15:36:58 -0700 (PDT)