Biblical Inerrancy

Here's a tidbit about biblical inerrancy. This is just "my position" I had to give for a discussion board based on the reading from my class. My research paper will be about 15 pages long, so I won't be posting IT! HAHA. But, maybe some more tidbits as I go along. Enjoy!

(Also, for anyone interested on doing more reading in this area - Erickson's Christian Theology is an excellent place to start. Also, Greisler's Inerrancy [which I didn't have at the time of writing the following] is going to be a major source for my research.)

I believe in the inerrancy of the Bible, thus defined as “when judged by the usage of its time, [it] teaches the truth without any affirmation of error.”¹ I believe in what is known as full inerrancy, which claims that the Bible is completely true; while not giving primary aim to scientific or historical data, it nonetheless recounts these as observed in a truthful manner.² Anything less than full inerrancy limits the authority of the scriptures, upon which my faith is built. If even one part of scripture is said to be erroneous, the door is open for the possibility of the errancy of the whole canon.³

The key foundation for this belief in the inerrancy of the Bible is a belief in an omniscient, omnipotent God.⁴ In addition, the view that “inspiration involved God’s directing the thoughts of the writers, so that they were precisely the thoughts that he wished expressed”⁵ is also foundational. Given the corollary belief of inspiration, the Bible must be completely truthful;⁶ for how could God, an inerrant being, inspire anything less than inerrant scriptures? The Bible repeatedly teaches that God cannot lie, so the inerrancy of His Word follows His character.⁷

I also believe that any deviation from full inerrancy would seriously affect other doctrines of my faith. At the point in which I disavow the truth and inerrancy of the Bible, I will have to allow consideration for other beliefs and tenets of Christianity to be false.

In relation to what seem to be errors in the scriptures, I am of the opinion that 1) many of these assertions of errors can, in fact, be reconciled when considered in the original purpose for which they were written,⁸ and 2) I am not privy to all knowledge that exists; therefore, I am humble enough to realize and admit that I do not know the answers sometimes.

Finally, the overall importance in relating the inerrancy of the Bible is that it is full of truth.⁹ Mostly, the scriptures aim to give truth about God – who He is and what He has done to restore our relationship to Him. “Scripture itself is viewed as an integral part of God’s redemptive activity, a special form of revelation, a unique mode of divine disclosure. In fact, it becomes a decisive factor in God’s redemptive activity, interpreting and unifying the whole series of redemptive deeds, and exhibiting their divine meaning and significance.”(my emphases) ¹⁰ The focus is on the grace that God bestows in order that we might be redeemed.

1. Millard J. Erickson, Christian Theology, 2^nd ed., (Grand Rapids: Baker, 1998), 246.

2. Ibid., 248.

3. Ibid., 250-251.

4. H. D. McDonald, “Bible, Authority of,” in Evangelical Dictionary of Theology, ed. Walter A. Elwell (Grand Rapids: Baker, 2001), 154.

5. Erickson, 242.

6. Ibid., 251.

7. P. D. Feinberg, “Bible, Inerrancy and Infallibility of,” in Elwell, 158.

8. Erickson, 260-262.

9. McDonald, 154.

10. C. F. H. Henry, “Bible, Inspiration of,” in Elwell, 162.

Rejoice Always...

Wondering what God's will for your life is?

"Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances;

for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus."

~1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

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"Quarterly Website Maintenance" = An excuse to NOT work on coursework and catch up on blogging instead! :)

I know it's been awhile since I've posted anything, so this post MAY be a little longer! Please read through! :)

The last 2 weeks have been FULL...and unfortunately, not full of "good" things. I won't elaborate here, but suffice it to say that God is working in some lives in painful ways, and I have been witness. As hard as it is, it will be that much more GLORIOUS when God brings these situations to completion! I will rejoice with those who are rejoicing!!!

This reminds me of a hymn that has come up twice in the past week: The Servant Song. We sang it in church last week and then a friend brought it up at a meeting, too. I'm so excited about this song because it represents the attitude that we should come with in regards to each other. It's kind of an extension of the command to "Love your neighbor."

To see the lyrics and hear a version, click here.

 

Onward...

Also this week, my coursework through Liberty Seminary online has been GREAT! But also really busy! The reading we have to do is immense...but I'm learning SO much. I'm doing my research paper on Biblical Inerrancy, which is just a fancy way of saying the Bible is TRUE! (Well, of course it's more complicated than that, which is why I'm doing a research paper on it.) Maybe I'll post some excerpts as I work through the research - for all of you fellow theologians! HAHA.

Also...

My heart broke Friday morning upon learning of the disaster in Japan. As I watched the footage on the news and online, I was simply broken for those people. The devastation was horrendous and now, the loss of life is immense. Who can comfort those people, except the One True God?

On that note...

I just want to have a little soapbox moment. If you do not KNOW (know that you know, etc.) what lies beyond this life for you, PLEASE talk to me - or someone closer to you. God's grace is available right now and it is necessary for eternal life. Best part...wait for it...it's FREE!

This soapbox moment is brought to you by the reminder this week that we are not guaranteed tomorrow. (see Proverbs 27:1 and James 4:14)

 

Thanks for letting me go there. In other news...

Here's my Siesta Scripture Memory Verse for March 15

(OOH, SO GOOD!):

"I love you, my Lord, my strength. The Lord is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer; my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold."

~Psalm 18:1-2

 

And just to catch up all the way...

Wednesday Wonder (yes, I know it's Friday!):

I wonder...How did you celebrate St. Patrick's Day? (Or did you?)

Dash!

Some of you may be wondering why I have dashes between the words in my URL for this blog. I would love to say that I thought about it and wanted the words to be separate...but that's not exactly true.

THIS is why. Because someone else already has that URL...and...yeah. It's not very exciting, is it?

Wednesday Wonders...

I wonder...

Why do people not wear seatbelts?

(This "wonder" is brought to you today by the lady driving in front of me who, seeing a police car drive by the intersection, quickly put her seatbelt on...after driving down at least one major thoroughfare with it off.)

Thoughts? Musings? Please comment! :)

Unplowed Ground

I am not a gardener. I don't have a green thumb (it might be leaning more towards the shade of charcoal). I don't particularly like plants...all that much. My yard looks like any yard would with months of neglect - a jungle. (Maybe I'll add a picture later so I'm motivated to make it look better!)

But I LOVE stories set on farms - Amish stories (especially Beverly Lewis), stories set in the early American pioneer days, and stories that give that sense of the harmony between hard work and nature.

As much as I love reading about it, I would not (as I've testified above) fit in very well in those settings. As I was reading from a book of scripture that was brought to mind tonight by our lively Book Club discussion (we read this), I discovered a passage that, as a non-farmer, probably doesn't mean as much to one who does work the land. And yet, I understand exactly what God has in mind here, and that's thanks to Him for revealing it to me!

"Sow righteousness for youselves, reap the fruit of unfailing love, and break up your unplowed ground; for it is time to seek the Lord, until he comes and showers his righetousness of you."

~Hosea 10:12

Not only is this my memory verse for the next 14 days, but it is also a very direct Word from God for me. God is speaking to my heart about the unplowed ground in my life. What have I not given over to Him? What needs "breaking up" in my life? How can I dig deeper into my relationship with God, the Creator?

There's so much packed into this verse and I can't wait to see what God is going to reveal to me over the next 14 days, especially, and then throughout the rest of this Plan he has for me: my life.

Here are my previous verses (from memory!):

"Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me." ~Psalm 51:10

"Nevertheless, each person should live as a believer in whatever situation the Lord has assigned to them, just as God has called them." ~1 Corinthians 7:17 (This verse has been especially poignant and I've been able to share it with several other people lately - I do hope I'm not taking it out of context, and I'd like to study it more!)

"For we do not struggle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world, and against the forces of evil in the spiritual realm." ~Ephesians 6:12

"Rather, clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ, and do not think about how to gratify the desires of your flesh." ~Romans 13:14

For my fellow siestas, don't give up hope! You can memorize scripture! Try to find situations where your scriptures apply - then look them up and repeat them. Share with each other. I write my scriptures several times (I've typed them 3 times just tonight!). Any kind of repetition helps!

GLORY TO GOD FOR HIS UNFAILING LOVE!

(and for the amazing inspiration for this blog post)