Encountering difficulties in the Bible can be troubling for the young believer and the seasoned saint alike. Yet, when we are confronted with hard passages or apparent discrepancies in the biblical text, we don't want to ignore the difficulty or pretend it doesn't exist. Out of an unwillingness to do a little hard work, lack of acquaintance with the … Continue reading Let Us Have Peace with God? Reflections on Romans 5:1 and Dealing with Bible Difficulties
Manuscripts and the Wisdom of God: A Brief Essay on the Transmission of the Bible
One of the reasons why Mormons look to revelation other than the Bible is because they believe—and assert in official LDS teaching—that the original content of the Bible has been corrupted over the centuries as the Scriptures have been passed down from generation to generation. Because of this alleged corruption, God’s revelation in the Bible … Continue reading Manuscripts and the Wisdom of God: A Brief Essay on the Transmission of the Bible
Two Productive Questions to Ask of Psalm 119
What happens when you ask the right questions of Scripture? You get the mother lode. Riches pour forth like water from Moses' rock. In the case of Psalm 119, the text itself makes it clear what questions we are supposed to ask, and the payoff is pretty sweet. Here are the two questions we should … Continue reading Two Productive Questions to Ask of Psalm 119
The Benefits of Written Revelation
It is easy to take our Bibles for granted. Many Christians have more than one--I have over twenty--and ready access to a variety of Bible translations and formats is available for perusal and purchase from online or local bookstores. Although it is easy to take this abundance of Bibles for granted, I also find it nourishing to my … Continue reading The Benefits of Written Revelation
Should We Blame Inerrancy for the Spiritual Troubles of Younger Evangelicals?
The framers of the Chicago Statement on Biblical Inerrancy (CSBI) believed that inerrancy was a doctrine vital to the health of the Christian and therefore could not be set aside or ignored without serious consequence. Yet, even though they held that the doctrine was essential to individual and corporate spiritual well-being, they also believed that an affirmation … Continue reading Should We Blame Inerrancy for the Spiritual Troubles of Younger Evangelicals?
Historical-Critical Scholarship, Inerrancy, and the Problem of Worldview
In a recent book, Inerrancy and Worldview: Answering Modern Challenges to the Bible, Vern Poythress, professor of New Testament Interpretation at Westminster Theological Seminary in Philadelphia, investigates the vital question of how one's worldview influences their approach to the Bible. (You can read my review of Poythress' excellent book here). What is a "worldview?" Poythress explains, … Continue reading Historical-Critical Scholarship, Inerrancy, and the Problem of Worldview
Is Inerrancy a Recent Theological Invention?
It is sometimes argued by evangelical non-inerrantists that the doctrine of inerrancy is a recent theological innovation that finds little to no precedent in the church. The early church fathers, Augustine, Aquinas, Luther, Calvin, Bavink, and Kuyper, they claim, all held to a view of Scripture that was far different than what inerrantists advance today. Furthermore, it isn't until we … Continue reading Is Inerrancy a Recent Theological Invention?
From the Study 