The changing face of biblical inerrancy

[polonius]

The term “inerrancy� (or freedom from error) is used more commonly by conservative Protestants than Catholics.

This view was common among Christian clergy until about the mid-1900s when it began to change.. In short, the older belief was that God directly or indirectly controlled the writing of scripture and would not have led the authors of scripture into error since deceit and error were not possible with God.

As Wikipedia summarizes: Biblical inerrancy…. is the doctrine that the Bible "is without error or fault in all its teaching";[1] or, at least, that "Scripture in the original manuscripts does not affirm anything that is contrary to fact".[2]

1. Geisler, NL. and Roach, B., Defending Inerrancy: Affirming the Accuracy of Scripture for a New Generation, Baker Books, 2012.
2. ^ Jump up to:a b Grudem, Wayne A. (1994). Systematic theology: an introduction to biblical doctrine. Leicester: Inter-Varsity Press. p. 90. ISBN 978-0-85110-652-6. OCLC 29952151.
But is it so?

[polonius]

The Chicago Statement on Biblical Inerrancy was formulated in October 1978 by more than 200 evangelical leaders at a conference sponsored by the International Council on Biblical Inerrancy (ICBI), held inChicago. The statement was designed to defend the position of Biblical inerrancy against a perceived trend toward liberal conceptions of Scripture.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chicago_S ... _Inerrancy

It contains a Short Summary including:
4. Being wholly and verbally God-given, Scripture is without error or fault in all its teaching, no less in what it states about God's acts in creation, about the events of world history, and about its own literary origins under God, than in its witness to God's saving grace in individual lives

Do you believe that?

[polonius]

Chicago Statement on Biblical Inerrancy is about 8 pages in length. If may be found at: http://www.bible-researcher.com/chicago1.html

Two articles are of special interest:

Article 6 WE AFFIRM that the whole of Scripture and all its parts, down to the very words of the original, were given by divine inspiration.

Article 12 WE DENY that Biblical infallibility and inerrancy are limited to spiritual, religious, or redemptive themes, exclusive of assertions in the fields of history and science. We further deny that scientific hypotheses about earth history may properly be used to overturn the teaching of Scripture on creation and the flood.


Catholic teaching is rather similar:

DEI VERBUM
Dogmatic Constitution on Divine Revelation
Second Vatican Council

19. Holy Mother Church has firmly and with absolute constancy held, and continues to hold, that the four Gospels just named, whose historical character the Church unhesitatingly asserts, faithfully hand on what Jesus Christ, while living among men, really did and taught for their eternal salvation until the day He was taken up into heaven.

Does anyone doubt the accuracy of these statements?

[polonius]

Vatican II seemed to agree that everything in scripture was without error. However, it created a loophole. Some translations of the Vatican II record differ, but all say essentially the same thing. “Only the truth with God, for the sake of salvation, wished to see confided to sacred scripture.� This can be interpreted to mean that not all of scripture is inspired by God. Obviously, the errors are not important for our salvation. What portions of scripture then are not inspired because they are not necessary for our salvation?

http://explainingchristianity.com/Excer ... dixVII.pdf

Appendix VII - Scripture is Without Error At Vatican II, in its Dogmatic Constitution on Divine Revelation, Dei Verbum in Latin, the Catholic Church reiterated its ancient conviction that Scripture, as God’s written word, could not be at odds with reality, could not deceive: Since, therefore, all that the inspired authors, or sacred writers, affirm should be affirmed by the Holy Spirit, we must acknowledge that the books of Sacred Scripture, firmly, faithfully and without error, teach that truth which God, for the sake of our salvation, wished to see confided to the sacred Scriptures. Thus, “all Scripture is inspired by God, and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction and for training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work (2 Tim.3:16)� (DV,11). 316

316 Flannery, Austin, Vatican Council II: The Conciliar and Post Conciliar Documents, (Northport, New York: Costello Publishing Company, 1992), p.757.

[JehovahsWitness]

[Replying to post 1 by polonius.advice]

I think that more or less fits the Jehovah's Witness view of scripture.

[polonius]

[Replying to post 1 by polonius.advice]

I think that more or less fits the Jehovah's Witness view of scripture.

RESPONSE: I understood that this is the present position of the Jehovah's Witness.

http://www.teachingtheword.org/apps/art ... logid=5440

Like all other cults, Jehovah's Witnesses in practice deny the inspiration and authority of the Bible. Founder Charles Taze Russell taught that man's reason has authority over Scripture. Men should "examine the character of the writings claimed as inspired (the Bible) to see whether their teachings correspond with the character we have reasonably imputed to God. (1)

1. Charles Taze Russell, Millennial Dawn (Watchtower Bible and Tract Society, 1902), page 41.od.

Jehovah's Witnesses teach that their religion is the "sole visible channel" of God in the world, and that the Bible cannot be understood except through the matrix of the pronouncements of the Watchtower Society, which they call God's "visible organization."2

2. Watchtower Magazine (Brooklyn, New York: Watchtower Bible and Tract Society) October 1, 1967, pages 587 and 590.

[JehovahsWitness]

[Replying to post 1 by polonius.advice]

I think that more or less fits the Jehovah's Witness view of scripture.

RESPONSE: I understood that this is the present position of the Jehovah's Witness.

http://www.teachingtheword.org/apps/art ... logid=5440

Like all other cults, Jehovah's Witnesses in practice deny the inspiration and authority of the Bible. Founder Charles Taze Russell taught that man's reason has authority over Scripture.

The above is inaccurate. For the official position of Jehovah's Witnesses its always best to go to the JW website (www.jw.org)

(1) Bible: Jehovah’s Witnesses believe that the entire Bible is the inspired Word of God, and instead of adhering to a creed based on human tradition, they hold to the Bible as the standard for all their beliefs.
http://wol.jw.org/en/wol/d/r1/lp-e/1101989239#h=4

The Bible: The Witnesses believe that “all Scripture is inspired of God.� (2 Timothy 3:16) Jason D. BeDuhn, an associate professor of religious studies, wrote: “[Jehovah’s Witnesses built] their system of belief and practice from the raw material of the Bible without predetermining what was to be found there.� They align their beliefs with the Bible; they do not interpret it to suit themselves.
https://www.jw.org/en/publications/maga ... s-believe/

JEHOVAH'S WITNESS

[marco]

Appendix VII - Scripture is Without Error At Vatican II, in its Dogmatic Constitution on Divine Revelation, Dei Verbum in Latin, the Catholic Church reiterated its ancient conviction that Scripture, as God’s written word, could not be at odds with reality, could not deceive: Since, therefore, all that the inspired authors, or sacred writers, affirm should be affirmed by the Holy Spirit, we must acknowledge that the books of Sacred Scripture, firmly, faithfully and without error, teach that truth which God, for the sake of our salvation, wished to see confided to the sacred Scriptures. Thus, “all Scripture is inspired by God, and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction and for training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work (2 Tim.3:16)� (DV,11). 316

While I found this interesting, Polonius, not everyone is excited by Dei Verbum. What the Mother Church does as centuries unfold is best left with her maternal self. Errare est humanum, as I'm sure you know, and the gospels are no exception.

[polonius]

[Replying to JehovahsWitness]


polonius.advice wrote:

JehovahsWitness wrote:

[Replying to post 1 by polonius.advice]

I think that more or less fits the Jehovah's Witness view of scripture.


RESPONSE: I understood that this is the present position of the Jehovah's Witness.

http://www.teachingtheword.org/apps/art ... logid=5440

Like all other cults, Jehovah's Witnesses in practice deny the inspiration and authority of the Bible. Founder Charles Taze Russell taught that man's reason has authority over Scripture.

The above is inaccurate. For the official position of Jehovah's Witnesses its always best to go to the JW website (www.jw.org)

RESPONSE:

Please note. The sourcs of my reference are the founder of the cult and the JW church itself. I find going by a primary source is superior to using a website that can change it's messages.

References:
1. Charles Taze Russell, Millennial Dawn (Watchtower Bible and Tract Society, 1902), page 41.

2. Watchtower Magazine (Brooklyn, New York: Watchtower Bible and Tract Society) October 1, 1967, pages 587 and 590.

[polonius]

References:
1. Charles Taze Russell, Millennial Dawn (Watchtower Bible and Tract Society, 1902), page 41.

2. Watchtower Magazine (Brooklyn, New York: Watchtower Bible and Tract Society) October 1, 1967, pages 587 and 590.