Inerrancy in scripture come and gone.

[polonius]

http://www.religioustolerance.org/inerran1.htm


The teachings of the Church have evolved over the years. In recent decades, Catholic sources have given conflicting views about biblical inerrancy:

Absolute inerrancy: Some Catholic theologians have claimed that, in its original autograph version, the Bible is inerrant -- without error. This appears to be the consensus of popes, of most of the Catholic scholars and of other church leaders until the mid 20th century. This belief developed naturally from their conviction that God inspired the authors of the Bible. If God controlled the writers' words directly or indirectly, then he would not have led them into error. Deceit and error are not normally attributes expected of God.

Limited inerrancy: Other Catholics teach a more recent concept: that the Bible is without error in certain matters such as faith, morals and the criteria for salvation. However, the Bible contains errors when describing other matters, such as scientific observations and historical events. This belief had its origins in the church with the writings of Richard Simon (1638 - 1712) who rejected Moses as author of the Pentateuch. He partly inspired the literary-criticism method of analyzing biblical passages which became influential among some 19th century Christians.

No inerrancy: Still other Catholic theologians and scholars have deviated entirely from the church's official teaching. They agree with liberal Protestants in rejecting the inerrancy of the Bible. They interpret it as containing much legend, myth, historical and scientific inaccuracies, religious propaganda, etc. Of these intellectuals, Dominic Crossan is one of the most popular Catholic writers among the general public.

[polonius]

At the Vatican II council in 1965, the senior prelate of the German Catholic Church pointed out scripture that was clearly in error.

A very ambiguous official teaching was adopted in Dei Verbum

"Therefore, since everything asserted by the inspired authors or sacred writers must be held to be asserted by the Holy Spirit, it follows that the books of Scripture must be acknowledged as teaching solidly, faithfully and without error that truth which God wanted put into sacred writings (5) for the sake of salvation

Thus Catholics may believe that if a passage in scripture is found to contain an error, then God didn't intent that passage to be necessary for salvation.

[Elijah John]

Very interesting, but what is the question for debate?

[polonius]

Very interesting, but what is the question for debate?

RESPONSE: Inerrancy in scripture. Perhaps it would help you if you made notes.

[brianbbs67]

There are obvious insertions of words and therefore must be some deletion. Is this an error? That is the question.

[Elijah John]

[Replying to post 1 by polonius]


Moderator Action

Thread moved to Random Ramblings. Information was provided in the OP, statements and observations, but no question or point of debate has been provided in spite of request to do so.

Nothing really to debate so far, just a chronicle of Church history on the topic of inerrancy.



______________

Moderator actions indicate that a thread/post has been locked, moved, merged, or split.

[marco]

Very interesting, but what is the question for debate?

RESPONSE: Inerrancy in scripture. Perhaps it would help you if you made notes.

Moderator Comment




No, making notes wouldn't help at all, Polonius. You've offered information about inerrancy but you have omitted the helpful " ? ". Do we love ierrancy? Does inerrancy matter? Is the Pope inerrant? Which bits of Scripture might we consider errant?.... that sort of thing, all distinguished by the obligatory question mark. Your posts are very interesting but you have to help possible respondents by framing a question.



Please review the Rules.


______________

Moderator comments do not count as a strike against any posters. They only serve as an acknowledgment that a post report has been received, but has not been judged to warrant a moderator warning against a particular poster. Any challenges or replies to moderator postings should be made via Private Message to avoid derailing topics.