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Christian Doctrines. What We Believe and Why. Challenges to Inerrancy. Inerrancy overemphasizes divine aspect Scripture contains clear errors. Divine Overemphasized. Places more emphasis on the divine author and divine aspect of Scripture It neglects or downplays the human authors.
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Christian Doctrines What We Believe and Why
Challenges to Inerrancy • Inerrancy overemphasizes divine aspect • Scripture contains clear errors
Divine Overemphasized • Places more emphasis on the divine author and divine aspect of Scripture • It neglects or downplays the human authors
Divine Overemphasized • Problems with argument • Scripture has two authors: God and humans • Both aspects must be adequately considered • Proponents of this argument invariably decide human authorship necessitates errors
Divine Overemphasized • Responses • False premise: human authorship necessitates errors • God oversaw the human authors, ensuring what they wrote was true, without error • Inerrancy allows for individual linguistic variety
Clear Errors Present • There are obvious “problem” texts which contain errors or contradictions • Various passages sometimes cited
Clear Errors Present • Problems with argument • Presumes errors exist, thus proponents look for and find errors • Claim sometimes made without evidence or specific passages cited • Problem often based on translations, not the original words
Clear Errors Present • Responses • Perceived errors are due to mistranslation or misinterpretation • Context is often overlooked or ignored • The problem is the translator/interpreter, not the text
Clear Errors Present • Context often reveals the proper understanding of the text • Immediate context: surrounding verses, chapters • Middle context: whole book, whole testament • Broad context: entire Bible
Clear Errors Present • No new “problems” in Bible today • Scholars have examined them for centuries • Early church documents often reveal the answers to claimed problems
Conservative Resurgence • Liberal views of the Bible and various doctrines were prominent in 1960’s • Many SBC seminary professors and pastors rejected inerrancy • Disunity arose in the convention over this core doctrine
Conservative Resurgence • 1970’s and 1980’s, inerrancy proponents worked to have SBC adopt a strong statement supporting inerrancy • This move was called the “Conservative Resurgence” (CR) • CR led by Paige Patterson (SWBTS President) and Paul Pressler • Height of the CR was 1979-1990
Conservative Resurgence • Brief timeline • 1978 – Patterson & Pressler initiated move to elect a “conservative” president • 1979 – Annual meeting in Houston, “inerrancy” became dominant doctrinal debate; Adrian Rogers elected first CR president of the SBC
Conservative Resurgence • 1979-1990 – Twelve consecutive conservatives elected SBC president • 1990 – Moderate Southern Baptists split and formed the “Cooperative Baptist Fellowship”
Conservative Resurgence • Much debate continues over precisely what occurred, as well as how and why • Recommended resources • Nancy TatomAmmerman, Baptist Battles • James C. Hefley, The Conservative Resurgence in the Southern Baptist Convention • Paul Pressler, A Hill on Which to Die
Conservative Resurgence • Recommended resources • Nancy TatomAmmerman, Baptist Battles • James C. Hefley, The Conservative Resurgence in the Southern Baptist Convention • Paul Pressler, A Hill on Which to Die
