Comments on: Five Reasons + Two Resources

By: Andrew

Andrew — Wed, 16 Jan 2008 05:46:01 +0000

I haven’t done enough study on the doctrine of inerrancy to say whether Michael’s assessment of its content is accurate. I think ‘inerrancy’ as a term is problematic, because you would expect it to mean, without qualification, that ‘there are no mistakes or errors in the Bible in any form’. The moment you have to start qualifying what ‘error’ means, the term is becoming misleading.

I think that Michael is putting his finger on a problem with the usefulness of the doctrine. As jmanning has pointed out, it was developed to provide a bulwark against liberal Biblical criticism, but however it seems to have morphed into a bulwark against any questioning of evangelical theology. If you do find yourself uncomfortable with evangelicalism, as Michael and others have, then how do you express your concerns if they are going to be read as attacks on the authority and inspiration of the Bible?

By: joe

joe — Wed, 16 Jan 2008 02:38:08 +0000

“Add all non fundamentalists, all mainline theologians, all those who don’t buy the word “inerrancy.””

Maybe I missed something, but considering his influence and your regard for him, I think J.I. Packer’s role in the Inerrancy saga counters your claim here.

By: Michael Spencer

Michael Spencer — Wed, 16 Jan 2008 00:07:37 +0000

Thanks ok John. Anyone who believes in the rapture would get an “F” in my class.

By: John Gillmartin

John Gillmartin — Tue, 15 Jan 2008 23:58:53 +0000

michael -

I have to agree with Byron on this one. You’d get a poor grade in my hermeneutics seminar.

By: Byron

Byron — Wed, 14 Feb 2007 19:49:26 +0000

Michael, as a long-time but relatively occasional reader, I’ve appreciated your willingness to speak your mind on a number of issues that folks are often loathe to speak their minds about; I’ve linked to your site, and encouraged others to read. That said, it strikes me that this is really not your best work and reasoning, here, and the Kriedemann article that you label an “outstanding link” is especially weak, full of red herrings and misunderstandings of the term “inerrancy” itself; suffice it to say that as I read it, I found myself at the same time grieved over the “scholarship” of at least this “emerging” type, and absolutely confident that a person taking the time to defend inerrancy against his objections would have little problem spanking his butt on this one. I’d really encourage you to read it again and think through the flimsiness of at least a good portion of this fellow’s arguments.

I’d agree with jmanning that your words do not call into question at all your salvation, but for me, they do call into question your reasoning on this particular critical issue (and yes, I unapologetically consider it to be extremely critical).

By: jmanning

jmanning — Tue, 13 Feb 2007 03:53:05 +0000

Oops, you edited your response to me I believe, and now mine is incoherent..er

By: jmanning

jmanning — Tue, 13 Feb 2007 03:51:42 +0000

Remember that I’ve also heard you called a Calvinist at some blog sites…:-) (ever heard of the flyswatter?)
And to quote myself, I am not the typical Reformed Baptist…
I don’t believe very few people are actually Christians, and I don’t agree with the LBC on the treatment of the Sabbath, and I’ve never been to fideo or triablogue as I recall…and I believe nonCalvinists can go to heaven, and that most Calvinists have no idea what they are talking about.
I sympathize with the Founders, but don’t know about apologetic/debate ministries as being supported by the “regulative principle”
As for your being unfit to be a minister, mentally unstable, etc….Martin Luther made a nice minister

By: Michael Spencer

Michael Spencer — Tue, 13 Feb 2007 03:43:55 +0000

>But that the Bible does not contain blatantly misleading information…

The Bible is God’s word, telling us what God wants us to know in the words and literary forms that God chose. There is No EXTERNAL AUTHORITY that stands over scripture, therefore the idea of scripture being “misleading” would mean that scripture would be verified by scientists or historians and I do not accept that. The Word of God is true from its source, not because it matches up with someone’s idea of what is real or historical.

By: jmanning

jmanning — Tue, 13 Feb 2007 03:30:36 +0000

If you’d put the claws back in your “mits” and read that whatever I say isn’t a personal attack for a few seconds….is verbal plenary inspiration as listed above an adequate definition that is somewhat “similar” to what you espouse?

I’m not a Reformed Baptist in the general sense of the word…the church I attend is Baptist and Reformed…and constantly under attack for it, but not for the same reasons you will automatically assume. We aren’t Al Martin, and we aren’t Driscoll. Somewhere in the nether regions between…so don’t assume I’m some Particular Baptist holdover trying to goad you into confessions…

I’m sorry that “reading and commenting” on your hobby is a wierd hobby…perhaps you should rethink your hobby if this is troubling…:-) what’s a blog for?

By: Michael Spencer

Michael Spencer — Tue, 13 Feb 2007 03:17:39 +0000

>a friend and I are distressed to see your continuing slide in a direction that is not positive in some issues

I’m going to assume you are either a reformed Baptist or a Calvinist of some kind.

If I am wrong, please correct me.

I wrote that essay almost three years ago. Slide?

I’ve never been to another person’s blog and expressed “Concern” for their theology in my life. Excuse me for thinking this is a strange hobby.

Concerned about me? Please add people like Eugene Peterson, N.T. Wright and Peter Enns to your list. Add all non fundamentalists, all mainline theologians, all those who don’t buy the word “inerrancy.”

I could sit here and blog verse by verse statements from scripture and you think my view of the Bible is insufficient? Amazing.

I endorse WCF 1 and my view of scripture is insufficient? Amazing. Utterly amazing.

Thanks for your concern. I confess the Apostle’s Creed, the Nicene Creed, I was ordained by faithful men, and I preach the Bible that I believe was inspired by God to give me the Gospel.

Sorry that’s not enough for you.