The Doctrine of SPECIAL REVELATION

Question 1

5a. What are some various ways, according to your text, that scripture has been understood to be “inspired”?

Answer 1

INTUITION THEORY
that inspiration refers to a high degree of spiritual insight.

ILLUMINATION THEORY
that inspiration refers to a heightening of one’s normal powers.

DYNAMIC THEORY
that inspiration involves a combination of divine and human elements in the process of inspiration and writing.

VERBAL THEORY
that the Holy Spirit’s influence extends beyond the direction of thoughts to the selection of words used to convey the message.

DICTATION THEORY
that God actually dictated the Bible to the writers.

Question 2

5b. What is the relationship between inspiration and Inerrancy?

Answer 2

The relationship between inerrancy and inspiration is that inspiration supports inerrancy. We believe God is perfect. We believe the Bible is “God-breathed” or divinely directed to the satisfy God’s will. It only would make sense that the Bible (in the original autograph) is inerrant because God is perfect and the Bible is the result of His will. In this sense, they are bound.

In short, God is the author of the Bible and because He is the writer of it, I believe it is without error and it commands me to be obedient to Him in all areas of life. May we hold firm to the Bible as our sole source as the standard of all things.


Question 3

5c. Discuss the range of positions outlined by Dr. Shouse and/or Erickson concerning the authority of the Bible.

Answer 3

1. ABSOLUTE INERRANCY
   Every assertion of the Bible is true with regard to absolute scientific and historical methodological standards (Hence texts such as 2 Chronicles 4:2 – “He made the cast metal sea, ten cubits from brim to brim, circular in form, and its height was five cubits and its circumference thirty cubits” - must be explained)
2. FULL INERRANCY
   While completely true, the Bible does not primarily aim to give scientific and historical data. Many scientific and historic statements are “phenomenal” - i.e. reported as they appear to the human eye.
3. INFALLIBILITY
   The Bible is inerrant and infallible with respect to its salvific doctrinal assertions. The Bible Infallibly accomplishes its purposes. Scientific and historical references reflect the limitations of the Bible writers time.
4. ACCOMODATION
   The Bible came through human channels and participates in the shortcomings of human nature. This is true of historical, scientific, and even religious and theological matters. W.D. Davies, for example, maintains that Paul mixed occasional rabbinical views common in his time with Christian doctrinal teachings and that he revises his views throughout his writing. For example, how can 1 Cor 15:10 (By the grace of God I am what I am) be squared with 2 Cor 5:10 (We must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may be rewarded for his deeds in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad.)?
5. “REVELATION” AS “ENCOUNTER”
   The Bible, being non-propositional, is not revelation. It points to a person-to-person encounter which is revelation, rather than conveying revelation. The Bible may contain errors, but this is not the Word of God.
6. IRRELVANT
   We should not approach the Bible with an unhelpful a priori which becomes a burden to impartial exegesis. The issue does not arise early in the church’s life and it creates disunity.
7. FUNCTIONAL INERRANCY
   I go to the Bible with my whole heart and my whole life and it never fails me
8. CONFESSIONAL INERRANCY (must memorize for test)
   When all the facts are in and when properly interpreted the Bible will be seen to be inerrant in all that it affirms

Question 4

5d. Where would the statements of the Southern Baptist Faith and Message and the Council on Biblical Inerrancy fall in Erickson’s or Dr. Shouse’s grid?

Answer 4

All Scripture is a testimony to Christ, who is Himself the focus of divine revelation.

The Holy Bible was written by men divinely inspired and is God’s revelation of Himself to man. It is a perfect treasure of divine instruction. It has God for its author, salvation for its end, and truth, without any mixture of error, for its matter. Therefore, all Scripture is totally true and trustworthy. It reveals the principles by which God judges us, and therefore is, and will remain to the end of the world, the true center of Christian union, and the supreme standard by which all human conduct, creeds, and religious opinions should be tried. All Scripture is a testimony to Christ, who is Himself the focus of divine revelation.

Question 5

5e. What is the significance of the doctrine of Biblical Inerrancy for theological method?

Answer 5

hi

Question 6

5f. State and discuss Dr. Shouse’s statement of his own position on inerrancy?

Answer 6

ok

Question 7

5g. What is your position on “Inerrancy” and why?

Answer 7

personal answer