BIBLICAL INERRANCY The Historical Evidence By Norman L. Geisler 2013 BIBLICAL INERRANCY: The Historical Evidence By Norman L. Geisler Published by Bastion Books P.O. Box 1033 Matthews, NC 28106 USA http://BastionBooks.com Copyright © 1982, 2004, 2013 by Norman L. Geisler. All rights reserved. No portion of this e-book may legally be copied, reproduced or transmitted in any form and by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, digital or analog recordings, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from Norman L. Geisler or Bastion Books. However, the following rights are hereby granted only for the legal owner of this e-book: (1) You may store a copy of this e-book file may be stored in safe and unshared location as a backup in case the original is lost to electronics malfunction or theft. (2) You may place a copy of this e-book file on two electronic devices that you own. (3) The purchaser of this e-book may print one paper hard copy and replace that hard copy when it is discarded due to wear, lost, or stolen. (4) Properly attributed quotations of 100 words or less with clear citations is considered “fair use.” (5) Pastors and teachers may purchase one copy of the e-book and share it in digital form with their students so long as this e-book is being used as a primary text book and no financial profits are made. Redistribution of this e-book beyond these limits could result in legal action. Other requests regarding the use of this material may be made by postal mail or by emailing [email protected]. The first edition of this book was published under the title of Decide for Yourself: How History Views the Bible by Zondervan in 1982 and republished by Wipf and Stock (2004). Print versions of the first edition can be found at Wipf and Stock. Biblical Inerrancy: The Historical Evidence is a revised, second edition of Decide for Yourself. Cover art: Pictures from left to right depict Jesus reading from the scroll of the prophets, Augustine, Aquinas, Martin Luther, John Calvin, B. B. Warfield, Karl Barth, and C.S. Lewis. The gavel on the Bible suggests verdicts should be made after hearing their different views. Acknowledgments Thanks are due to my wonderful wife Barbara who has enriched my life and greatly improved this and all my books. I thank God for her faithfulness for over a half century. I also wish to thank Jim Evans, Christopher Haun and Dr. Kenny Rhodes for their valuable aid in working on this manuscript. CONTENTS PREFACE CHAPTER 1: A Biblical View of Inspiration The Old Testament The New Testament CHAPTER 2: The Patristic View of the Bible Clement of Rome (A. D. 30—100) Justin Martyr (A. D. 100—165) Irenaeus (Second Century A. D.) Tertullian (A. D. 160—220) Origen (A. D. 184/185—254/254) Clement Of Alexandria (A.D. 150—215) CHAPTER 3: The Medieval View of Inspiration Augustine (A. D. 354—430) Thomas Aquinas (A. D. 1225—1274) CHAPTER 4: The Reformation View of Inspiration Martin Luther (A. D. 1483—1546) John Calvin (A. D. 1509—1564) CHAPTER 5: The Post-Reformation Orthodox View of Inspiration Post-Reformation Orthodox View CHAPTER 6: Liberal Views of Inspiration Harold Dewolf (1905—1986) Harry Emerson Fosdick (1878—1969) Process Theology and the Bible CHAPTER 7: A Fundamentalist View of Inspiration CHAPTER 8: The Neo-orthodox View of Inspiration Karl Barth (1886—1968) Emil Brunner (1889—1966) CHAPTER 9: A Liberal-Evangelical View of the Bible CHAPTER 10: The Neo-evangelical View of Inspiration Gerrit C. Berkouwer (1903—1996) Jack B. Rogers (1934–) POSTSCRIPT MORE INFORMATION PREFACE WHO WROTE THE BIBLE? God or men? If God inspired men to write the Bible, what did He inspire? Their thoughts? Or their words as well? How far does inspiration extend? Does it include only spiritual matters, or does it also include history and science? The battle for the Bible has the average Christian understandably confused. Actually there is more than one battle, for there are at least six views on the nature and origin of the Bible. In using labels to identify the various views of Scripture, we must be aware that such labels are not absolute in the sense that they precisely define all those who hold to one position or another. They represent the core position of each of the various categories, but there is a divergence of viewpoints within the categories, and some theologians may even hold to different elements of more than one category. 1.Most evangelicals hold the “orthodox” view (see Chap. 5); that is, the Bible is divinely inspired in its very words, including matters of history and science. This is also the view of The International Council on Biblical Inerrancy.[1] 2.“Liberal” theologians (see Chap. 6), on the other hand, believe that only parts of the Bible are divine. They see great religious value in much of Scripture; but other parts are rejected as myth, and some are even considered barbaric. 3.Some “Fundamentalists” (see Chap. 7), strongly reacting against liberals, have affirmed that the Bible was verbally dictated by God word-for-word. 4. “Neo-orthodoxy” (see Chap. 8), another reaction to liberalism but without returning to a fully orthodox view of Scripture, holds that the Bible is not a revelation from God. Rather, it is a fallible human record of the revelation God gave in His past actions. That is, God does not reveal Himself in words but only in events. 5.“Liberal-Evangelicals” (see Chap. 9) believe that the Bible is wholly human in origin, replete with historical, scientific, and religious errors. They believe God takes these human words and “elevates” them to be a vehicle of His word. 6.Much of the contemporary debate is between the orthodox or evangelical Christians and the “Neo-evangelicals” (see Chap. 10). The latter believe that the Bible is infallible but not inerrant; that is, the Bible speaks with divine authority and complete truthfulness on salvation matters but is not inerrant (without error) in historical and scientific matters. This book was written for those who do not have ready access to the writings of the main teachers in the church for the past nearly two centuries. As will be seen, their citations support the Orthodox view of the church down through the centuries up to modern times. The other views deviate from the orthodox view because of their acceptance to one or more modern philosophical influences.[2] From practical considerations, it was necessary to be selective. Within the limits of a small book, I have tried to be fair and representative in the quotations presented. By a minimal use of deletions (. . .) and by descriptive headings, I have attempted to give the proper context for each author’s quotations. For those who wish to read more extensively on the topic, sources are given for all quotations. The purpose of the introductory chapter on the Bible is to present in one location many of the biblical texts on the origin and nature of Scripture. These are the standards by which the claims of the various views are to be measured. Of course, not all verses on the topic could be included; and, admittedly, some speak only to parts of the Bible. Therefore, the reader will have to consider the verses in their context and then decide for himself how they apply to the discussion at hand. I wish to express my appreciation to the publishers for granting permission to make extensive quotations from the following works:  The Holy Bible, the New International Version. (New York International Bible Society: 1978).  G. C. Berkouwer. Holy Scripture: Studies in Dogmatics. (Eerdmans: 1975).  Archibald A Hodge and Benjamin B. Warfield. Inspiration. (Baker Book House: 1979).  C S. Lewis, Reflections on the Psalms. (Harcourt, Brace: 1958).  John R. Rice. Our God-Breathed Book—the Bible. (Sword of the Lord: 1969).  Philip Schaff, ed. Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers. History of the Christian Church, vol 3. (Eerdmans: 1884). CHAPTER 1: A BIBLICAL VIEW OF INSPIRATION MANY VERSES here refer to what the prophets expressed orally and which was later put into written form. Also, some verses refer to specific parts of the existing Bible and only by extension to the whole Bible. THE OLD TESTAMENT I. The Origin of Scripture A. The Words are from God All Scripture is breathed out by God and is profitable for teaching . . . (2 Tim 3:16) And Aaron told them everything the LORD had said to Moses (Exod. 4:30). Do not add to what I command you and do not subtract from it, but keep the commands of the LORD your God that I give you (Deut. 4:2). “As for me, this is my covenant with them,” says the LORD. “My Spirit who is on you, and my words that I have put in your mouth will not depart from your mouth, or from the mouths of your children, or from the mouths of their descendants from this time on and forever,” says the LORD (Isa. 59:21). This is what the LORD says: Stand in the courtyard of the LORD’S house and speak to all the people of the towns of Judah who come to worship in the house of the LORD. Tell them everything I command you; do not omit a word (Jer. 26:2). The lion has roared—who will not fear? The Sovereign LORD has spoken who can but prophesy? (Amos 3:8). B. Conveyed Through Humans I will raise up for them a prophet like you from among their brothers; I will put my words in his mouth, and he will tell them everything I command him (Deut. 18:18). The Spirit of the LORD spoke through me; his word was on my tongue (2 Sam. 23:2). While they were bringing out the money that had been taken into the temple of the LORD, Hilkiah the priest found the Book of the Law of the LORD that had been given through Moses (2 Chron. 34:14). They made their hearts as hard as flint and would not listen to the law or to the words that the LORD Almighty had sent by his Spirit through the earlier prophets (Zech. 7:12). For no prophecy of Scripture was even produced by the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit (2 Pet. 1:21). How is it then that David in [by] the Spirit, calls him [Jesus] Lord [in Ps. 110:1] (Mt. 22:43)…. II. The Nature of Scripture