58. Deconstructing Inerrancy Pt. 1 (The Chicago Statement and 2 Tim. 3:16-17)

Deconstructing the Myth

Welcome to Season 4 of Deconstructing the Myth! Liz Mall (MA of Christian Apologetics, Biola) and Jenny White (MA of Museum Studies, Harvard) join forces again to bring you another research season to help you on your deconstruction journey. This season is all about deconstructing the doctrines that have shaped the American Evangelical experience by looking closely at the historical, cultural, and Biblical context behind each one.

Today we discuss the doctrine of inerrancy.

Description

"What is biblical inerrancy? A New Testament scholar explains" by Geoffrey Smith

"Theopneustos" in 2 Tim. 3:16

The (Rare) Word that Refutes Sola Scriptura-The Council of Trent Podcast

Problems:

-Only occurs one time in Bible, can’t be compared

-We draw the meaning from the roots words of the term, which is a fallacy

CHICAGO STATEMENT
The Chicago Statement on Biblical Inerrancy was written to address the inerrancy of Scripture, the doctrine that the Bible is free from error…”

From the Preface:

The authority of Scripture is a key issue for the Christian Church in this and every age. Those who profess faith in Jesus Christ as Lord and Saviour are called to show the reality of their discipleship by humbly and faithfully obeying God’s written Word. To stray from Scripture in faith or conduct is disloyalty to our Master. Recognition of the total truth and trustworthiness of Holy Scripture is essential to a full grasp and adequate confession of its authority.

The following Statement affirms this inerrancy of Scripture afresh, making clear our understanding of it and warning against its denial. We are persuaded that to deny it is to set aside the witness of Jesus Christ and of the Holy Spirit and to refuse that submission to the claims of God’s own Word which marks true Christian faith. We see it as our timely duty to make this affirmation in the face of current lapses from the truth of inerrancy among our fellow Christians and misunderstanding of this doctrine in the world at large.

A Short Statement

1. God, who is Himself Truth and speaks truth only, has inspired Holy Scripture in order thereby to reveal Himself to lost mankind through Jesus Christ as Creator and Lord, Redeemer and Judge. Holy Scripture is God’s witness to Himself.

2. Holy Scripture, being God’s own Word, written by men prepared and superintended by His Spirit, is of infallible divine authority in all matters upon which it touches: it is to be believed, as God’s instruction, in all that it affirms; obeyed, as God’s command, in all that it requires; embraced, as God’s pledge, in all that it promises.

3. The Holy Spirit, Scripture’s divine Author, both authenticates it to us by His inward witness and opens our minds to understand its meaning.

4. Being wholly and verbally God-given, Scripture is without error or fault in all its teaching, no less in what it states about God’s acts in creation, about the events of world history, and about its own literary origins under God, than in its witness to God’s saving grace in individual lives.

5. The authority of Scripture is inescapably impaired if this total divine inerrancy is in any way limited or disregarded, or made relative to a view of truth contrary to the Bible’s own; and such lapses bring serious loss to both the individual and the Church.

Refutation:

“On Chicago’s Muddy Waters” by Mike Licona

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