In a prior post, I spoke about Saving Inerrancy from the Americans where I argued that many conservative evangelicals in America conflate the authority/veracity of the biblical text with the authority/normativity of their interpretation. I also alleged that inerrancy functions as something of a club to wield against those who challenge the power of certain power-brokers in certain networks.
Doug was one of my OT professors and a faithful elder at New Life PCA in Glenside when I knew him ('95-'99). He was an excellent teacher, careful thinker, and joyful Christian. He was charitable to all (those on his left and right - he was solidly Reformed and confessional - very much in the middle). I'm grateful for his influence on my own thinking and engagement with God's Word over 20 years later. I was disappointed to see him bounced at WTS.
Michael, Thanks for your work. I was working on my PhD at WTS and Doug was one of my professors. I can only say the best things about his character and his teaching ability. He was one of the best! It saddens me that Christians act this way but it is true. We expect better for those in the leadership of our seminaries. The very ones who are supposed to be training our pastors and the next generation of leaders. Shameful!
Intriguing! Tragically, so much gets down to tribal allegiances and factions. So this makes a good reminder of the loss of perspective on living the gospel rather than just arguing for a manufactured pisition.
"Inerrancy" typically applies to the text itself, mainly the original mss. The case you cite is more like extending the concept to a particular hermeneutical framework, which is a few levels more nutty than affirming some particular translation is "inerrant."
It’s a shame examples like this exist. All I can do is roll my eyes at that. Yet it’s also tiring seeing all Americans clubbed for the misuse by some of the doctrine of inerrancy. I’m almost finished at SBTS (a big fan of inerrancy!) and in my time here I have been warned away from the abuses of inerrancy. The hermeneutic used for Ps 23 was one I was introduced to by one of the most conservative professors on campus. So if your critique of “American inerrancy” is off base for a place like SBTS, then maybe it’s not the best critique anymore? It’s still an applicable critique at the popular level (it takes time for things to flow out!), and I’m sure an institution here and there is off, but it’s honestly so…what’s the word? Tiring. It’s so tiring hearing critiques against the worst of my circles when the best parts, the parts that people are actually following, don’t hold to those positions *or* practices.
I for one have been so thankful for God’s painful providence in bringing Doug to Australia. Phil
Doug was one of my OT professors and a faithful elder at New Life PCA in Glenside when I knew him ('95-'99). He was an excellent teacher, careful thinker, and joyful Christian. He was charitable to all (those on his left and right - he was solidly Reformed and confessional - very much in the middle). I'm grateful for his influence on my own thinking and engagement with God's Word over 20 years later. I was disappointed to see him bounced at WTS.
Michael, Thanks for your work. I was working on my PhD at WTS and Doug was one of my professors. I can only say the best things about his character and his teaching ability. He was one of the best! It saddens me that Christians act this way but it is true. We expect better for those in the leadership of our seminaries. The very ones who are supposed to be training our pastors and the next generation of leaders. Shameful!
Intriguing! Tragically, so much gets down to tribal allegiances and factions. So this makes a good reminder of the loss of perspective on living the gospel rather than just arguing for a manufactured pisition.
"Inerrancy" typically applies to the text itself, mainly the original mss. The case you cite is more like extending the concept to a particular hermeneutical framework, which is a few levels more nutty than affirming some particular translation is "inerrant."
It’s a shame examples like this exist. All I can do is roll my eyes at that. Yet it’s also tiring seeing all Americans clubbed for the misuse by some of the doctrine of inerrancy. I’m almost finished at SBTS (a big fan of inerrancy!) and in my time here I have been warned away from the abuses of inerrancy. The hermeneutic used for Ps 23 was one I was introduced to by one of the most conservative professors on campus. So if your critique of “American inerrancy” is off base for a place like SBTS, then maybe it’s not the best critique anymore? It’s still an applicable critique at the popular level (it takes time for things to flow out!), and I’m sure an institution here and there is off, but it’s honestly so…what’s the word? Tiring. It’s so tiring hearing critiques against the worst of my circles when the best parts, the parts that people are actually following, don’t hold to those positions *or* practices.
That "Christians" would act like this is more than sick! I wonder how they interpret John 13:34-35