The Error of Inerrancy?
Are the biblical scriptures reliable? If there are errors, are they significant? Does one error in the Bible mean that the entire volume is unreliable? Does the idea of inerrancy apply to translations or just the original documents? How do Christians respond to alleged errors in the text?
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
Before it gets too far, we need to understand that the biblical principle of inerrancy only applies to the original, inspired documents. We no longer have any of these original documents, but only copies and translations of them. This is not to say that the texts we do have are unreliable, but only that none of them technically fall under the definition of "Inerrancy."
ReplyDeleteThere are several sciences and heavy academic pursuits that have devoted unparalleled amounts of effort into compiling the best ancient texts, copies and translations so that we might have extremely accurate scriptural documents. For a more in-depth look, check out Wikipedia (or any other source) for a definition of textual criticism.
There are web-sites devoted to attempting to undermine the biblical text because of these "errors," but what is EXTREMELY important to note is that none of the alleged errors has any significant impact on the meaning of the text. Often times, the "errors" are in the precise number of thousands of combatants in a battle or the spelling of a name or the addition of the word "light" as in: "They shall see (light)."
There is not a single error so grievous as to negate anything we know of Jesus, what he or his disciples taught.
But are there "errors" in the modern translations we have today? Perhaps. Access to good, early documents as well as theological underpinnings can impact how certain passages are translated. This is why there are differences between texts such as the New King James Version, the King James Version and Today's New International Version.
But let's finally cut to the chase. The real question is: Do errors in the biblical text mean that none of it can be trusted? The answer is a resounding "No." Take science as an example: Not everything that science has taught is accurate, even though MUCH of it is. Does one mistake in science mean that we can not trust ANY of it? Again, the answer is "no." Or take a person that you have caught in a mistruth (even if it was an unintentional mistruth). Does this mean that EVERYTHING they say is untrue? No!
At the very least, we should ask a person who claims that the Bible is untrustworthy if he or she has EVER told a mistruth. How they answer that question will have irrevocable implications for their position (and THEIR credibility).
When people are quick to derride the whole Bible because they think they have proved it wrong on some minutia, it belies the fact that they are looking for a reason to evade what the God (who stands behind the text) is calling them towards.
It is an act of will (not a logical conclusion) to reject the message of the Bible.
Please see the other entry on scriptural reliability: "Is the New Testament for Real?"
I stand by this earlier posting, but my understanding of "inspiration" is in constant flux. Just when I think I got it, I realize that I don't. If you have any recommended readings, ideas or models on the issue of inspiration please share them with me.
ReplyDeleteOne of the best books I have read here is Paul Achtemeier's Inspiration and Authority, but it still leaves me thirsty. My rational, enlightenment, modern-mind seeks something I can hang my hat on. Maybe that's my problem. All comments welcome.
-CL