The Inspiration and Inerrancy of the Scriptures
Dr. Robert L. Thomas
by Robert L. Thomas, Th.D . Professor o f New Testament Talbot Theological Seminary
E x t r e m e l y f a r - r e a c h i n g are the implications involved in one’s viewpoint of the inspiration and inerrancy of the Scriptures. Few realize how devastating can be the results when one surrenders even the most seem ingly insignificant outpost to the enemy. What today is outright modernism, yesterday had its beginning as a relaxation of the supposedly minor points in regard to inspiration. On the other hand, those individuals and groups which have held without apology to the tradi tional position in connection with the Scriptures are those who have survived the Satanic attempt to obscure the truthfulness of the Word of God; therefore, this is a strategic area of theological study. I. T h e B i b l i c a l D o c t r in e Sufficient developments have been seen recently to warrant another look at this important doctrine in the light of the teaching of God’s Word. As background for a treatment of these recent developments, one nat urally turns to II Timothy 3:15-16 to find what is the outlook of the Scriptures themselves. Verse 16 in par ticular is crucial, and in comparing the King James translation with the American Standard translation, one observes a difference of rendering. The latter ver sion renders, “Every scripture inspired of God is also profitable,” while the former version gives, “ All scrip ture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable.” Not a great deal of theological importance attaches itself to which of these alternatives is chosen. Regard less of which wording is taken, the fact of inspiration is specifically taught by the verse. But from the stand point of translation and emphasis, it is important to look further to see which rendering is the correct one. The method of translating one word in the verse, the Greek conjunction kai, gives the key to the passage. Various reasons have been given for translating the word “ also.” (a) For one thing, it is stated that several of the early fathers and versions omitted the word completely in their works, thus proving that they con sidered it unimportant. This would accord with the less significant meaning “also,” which in reality adds noth ing to the sense of the verse, (b) Reference is also made to verse 17 where the purpose of verse 16 is given, that purpose being the perfection or preparation
of the man of God. It is argued that such a purpose has no direct relationship to “ inspired by God,” and therefore this characteristic of the Scripture should be relegated to a subordinate place in this context, (c) It is further argued from the context of II Timothy 3 that the subject is the moral equipment of the Christian and that the inspiration of the Scriptures is not called into question at this point. This once again would rele gate the “ inspired of God” to a subordinate place in the verse. In favor of taking the word with the meaning “ and” are the following considerations: (a) Unless one takes it to mean “ and,” the word is really unnecessary, as indicated above. The “ also” adds nothing to the verse, a fact that is supported by the differences of opinion regarding the significance of an “ also” in this verse. Some take it in the sense “ in addition to making thee wise unto salvation” (verse 15 ); others take it in the sense “ in addition to being inspired by God” (verse 16). In reality, however, the meaning “ also” reduces the kai to a meaningless role in the verse, (b) According to the Greek word order, the meaning “ and” is the more natural one. Very literally, the Greek order is, “ All Scripture inspired by God kai profitable.” Thus, any other construction than that which renders the con junction “ and” is unnatural, (c) The word for “ in spired by God” (Greek? theopneustos) is a rare word, and therefore an emphatic word. Hence the subordi- nae position necessitated by rendering kai by “ also,” is not sufficient to bear the weight of the word. Paul brings the word into the discussion as a powerful tool to give Timothy an incentive for remaining faithful to his early training in the Scriptures. To say that these Scriptures came directly from God is sufficient to pro vide such motivation. Therefore, there seems to be more advantage in adopting the translation of the King James Version, containing the emphatic assertion that the Scriptures are inspired by God. The title “ Holy Scriptures” (v. 15), literally “ sacred Scriptures,” is plural in number, indicating a reference to the entirety of the Old Testament. This would accord with the principle of “plenary” inspiration, i.e., the
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