For those interested in an extended academic lecture on the doctrine of inerrancy, focused on contemporary challenges to the traditional definition of the doctrine, click on the footnote links for a 3-session lecture from Dr. Doug Bookman from Shepherd’s Theological Seminary, speaking at Bob Jones University last November.1 In the lecture, he:
- surveys historic views of biblical inerrancy up through the development of the Chicago Statement on Biblical Inerrancy in the 1970s/1980s
- highlights alternate views of inerrancy that have been advocated and conflicts within the Evangelical Theological Society over such
- warns of the presuppositions of redaction criticism (i.e., that the Gospels are the work of redactors and not eyewitnesses) and the danger of genre criticism (which asserts that the Gospel authors were allowed to insert non-historical embellishments, given that some secular Greco-Roman biographraphers did such)
- speaks of the significance of eyewitness testimony for validating the historical narrative in the Gospels
- affirms the legitimacy of seeking to harmonize the Gospel narratives, etc.
Bookman also provided a summary of his lecture on the BJU Theologically Speaking podcast (here). The lecture echoes concerns that others (Phil Fernandes, Bill Roach, etc.) have been expressing in recent years over some of the proposals for a less comprehensive view of inerrancy that have been proposed within ETS and the broader evangelical community.
For my friends out at the Creation Museum and Ark Encounter, Dr. Bookman speaks favorable of the library display in the ark at roughly 36 minutes into the 2nd lecture. (’tis also my favorite room!)2
Shortly thereafter, he also briefly commends my book, A Trustworthy Gospel, at a little after 38 minutes. Although, Bookman favors a date even earlier than I suggest in the book!
- Session 1: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x6bDkvIX7mo; session 2: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z-9Hdcy-BGI; session 3: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hkkwSUyEAGE ↩︎
- My favorite room in the ark: the library ↩︎
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