called the New International Version (ibid:135). Another reason for evangelical scholars taking the limited inerrancy position is their failure to make allowance for transcriptions made by those who copied the manuscripts. Metzger (1968:186-203) affirms that prior to the fourth century manuscripts were copied by hand. Often, the copyists were those who made translations without any skill in the original languages (ibid:14). Trained scribes both Christian and non-Christian reproduced manuscripts by hand . This was done when a lector was reading the manuscript aloud. Scribal errors were made because of inattentiveness (ibid:15). Manuscripts were checked for accuracy by a corrector (diorthotes). Mistakes were corrected with annotations in the margin. Monks copied manuscripts by hand during the Byzantine period. Errors could have occurred in the copying due to eyesight, difficulty in hearing, errors of mind and judgment, intentional interpolations, and spelling and grammatical changes. A scribe with an eyesight problem would have difficulty in distinguishing the letters of the manuscript. The errors of the mind would occur when the scribe glanced at the manuscript then glanced away to copy it down (ibid:192). Changes may have been introduced for doctrinal reasons. Sleepy or dull scribes may have made unintentional errors. Temptations came to harmonize parallel accounts. Variant readings are easily sifted depending on the theology presented in the text and the context. Burns (2001:45) gives us another reason why evangelical scholars have been turned to limited inerrancy. This is because a number of evangelical scholars have had to take their doctorates in secular universities. They were without any biblical training. Burns concludes that they are easily turned to limited inerrancy. They believe the bible is full of errors. The last reason that explains those who believe the bible is only reliable in matters of salvation, faith, and practice but not in history, science, geography, and mathematics is some have committed apostasy. The limited inerrancy position argues that the Bible is trustworthy in matters of salvation, faith, and practice but not in other matters. In his book The Battle for The Bible, Harold Lindsell informed of the issue of the infallibility of the Scriptures. The question of whether the Bible is trustworthy or partially so (1976:23). Jesus himself warned of apostasy in his teaching (Luke 8:13; Matt. 13:21; Mark 4:17). Yes, some Christians and some Christian scholars today have blasphemed. They have rejected the authority of the Word of God sitting in judgment on the Scriptures. They substitute their own authority above the the Word of God. The apostle Paul in 1 Timothy 1:20 gives an example of those who rejected apostolic authority. He names Hymenaeus and Alexander. In 2 Timothy 2:17-18, Paul names Hymenaeus and Philetus having blasphemed stating that the resurrection had already taken place. The apostle Paul warns of apostates in the last days (2 Tim. 3:13). Last days is that period of time beginning in Paul and Timothy’s day and continues until the present time. The Bible warns of religious teachers who are not saved in the last days for the church (Jude, 2 Peter, I John 4 and 5, 2 John, Acts 20:29, 2 Thess. 2:1-12, 1 Tim. 4:1, 1 Tim. 6:1-2, Titus 1:14, 2 Peter 3:1-18). Christendom has at the present time a large number of professing Christians who are not saved by grace through faith in Christ. They believe in a works salvation. They believe that water baptism saves them. Backsliders in the Old Testament are apostates in the New Testament.
2.7 Chapter Summary
2.7.1 These findings have been found from our discussion on the inspiration of the Scriptures.
The inspiration of the scriptures is defined as the accurate recording of revelation. 2 Timothy 3:16-17 is a central passage on the inspiration of the scriptures. It points the reader to the divine origin and purposes of scripture. The “all scripture” is “God-breathed” in 2 Timothy 3:16 refers to the New Testament apostolic doctrine in 3:14 and the Old Testament writings in 3:15. The word God breathed is made up of two greek words “theos” and “pneustos.” The divine origin of scripture is traced to the expirations of the divine breath. Scripture is traced in its origins to the breathing out of God. The apostle Paul moves next to the divine purposes of scripture. Scripture is profitable for teaching (doctrine), for reproof (refuting falsehoods), correction (to correct one’s life and the lives of others), and for instruction in righteousness (3:16). The word instruction is “paideia” which is used in the area of child training and discipline. The scriptures teach the child of God all that they need to know concerning righteousness. The ultimate purpose of the Word of God is found in 2 Timothy 3:17. It is that the man of God may be equipped for every good work. The word “equipped” is used of a supply sergeant who gives the soldier all that was necessary for his victory in battle. The apostle Paul wrote under the divine superintendence and guidance of the Holy Spirit to remind Timothy of the divine origin and purposes of scripture.
Scripture originated with God the Holy Spirit (2 Pet. 1:20-21). This passage confirms that there is a dual authorship behind scripture. Scripture is a genitive of apposition. The apostle refers to all which has a right to be called scripture. The inspiration of the scriptures extends to all parts, the very words, and the letters.
Inspiration extends to both the Old and New Testaments (1 Tim. 5:18). Paul quotes Deuteronomy 25:4 and Luke 10:7 calling both scripture. The inspiration of the Word of God extends to the choice of the words of scripture (1 Cor. 2:13). Jesus taught that inspiration extends to the very letters of scripture as well (Matt. 5:18). The Bible is completely reliable and trustworthy (2 Pet. 1:16-19). The scripture can’t be broken. The Word of God can not be abolished or annulled. The Bible teaches the verbal plenary inspiration of the scriptures. Verbal inspiration means the words are inspired. Plenary inspiration means that inspiration extends to all of scripture. Oral prophecies are recorded in the Word of God (John 11:51). The inspiration of the scriptures is important because it means that the Word of God is free from error in the writing of the scriptures. The role of the Holy Spirit in the writing of scripture kept the writers from errors (2 Pet. 1:20-21). The Bible is the Word of God (1 Thess. 2:13). The infallibility of the Word of God relates to inspiration. The Bible is free from all error. The Holy Spirit can not lie. The mechanical theory of inspiration, conceptual view, natural inspiration, the mystical view, and the verbal inspiration view are false views of inspiration of the scriptures. The mechanical view of inspiration argues that God dictated and men wrote the scriptures. This ignores the fact that God the Holy Spirit used holy men of God to write the scriptures which included using their personalities (2 Pet. 3:15-16). The conceptual view is not accurate since 1 Corinthians 2:13 teaches that inspiration extended to the choice of words. The natural inspiration view argues that the Hebrews had a genius for writing religious literature. The mystical view argues that God worked in the writers of scriptures as he does in us today. The verbal inspiration view of the scriptures argues that inspiration extends to the words but not to all parts of scripture. Plenary aspect of the definition of scripture is omitted. Each book of the Old and New Testament had to pass the test of canonicity. These standards are the Bible’s testimony and the book’s testimony to itself, the early church recognized the authority of the books, the book had to be written by a recognized leader in Israel, a prophet, an apostle or one who wrote under the supervision of an apostle. Mark wrote under the supervision of Peter. Luke wrote his gospel and the book of Acts under the supervision of Paul. The content of the book must be consistent with the rest of scripture, and the book must have a life changing power.
The Holy Spirit illuminates the Word of God for the born again Christian (1 Cor. 2:12). This ministry of the Holy Spirit was predicted as future by Jesus during the last week of his ministry on earth (John 14:26, 16:13-15). The Holy Spirit illuminates the Bible to the born again Christian so that they will have insight into the meaning of a particular passage of scripture. The grammatical evidence of the New Testament points to the fact that the Holy Spirit is a person. The relative masculine pronoun is used in referring to the Holy Spirit in John 15:26 and Ephesians 1:14. John 16:7 uses “auton” which is to be translated him. In John 16:8, “ekeinos” is used. Grammatical rules follow the gender of the noun rather than the grammar of the text. The apostle John in his first epistle calls the illumination ministry of the Holy Spirit a teaching ministry to the believer (1 John 2:27).
A verbal plenary inspired Bible is a Bible without error. This idea that the Bible can only be trusted in matters of faith came out of Germany as early as 1650. This is the limited inerrancy position. It should be remembered that we have a great wealth of manuscripts. The science of textual criticism helps
