Rational Basis for Doctrine of Biblical Inspiration

[2cents]

GCC, that is as circular an example of reasoning as I have ever seen. If Paul had never written that one text "All Scripture is given by inspiration. . ." would you have concluded that the resurrection indicates inspired writings? Please explain.

Who decided or decides what "All Scripture" is? Paul quotes "Jannes and Jambres", Jude quotes the Book of Enoch. The notion of Sola Scriptura is a relatively modern Protestant invention. The books of James, Jude, 2 Peter, 2&3 John, Hebrews and Revelation were not universally accepted by the early Church so why are they Scripture?

 

[GratiaCorpusChristi]

Who decided or decides what "All Scripture" is? Paul quotes "Jannes and Jambres", Jude quotes the Book of Enoch. The notion of Sola Scriptura is a relatively modern Protestant invention. The books of James, Jude, 2 Peter, 2&3 John, Hebrews and Revelation were not universally accepted by the early Church so why are they Scripture?

Yeah, that. The text refers to the general Scriptural heritage of the Hebrew people, which was neither closed nor finished. Indeed, if the Christ-event is the climax of covenant history, then the new Scriptures of the New Testament must be included in order to complete the tale of the Jewish metanarrative.

 

[sentipente]

Yeah, that. The text refers to the general Scriptural heritage of the Hebrew people, which was neither closed nor finished. Indeed, if the Christ-event is the climax of covenant history, then the new Scriptures of the New Testament must be included in order to complete the tale of the Jewish metanarrative.

I don't see how your conclusions follow from the facts. What you have done is assume that your conclusions are correct then applied the text to your conclusions. Where is your evidence that the Scriptural heritage of the Hebrew people "was neither closed nor finished"? You seem to have taken the implications of the Christ-event in the opposite direction from what one would expect. It is not usual to expect something to come after the climax of the event that is fundamentally essential to the event. Other things perhaps.

 

[GratiaCorpusChristi]

I don't see how your conclusions follow from the facts. What you have done is assume that your conclusions are correct then applied the text to your conclusions. Where is your evidence that the Scriptural heritage of the Hebrew people "was neither closed nor finished"? You seem to have taken the implications of the Christ-event in the opposite direction from what one would expect. It is not usual to expect something to come after the climax of the event that is fundamentally essential to the event. Other things perhaps.

What am I suggesting is fundamental that case after the Christ-event?

And there's plenty of evidence that the Hebrew canon was neither finished nor closed. The Council of Yavneh, c. A.D. 95, which codified the Ketuvim (Writings) in the Hebrew Scriptures, hadn't happened yet. We know of set order of a Hebrew canon until much later. Mss. of the LXX continually fluxuate between orders and numbers of books. It refers to a Hebrew canon which records the general metanarrative of Hebrew history, which came to a close in the Christ-event. That's what the Scriptures always meant in the context of their reading at Jewish festivals, proclaimation at the synagogue, and use in the temple: the record of the redemptive-historical covenant history of Israel, which itself had not come to a close.

If you think the text is refering to the Scriptures of other religions then you're obviously mistaken. The authors had little knowledge of the canonical traditions of the east (Vedas, Upanishads, etc.) and the Qur'an would not exist for another seven hundred years.

 

[sentipente]

If you think the text is refering to the Scriptures of other religions then you're obviously mistaken. The authors had little knowledge of the canonical traditions of the east (Vedas, Upanishads, etc.) and the Qur'an would not exist for another seven hundred years.

You cannot claim that the Scripture tradition is open-ended and also try to exclude certain Scriptures. Scripture is scripture. It would include that which was known and unknown.

 

[GratiaCorpusChristi]

You cannot claim that the Scripture tradition is open-ended and also try to exclude certain Scriptures. Scripture is scripture. It would include that which was known and unknown.

The canon was not closed, but there were criteria- namely, that which authentically relayed the general metanarrative of the people of God as understood by the Hebrews.

The New Testament does that. The Qur'an does not.

 

[sentipente]

The canon was not closed, but there were criteria- namely, that which authentically relayed the general metanarrative of the people of God as understood by the Hebrews.

The New Testament does that. The Qur'an does not.

Where did you get this information? Are you suggesting that the Creator of the universe only communicates with a small number of His people?

 

[GratiaCorpusChristi]

Where did you get this information? Are you suggesting that the Creator of the universe only communicates with a small number of His people?

God generally reveals himself to all his people.

But God has specifically revealed himself to a specific people he has chosen to call his own: the Hebrews. He has chosen to do it at specific points in their history- with Abraham, with Moses, and most climactically with Christ.

 

[sentipente]

God generally reveals himself to all his people.

But God has specifically revealed himself to a specific people he has chosen to call his own: the Hebrews. He has chosen to do it at specific points in their history- with Abraham, with Moses, and most climactically with Christ.

This scenario does not jive with an all-wise God. If you are correct He did not make it easy for the rest of His people to get to know Him.

 

[GratiaCorpusChristi]

This scenario does not jive with an all-wise God. If you are correct He did not make it easy for the rest of His people to get to know Him.

Sure he did. He raised his son from the dead and sent out emissaries to proclaim his lordship on that basis.