(DAVE 1/14) Farrell: As you know, I don't subscribe to the concept of
"verbal inspiration" - at least the way I understand the theory. But I
agree that the logical consequence of verbal inspiration would (or should)
be inerrancy. However, inerrancy is possible without verbal inspiration as
well - it isn't exclusive to a document being verbally inspired.
Farrell
In that
posting I may have said something like this. I can recall before my
retirement that when I would come to essays in the stack I was grading,
which I recognized to be the works of certain students, I would immediately
know that I would be reading a paper that had few, if any, errors in it and
that would have a high level of well written supporting content. The
students had established their reputations as very intelligent students, who
usually made good grades in whatever courses they were taking. I
consistently found that if students had a good knowledge of grammar,
punctuation and spelling rules,and writing principles, it was always
reflected in the quality of their work.
I assume that you are a professor of mathematics at Cambridge University.
Let's suppose, for the sake of illustration, that you should have a student
enroll in one of your classes who knew everything there is to know about
math. In other words, you have a student who is mathematically omniscient.
How many incorrect answers would you expect to find on this person's math
papers?
Do you get my point?
(DAVE 1/14) Farrell: Yes, your point is clear. Where I don't agree with
you is in your equating a student writing a paper with, say, an apostle
writing a gospel. They are entirely different. The student is receiving no
"inspiration" (at least of the sort we are discussing in regards to the
Bible) - what you see is a result of what and who the student is. The
Biblical writings are a result of what and who the writer is, not the God
who inspired those writers to record things - but they have also received an
"inspiration" from God: this "inspiration" includes motive, intention,
content, reasoning/explanations. If it was God himself who wrote the Bible
then we can equate these two examples, but I don't believe he did - the
writers of the Bible did not take dictation, and I think, in light of the
excellent points you have always brought up in regards to this issue, it is
important to establish this point.
Farrell
If a document exists that was verbally inspired by an
omniscient, omnipotent entity, that document, by logical necessity, would
have to be free of errors.
(DAVE 1/14) Farrel: Agreed.
Farrell
Otherwise, the inspirer would have to be either
not omniscient or not omnipotent, because the errors would have to be due
either to the inspirer not knowing everything or else being unable to guide
or direct its human messager so that errors in his writing would not have
been made.
(DAVE 1/14) Farrell: Agreed.
Farrell
You might counter that the omniscient, omnipotent deity just
didn't want to inspire inerrancy, but that's a position with logical
problems too.
(DAVE 1/14) Farrell: I don't see from what inferences or references the
Bible makes concerning this how one could reach this conclusion at all, so I
wouln't counter with this argument. Why would someone or somethig set out
to inspire error? It makes no sense.
Regards.
Dave.
"If someone wrote a play just to glorify what is stronger than hate,
Would they not arrange the stage to look as if the hero came too late,
Almost in despair its looking like the evil side will win,
But on the edge of every seat from the moment that the whole thing began,
It was love that mixed the mortar,
It was love that stacked the stones,
It was love that made the stage here,
Though it looks like we're alone,
In this scene set in shadows,
Like the night is here to stay,
There is evil cast around us,
But it's love that wrote the play."
- David Wilcox
====================================================================
For help, send a message to errancy-request@infidels.org with the word
"help" in the subject or body of your message. To unsubscribe from
ERRANCY, send a message to errancy-request@infidels.org with the word
"unsubscribe" in the subject or body of your message.