Evangelical Theories of Biblical Inspiration: A Review and ProposalThe inspiration of the Bible is central to Christian faith, yet there is no general agreement on the nature of this inspiration. In this provocative book, Kern Robert Trembath reviews seven major evangelical explanations of inspiration and demonstrates that all either view the Bible itself as the actual recipient of inspiration or explain biblical authority on grounds more appropriate to the doctrine of God--in effect investing the Bible with characteristics that properly belong only to God. Building on the work of William Abraham, Trembath constructs his own theory of inspiration--one that regards inspiration as a tripartite concept involving the elements of initiator, means, and receiver. He insists that only a human being can be the recipient of inspiration and that the Bible must therefore be understood as the means, rather than the end, of the process. He goes on to articulate a new definition of biblical inspiration--as "a mediated enhancement of human experience by God, through the Bible"--and argues that this new understanding of inspiration is most compatible with a Thomistic doctrine of God, which insists that God's acts are mediated through the world, rather than immediately occurring in it. |
Contents
Introduction | 3 |
1 Deductivist Theories of Biblical Inspiration | 8 |
2 Inductivist Theories of Biblical Inspiration | 47 |
3 Inspiration and the Human Recipient | 72 |
4 Inspiration and the Means | 87 |
5 God as the Initiator of Inspiration | 104 |
Notes | 119 |
143 | |
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Evangelical Theories of Biblical Inspiration: A Review and Proposal Kern Robert Trembath Limited preview - 1987 |
Common terms and phrases
A. A. Hodge Abraham accepted account of inspiration acts affirms analysis anthropology Apologetics asserts autographs B. B. Warfield believers Bernard Ramm Bible biblical authors biblical inspiration canon Carnell Chapter Charles Hodge Christ Christian community church claim concept of inspiration concerning criterion criticism discussion divine activity divine inspiration doctrine of inspiration Donatists Edward John Carnell Eerdmans errors evangelicals existence experience of salvation fact faith God's Grand Rapids historical Hodge's Holy Spirit human Ibid inductive inductivism inerrancy initiator insistence Inspiration and Authority intention interpretation Jesus John Warwick Montgomery knowledge law of contradiction logical means mediated methodology mind Montgomery nature normative noted objective persons Philadelphia philosophical plenary inspiration present principle Protestantism question Rahner Ramm reader refers reflection rejects response revelation Scripture seen significance Strong Systematic Theology Testament theologians theory of biblical theory of inspiration traditional truth ultimately understanding verbal inspiration Warfield Westminster witness words writing York