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Inspiration and Authority: Nature and Function of Christian Scripture
In an evaluation of the Scriptures as the word of God, inspiration is an essential element. The long Protestant experience with this issue is both fruitful and painful, for many have drawn false conclusions from the justified belief in inspiration. Paul Achtemeier is a first-rate scholar who combines scientific investigation with faith, and his sensitivity and honest make this a most useful book for all interested in the Bible. . . . A better practical book on the subject would be hard to find.
—†Raymond E. Brown, former Auburn Distinguished Professor Emeritus, Union Theological Seminary, New York ". . . if Achtemeier's book reaches that large body of Christians looking for a nonfundamentalistic doctrine of Scripture, it could play a major role in creating a framework for them. He comes across as possessing a deep love and respect for the Bible and for the Lord, and eager for people to place their minds and lives beneath its authority. He offers us in the end of the doctrine of a covenental Scripture given by God to his people for their edification and renewal, a dynamic document which can perform this service two thousand years after its completion, confronting us with God's Word for our situation, through the power of the Spirit. I am highly grateful for this book and recommend it highly to others."
—Clark H. Pinnock, Professor of Theology, McMaster Divinity College
—†Raymond E. Brown, former Auburn Distinguished Professor Emeritus, Union Theological Seminary, New York ". . . if Achtemeier's book reaches that large body of Christians looking for a nonfundamentalistic doctrine of Scripture, it could play a major role in creating a framework for them. He comes across as possessing a deep love and respect for the Bible and for the Lord, and eager for people to place their minds and lives beneath its authority. He offers us in the end of the doctrine of a covenental Scripture given by God to his people for their edification and renewal, a dynamic document which can perform this service two thousand years after its completion, confronting us with God's Word for our situation, through the power of the Spirit. I am highly grateful for this book and recommend it highly to others."
—Clark H. Pinnock, Professor of Theology, McMaster Divinity College
166 pages, Paperback
First published February 1, 1998
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
August 3, 2023
I find that books about the inspiration of the Bible written by biblical specialists are considerably more helpful than those written by specialists in systematics. But those written by biblical specialists whose theological muscles are well formed are even better. Paul Achtemeier offers one of the latter. By thoroughly detailing the nature of the Bible in all its complexity and describing the theological issues at stake, he rightly (and honestly) presents the inspiration of the Bible as a substantially more complicated phenomenon than many present it as. Achtemeier's piety, concern for the church, and commitment to scripture is clear in his writing and his propositions.
(As an aside, his critique of inerrancy is damning and quite illuminating. He fairly represents self-proclaimed conservatives and liberals all the while thoroughly demonstrating that the proposals of conservatives and liberals are entirely unsatisfactory.)
(As an aside, his critique of inerrancy is damning and quite illuminating. He fairly represents self-proclaimed conservatives and liberals all the while thoroughly demonstrating that the proposals of conservatives and liberals are entirely unsatisfactory.)
May 11, 2011
Have you ever had the sense that you could "just scream" while reading a book? Not because the book is a thriller or supernatural horror but because the way it is written has placed such a burden on you as a reader that you felt like screaming. The burden this book places on the reader is the burden of convoluted sentence structure and poor editing. I had to read many of the sentences three times to catch the their gist. So why read it? You may wonder.
I read Inspiration and Authority because shortly into reading it I became aware that for all the burden it placed on my "reader's patience" it unburdened me from a very inadequate view of the inspiration of Scripture. Achtemeirer shows the inadequacy of viewing the Bible's inspiration in either the writers or in the words of the Scripture. The Bible is not inspired because it was written by inspiring geniuses nor because the book is perfectly accurate in all matters of human knowledge. The locus of its inspiration and its authority is found in the mediation of its community forming through traditions, situations, and respondents. The entire dynamic through which the Scriptures come to us results in a spiritual reformation that continues through centuries and provides contact with the intention of God for those who follow him. Achtemeirer rejects the concept of inerrancy but holds that historical criticism and realization of the tradition process is as much an element of the Scriptures inspiration and authority as the specific situations from which the events of the Bible emerged. He reminds those seeking for reassurance from the Bible that it always points beyond itself to a much higher authority the revelation of God in Christ and ultimately to God himself. Thus he prevents its readers from biblioatry, an excessive literalism.
On a content level I would recommend the book and give it three stars. Style-wise it deserves a failing grade of one and a half.
I read Inspiration and Authority because shortly into reading it I became aware that for all the burden it placed on my "reader's patience" it unburdened me from a very inadequate view of the inspiration of Scripture. Achtemeirer shows the inadequacy of viewing the Bible's inspiration in either the writers or in the words of the Scripture. The Bible is not inspired because it was written by inspiring geniuses nor because the book is perfectly accurate in all matters of human knowledge. The locus of its inspiration and its authority is found in the mediation of its community forming through traditions, situations, and respondents. The entire dynamic through which the Scriptures come to us results in a spiritual reformation that continues through centuries and provides contact with the intention of God for those who follow him. Achtemeirer rejects the concept of inerrancy but holds that historical criticism and realization of the tradition process is as much an element of the Scriptures inspiration and authority as the specific situations from which the events of the Bible emerged. He reminds those seeking for reassurance from the Bible that it always points beyond itself to a much higher authority the revelation of God in Christ and ultimately to God himself. Thus he prevents its readers from biblioatry, an excessive literalism.
On a content level I would recommend the book and give it three stars. Style-wise it deserves a failing grade of one and a half.
February 18, 2010
I found this book to be problematic. If Achtemeier would have properly addressed in his introduction that Christianity isn't just a polemic of liberalism and conservatism, but that each of these branches are too complex to be flattened into a singular identity, it wouldn't have been entirely so misleading. While he does a decent job of illustrating the importance of tradition, and canon formation, his analysis of the liberal agenda leaves me wondering what his motivations where in writing the book. Not every liberal Christian uses the Bible for the sole purpose of salvation (gasp!), and to say that all liberal Christians understand a few parts of the Bible to be more beneficial than others is ridiculous.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews