Scripture and Truth

by D.A. Carson (Editor)

From a biblical, historical, or theological perspective each essay examines a challenge to belief in the integrity and reliability of Scripture. What emerges from these essays is a full-orbed restatement of this evangelical doctrine.

Genres: Theology, Christian, Religion, Christianity, Scripture

446 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1983

About the author

Donald A. Carson is research professor of New Testament at Trinity Evangelical Divinity School in Deerfield, Illinois. He has been at Trinity since 1978. Carson came to Trinity from the faculty of Northwest Baptist Theological Seminary in Vancouver, British Columbia, where he also served for two years as academic dean. He has served as assistant pastor and pastor and has done itinerant ministry in Canada and the United Kingdom. Carson received the Bachelor of Science in chemistry from McGill University, the Master of Divinity from Central Baptist Seminary in Toronto, and the Doctor of Philosophy in New Testament from the University of Cambridge. Carson is an active guest lecturer in academic and church settings around the world. He has written or edited about sixty books. He is a founding member and currently president of The Gospel Coalition. Carson and his wife, Joy, reside in Libertyville, Illinois. They have two adult children.

Reviews

[David Rathel · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a key book during the "battle for the bible" that occurred during the 1980's. The writers assembled for this volume attempted to defend the doctrine of Biblical inerrancy from some of the more prominent attacks being lodged against it during this time.

They address such things as: Dunn's contention about NT diversity, Sandeen's thesis that the modern formulation of inerrancy was simply created by the old Princeton theologians, and the Rogers and McKim argument that the 16th century Protestant reformers did not hold to inerrancy.

Though some of the discussions are dated (the discussion has certainly moved on from when this book was written), this is still an important and helpful book for those seeking to defend/understand the doctrine of Biblical inerrancy.

[Daniel Ryan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Scripture and Truth is a collection of essays from prominent theologians concerning . . . Scripture and truth. It has three sections (author follows each essay):

Part 1: Biblical Essays
- Scripture's Self-Attestation and the Problem of Formulating a Doctrine of Scripture (Grudem)
- Unity and Diversity in the New Testament: The Possibility of Systematic Theology (Carson)
- On the Form, Function, and Authority of the New Testament Letters (Longenecker)
- Redaction Criticism: on the Legitimacy and Illegitimacy of a Literary Tool (Carson)
- The New Testament Use of the Old Testament: Text Form and Authority (Silva)

Part 2: Historical Essays
- The Truth of Scripture and the Problem of Historical Relativity (Hughes)
- The Church Fathers and the Holy Scripture (Bromiley)
- Biblical Authority in the Sixteenth and Seventeenth Centuries: A Question of Transition (Godfrey)
- The Princetonians and Biblical Authority: An Assessment of the Ernest Sandeen Proposal (Woodbridge and Balmer)

Part 3: Theological Essays
- The Biblical Concept of Truth (Nicole)
- Faith, Evidence, and the Scriptures (Helm)
- Infallible Scripture and the Role of Hermeneutics (Packer)

I largely enjoyed this compilation; some of it reinforced concepts in other works I have recently studied (like Frame's Doctrine of the Word of God). Some of it gave different perspectives or covered different topics. Some of it was beyond me and (I suspect) required more background in various theologians than I possess. Common in any compilation, the essays seemed to vary in readability, applicability, and value. And it wasn't as systematic or comprehensive as I would have liked. I didn't read every article, but read, skimmed, or skipped as suited my current needs and interests. It was solid overall, though I would likely recommend other works over this one to someone new to these topics.

Rating: A-

[Terence Tan · Rating 4 out of 5]

If the book wasn’t free, I would never have gotten it. Scripture inerrancy is not a current issue in my side of the world and the book cover was attractive 30 years old ago.

However, to my surprise, in Scripture & Truth, I found scholars assembled to fight a now forgotten battle. Like many forgotten battles, we don’t realise the debt we owe to these men and all like them who fought to secure the doctrine of Scripture and so the many doctrines that flow from it.

Full 3,534 word review: https://readingandreaders.com/podcast...

[Daniel Taylor · Rating 4 out of 5]

Faced with a post-modern view of truth, this book makes bold arguments for the inerrancy of Scripture. The reason I only gave it four stars is the quality and style of the individual essays varies. The strongest ones are by D. A. Carson and Moisés Silva. If you would like to develop certainty about why to believe the Bible, this book is for you.

[Rich Weber · Rating 4 out of 5]

Highlights include:
Wayne A. Grudem, "Scripture's Self-Attestation and the Problem of formulating a Doctrine of Scripture."
Philip Edgcumbe Hughes, "The Truth of Scripture and the Problem of Historical Relativity."
Roger Nicole, "The Biblical Concept of Truth."
J.I. Packer, "Infallible Scriptures and the Role of Hermeneutics."

[James Tetley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Some very good chapters. Especially Grudems opener on the self attestation of Scripture and some of the historical essays. A bit outdated in the light of recent hermeneutical discussions but still very helpful.

[J. Rutherford · Rating 4 out of 5]

Overall, great essays defending the Bible as God's inerrant, authoritative, and true word. Appreciated every essay excepting Hughes', and had some qualms with Silva's.