Six Factors that Do Not Affect Inerrancy
Feb 13, 2014 20:43:16 GMT
Les Brewer and clarkthompson like this
Post by arete on Feb 13, 2014 20:43:16 GMT
Six Factors that Do Not Affect Inerrancy
by C Michael PattonFebruary 12th, 2014
1. Use of Hyperbole and Exaggeration
Just because one believes in inerrancy does not mean that he or she believe in a “technically precise” view of truth. The Bible can and does contain exaggerations and hyperbole while not effecting inerrancy. Take John 4:39 as an example. In this passage, a Samaritan woman spoke of Jesus and said: “He told me all that I ever did” (emp. added). Did Jesus really tell her everything she has ever done? That would take quite a bit of time! As well, Paul says of false teachers that they “understand nothing” (1 Tim. 6:4). Do these false teachers really understand nothing? Nothing at all? Or is Paul speaking hyperbolically concerning their ignorance of truth? The latter is most definitely the case.
by C Michael PattonFebruary 12th, 2014
1. Use of Hyperbole and Exaggeration
Just because one believes in inerrancy does not mean that he or she believe in a “technically precise” view of truth. The Bible can and does contain exaggerations and hyperbole while not effecting inerrancy. Take John 4:39 as an example. In this passage, a Samaritan woman spoke of Jesus and said: “He told me all that I ever did” (emp. added). Did Jesus really tell her everything she has ever done? That would take quite a bit of time! As well, Paul says of false teachers that they “understand nothing” (1 Tim. 6:4). Do these false teachers really understand nothing? Nothing at all? Or is Paul speaking hyperbolically concerning their ignorance of truth? The latter is most definitely the case.
One area of contention I have with those who reject inerrancy is that they believe literal interpretation is wooden. They allow for no figures of speech or genre, style, etc.
In figures of speech, every figure represents a literal truth. It's found in our language too. When my grandmother would say that someone was sweeter than sugar pie, she did not mean she had licked the person and found them sweet to the taste. Yet, there is a literal meaning she intended with her figurative speech.
