CQOD: 08/09/07 -- Packer: the pragmatic use of inerrancy

Christian Quotation of the Day

August 9, 2007

Feast of Mary Sumner, Founder of the Mothers’ Union, 1921

Meditation:
    While Jesus was teaching in the temple courts, he asked, "How is it that the teachers of the law say that the Christ is the son of David? David himself, speaking by the Holy Spirit, declared: 'The Lord said to my Lord: "Sit at my right hand until I put your enemies under your feet."' David himself calls him 'Lord.' How then can he be his son?" The large crowd listened to him with delight.
    -- Mark 12:35-37 (NIV)

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Quotation:
    When evangelicals call the Bible “inerrant,” part at least of their meaning is this: that, in exegesis and exposition of Scripture and in building up our biblical theology from the fruits of our Bible study, we may not (1) deny, disregard, or arbitrarily relativize, anything that the biblical writers teach, nor (2) discount any of the practical implications for worship and service that their teaching carries, nor (3) cut the knot of any problem of Bible harmony, factual or theological, by allowing ourselves to assume that the inspired writers were not necessarily consistent either with themselves or with each other. It is because the word “inerrant” makes these methodological points about handling the Bible, ruling out in advance the use of mental procedures that can only lead to reduced and distorted versions of Christianity, that it is so valuable and, I think, so much valued by those who embrace it.
    ... James I. Packer (b.1926)

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Quiet time reflection:
    Lord, I will not ignore any part of Your word.

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See Believer's Desktop Companion 2007
    http://www.cqod.com/cqoddtcb.html

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