Page 28 - Bibliology - Textbook w videos short

But is not the biblical teaching about salvation based on historical facts? Suppose those facts are
inaccurate? Then our understanding about salvation might also be erroneous. You cannot
separate history and doctrine and allow for errors (however few) in the historical records and at
the same time be certain that the doctrinal parts are true.

The basic question the partialist faces is what parts of the Bible can we trust and what parts are in error?
The answer is based on the subjective views of the person holding this position.

Divine Dictation
This view is also called the mechanical view of inspiration. It holds that the whole Bible was dictated
word for word by God; the writers were passive, much like a secretary taking dictation. This claim
renders the Bible similar to the Koran which was supposedly dictated in Arabic from heaven. Some parts
of the Bible are said to be the direct words of God. However, for the most part, the books of the Bible
reveal a distinct contrast in style and vocabulary suggesting that the authors entered into the process of
penning scripture with their minds. If the dictation theory were true, the style of the books of the Bible
should be uniform, which they are not.

Cultism
The cults have created doctrines that do not agree with orthodox Christianity and reliable translations of
the Bible. Therefore, to hold their errant positions, the Bible has been rewritten or reinterpreted to
come in line with their teachings. Their view of inspiration is that the Bible is inspired in as much as it
has been corrected to agree with their doctrines. They claim their translators are scholars in Greek and
Hebrew, when such claims have never been validated. The Jehovah’s Witnesses only accept the
inspiration of Scripture as long as their translation of the New World Version of the Bible is accepted by
the reader. According to them, all other versions of the Bible have been tainted
with errors.

Romanism
The Church of Rome places tradition and church authority above the Scriptures.
The claims of Rome are:

(1) Christ and the apostles taught much that is not recorded. This has been
preserved by an inspired church and constitutes a rule of faith as binding as the
Scriptures. (Tradition)

(2) The church is the only infallible teacher and interpreter of Scripture. If
Scripture conflicts with the church teachings, the Scripture must yield to the
church.

(3) The message of the church is in matters of faith and morals only.

(4) The present and past authorities of the Church of Rome are divinely constituted infallible; therefore,
not subject to criticism.

Since the Church of Rome holds these views, the Scriptures are relegated to a secondary position to the
ordinances laid down by the Church. They hold to the inspiration of Scripture as long as the Scripture
does not disagree with those ordinances of the Church, and if so, Church polity takes precedence.

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