RE: THE PRESERVATION OF THE ...

From: Jim Beale (jbeale@gdeb.com)
Date: Fri Dec 08 1995 - 12:30:17 EST


On Thu, 7 Dec 1995 Carlton Winbery wrote:
 
> Jim Beale wrote;
> >I'll just say that for me, the presupposition of inerrancy of the
> >autographs forms the basis for my worldview. It is not appropriate, IMHO,
> >to approach Scripture with the philosophical presupposition of errancy.
> >That sets the human mind over the Biblical revelation, in deciding which
> >sentence, or clause, or jot or tittle is inspired, and which is not. I
> >would be willing to defend the claim that this leads to pure subjectivism.
>
> Jim,
> The next to the last sentence just won't hold up. This speaks as though
> the person who sees an inconsistency in the text decided where that
> inconsistency was going to be. The text itself determines where such
> problems are located not the person who points them out. I had nothing to
> do with the fact that Stephen said (in the power of the Spirit) that
> Abraham left Haran _after his father died_ and that this is at odds with
> Gen. 11 and 12. I didn't decide one day that this problem existed, I found
> it in the text. In honesty I must point it out and if my presupposition
> about Scripture won't stand in the face of it, I will change my
> presupposition not the text. My faith is not dependent upon my being able
> to explain away this text for I know God can use human beings who do not
> always get it right to get his message through. Stephen's message still
> stands in spite of several historical problems in his Spirit inspired
> sermon.

I would say that the next to last sentence does hold up. If there
is a contradiction between the two passages, and you choose whether
in this respect Genesis 11,12 or Acts 7:4 is correct, it cannot be
based on revelation. It is based on some external criteria.

Logically speaking, if there is a real contradiction in Scripture,
then is there any reason to accept any of it? Especially in light
of 2 Timothy 3:16, it would seem that "not all Scripture is
Scripture." How will one winnow the wheat from the chaff?

But I would question whether a contradiction is necessary. You seem
to be saying that:

1) Terah was 70 years old when he had Abram. (11:26)
2) Terah lived 250 years. (11:32)
3) Abraham left Haran when he was 75. (12:4)
4) So, Terah lived another 175 years after Abram left.

and that this conflicts with Stephen's saying,

   Then he departed from the land of the Chaldeans,
   and lived in Haran. And after his father died,
   God removed him from there into this land in
   which you are now living;
   (Acts 7:4)

But, many responses are possible. It seems to me that the passage:

   The days of Terah were two hundred and five years;
   and Terah died in Haran. Now the LORD said to Abram,
   "Go from your country and your kindred and your
   father's house to the land that I will show you.
   (Genesis 11:32-12:1)

would at least cast doubt on the assumption of dating the age of Terah
at Abram's birth. Since Genesis 11:26 does not explicitly state the
age of Terah at the birth of Abram, I simply don't know how old he
was.

The second possible response is that by 'APOQNHSKW' Stephen did not
mean physical death but something more spiritual. I'm sure that you
are more aware than I that Paul uses this verb in two ways in his
writings. In Romans 7:9-10, for example, doesn't APOQNHSKW refer to
death in relation to obedience to the law? So, it is at least possible
that Stephen was implying that Terah had become useless for the things
of God. Acts 7:4 in this respect would be additional revelation, but
not contradictory revelation.

I may not even know what the meaning is, but I'll avoid drawing the
conclusion that it is a bald contradiction.

--
In Christ,
Jim Beale
___________________________________________________________________

Now, this is the work I have to do, to make out this conclusion to you, that any affliction is to be chosen rather than any sin; that there is more evil in any sin, the least sin, than in the greatest affliction. (Jeremiah Burroughs, "The Exceeding Sinfulness of Sin", pg. 2) ___________________________________________________________________



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