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Articles > Systematic
Theology > The
Canon of Scripture > Inerrancy and the Canonical Coherence
Test
Part XXIV: Inerrancy and the Canonical Coherence Test
I. Introduction: Canon Debate and Clash of Worldview
a. The Debate about the Canon is about what is included in
the ultimate standard.
b. Since it is the ultimate standard that is being questioned,
any canon debate is unavoidably a clash of worldview.
c. The content of the book in questions is usually argued by
it's proponents since the writing support doctrines or practices
that are false, wrong and unbiblical.
d. Understanding the nature of the debate should lead one to
be conscious of and also apply biblical principles of Presuppositional
Apologetics in these debates.
i. Since there is no such thing as religious neutrality,
a Christian must not forsake what is clearly true in Scripture
in order to accommodate those who assert contradicting writings.
ii. Whatever unbiblical presuppositions the opponent holds
to must be exposed and demonstrated to be irrational.
iii. Biblical doctrines do matter. Right doctrines should
shape one's direction and method in defending the truth and
refuting error. (Endnote 1)
II. Doctrine of Inerrancy: Foundation for Canonical Coherence
Test
a. Since the doctrine of Inerrancy is true (Endnote
2), and truth is not self-contradicting, this has ramification
in the area of the Canon.
bi. The entire true Canon from God can not be self-contradicting.
c. If there are any controversial writing asserted to be canonical,
yet it contradicts other portion of established Scripture, the
literature in question can not be the Word of God.
d. Thus, the doctrine of Inerrancy gives us a test to rule
out a heretical work not only as unbiblical, but non-Canonical.
(Endnote 3)
III. Examples of the Canonical Coherence Test Applied
a. Does the Book of Tobit contradict Scripture?
i. Short Background
1. The Book of Tobit is part of the Roman Catholic Canon
and not in Protestant Canon.
2. It is also written in Greek instead of Hebrew.
ii. "Prayer and fasting are good, but better than
either is almsgiving accompanied by righteousness. A little
with righteousness is better than abundance with wickedness.
It is better to give alms than to store up gold; for almsgiving
saves one from death and expiates every sin. Those who regularly
give alms shall enjoy a full life" (Tobit 12:8-9) (Endnote
4)
1. Is there another way, specifically through alms giving,
which expiates for our sins?
a. "In fact, the law requires that nearly everything
be cleansed with blood, and without the shedding of blood
there is no forgiveness." (Hebrews 9:22)
b. Alms giving does not concern with blood, and therefore
can not expiates every sin.
2. Does our righteousness accompanying almsgiving saves
one from death and expiates every sin?
a. Alms giving to expiates for every sin is already shown
to be unbiblical in the above.
b. "I do not set aside the grace of God, for if
righteousness could be gained through the law, Christ died
for nothing!" (Galatians 2:21)
c. Our righteousness (as measured by the Law) will not
saved us and if it can save us, Christ dying for sinners
would not make sense.
b. Does 2nd Maccabees contradict Scripture?
i. Short Background
1. This is a book in the Roman Catholic Canon but not in
the Protestant Canon.
2. It is also written in Greek instead of Hebrew.
ii. "Turning to supplication, they prayed that the
sinful deed might be fully blotted out. The noble Judas warned
the soldiers to keep themselves free from sin, for they had
seen with their own eyes what had happened because of the sin
of those who had fallen. He then took up a collection among
all his soldiers, amounting to two thousand silver drachmas,
which he sent to Jerusalem to provide for an expiatory sacrifice.
In doing this he acted in a very excellent and noble way, inasmuch
as he had the resurrection of the dead in view; for if he were
not expecting the fallen to rise again, it would have been useless
and foolish to pray for them in death. But if he did this with
a view to the splendid reward that awaits those who had gone
to rest in godliness, it was a holy and pious thought. Thus
he made atonement for the dead that they might be freed from
this sin." (2 Maccabees 12:42-46)
1. Context: This is about a Jew name Judas who led
an army to fight for the Jews, and in the course of slain soldiers,
was led to pray for them.
2. Is there atonement through alms giving?
a. See the above concerning Tobit and alms giving.
3. Is there hope of sin being blotted after death?
a. "Just as man is destined to die once, and after
that to face judgment" (Hebrews 9:27)
b. There is only judgment after death.
Endnotes
- As a side note, this is a reason why being grounded
in systematic theology and knowing what the entirety of what Scripture
teaches is important, as it impact not only a believer's approach
to apologetics, but ethics, character, and other sphere of a Christian's
life as well.
- Please consult Part XII in this systematic theology
outlines series titled, "Doctrine
of Biblical Inerrancy Part I"
- This shows yet another reason why systematic
theology is important. Those who are well versed with what the
Scripture teaches will be able to apply this test more readily
than those who are less knowledgeable.
- Quoted from the New American Bible, accessed
online from the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops website
at http://www.usccb.org.
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