Sunday, August 25, 2024

Scripture Alone (R.C. Sproul)

Christians hold that the Bible is God's Word. Inerrant, infallible, and authoritative. But "in the twentieth century, the orthodox doctrine of Scripture became a particular focus of intense criticism." Dr. R.C Sproul addresses the doctrines and criticisms in Scripture Alone.

The book is presented in two parts:
- Part one presents four chapters, each "reprints of Dr. Sproul's contributions to several important books on the subject of biblical authority." Here, he looks at the topics of Sola Scriptura (the Reformation principle of 'Scripture alone'), the Establishment of Scripture, the Case for Inerrancy, and the Internal Testimony of the Holy Spirit.
- Part two is "Sproul's detailed commentary on the nineteen articles of the Chicago Statement on Biblical Inerrancy that was adopted by the ICBI in 1978. This commentary provides a fuller explanation and exposition of each of the articles in order to clarify the precise position of the council." 

This is a solid read, full of important definitions and clarifications related to this critical topic. Because it is pulled from different sources, there is a degree of overlap here, and it isn't (say) as systematically presented as I would prefer. It is largely accessible, though Sproul is clearly educated and will occasionally reference events, doctrines, or terms I have no familiarity with. So if you are new to this topic, this book isn't the place to start, but nevertheless is a valuable work full of important insights.

Rating: A-

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