What is your view on the inspiration of Scripture?

What does dynamic equivalence, a translation technique, have to do with inspiration of scripture? In my understanding inspiration theories would include:</font>

• The Intuition or Natural Theory</font>
• The Illumination or Mystical Theory</font>
• The Dictation or Mechanical Theory</font>
• The Dynamic or Conceptual Theory</font>
• The Verbal and Formal Theory</font>

May I assume you mean Dynamic or Conceptual Theory and not dynamic equivalence?

 

I believe in verbal, plenary inspiration of Scripture. All the words of Scripture are given from God and are therefore the word of God is totally trustworthy, authoritative, inerrant, and infallable.

 

All the words in scripture are NOT dictated. They are all inspired. If it was just dictated, ti would be dead and stagnant.

We need the Holy Spirit to help us interpret the word or God. That's why it's called the living Word. No two people are alike in culture or experience. That is why the Holy Spirit may speak differently to different people. Since the Holy Spirit speaks differently to different people, our interpretations may be somewhat different.

That's one of the many reasons why we have so many denominations of Christianity, yet most of them do a reasonably good job of leading people to Christ. Jesus even said, "in my fathers house, there are many mansions".

 

I am with Tom on this one.

However, I do not agree that there are differing intepretations that can be correct. The reason there are many denominations is interpretations, but only one is right. There may be many applications but only one interpretation. Incidentally, "In my father's are are many mansions" has nothing to do with inspiration or denominations. That has to do with heaven and our hope there.

 

Hey Pastor Larry my Pastor always said that also, "There may be many applications but only one interpretation".
As for the many denomintaions I believe it goes back to Satan and Babylon, to confuse the people of what the "true Gosple is".

 

Or as some preachers would say, "verbal plee-nareee"

 

God-Breathed?

 

Well, the Bible IS inspired by God, no problem there!

One correct interpretation? Probably, but I'm betting none of us have the whole thing yet. I learn a lot from others by seeing matters through their eyes.

I also learn a lot by learning about some of the idioms used in the Bible -- it adds a lot of depth and sometimes changes what I was thinking something meant.

And simply digging deeper into Scripture by learning more about Hebrew and Greek words and word usages adds so much. The basic message is there for a child to read in that Book. But digging deeper and reading more does yield wonderful riches, and I love it.

 

Most certainly there can be different interpretations. Often, these interpretations can be conflicting to the us but not to God. Cultural traditions of religion are commonly conflicting. For example:

Shakers believe ornate furniture is lavish and sinful. I have some shaker-style furniture. It's not a sin for me, because I'm not a shaker, but it would be a sin for me to encourage a Shaker to use ornate furniture.

Some denominations have strict doctrine against piercings and makeup (found in Leviticus), yet Baptists don't forbid their teenage girls from makeup or pierced ears. Yet, it would be wrong to encourage someone to get their ears pierced if they're faithfully following Leviticus.

The SDA's celebrate the Sabbath on Saturday, yet we celebrate it on Sunday. They are biblically correct, yet we have biblical reasons for moving it to Sunday. Neither is wrong.

Messianic Jews circumcise their infant males at 8 days in according to biblical command, yet we gentiles often don't even circumcise our males at all. Neither is wrong.

I could go on and on, but I think I've gotten the point across. I haven't even gotten to different Baptist congregations differing from each other. So if there's only one interpretation of Scripture, the Baptists are as much in error as anyone else.

 

All scripture has one interpretation many applications. Verbal, plenary inspiration of the scriptures.

 

This is not an interpretation. It is an application. Scripture nowhere addresses teh style of furniture that we are to have in the house.

If someone is faithfully following Leviticus, they should be corrected. To "faithfully follow Leviticus" in the church age is to do what Paul condemned in Galatians. When PEter tried to put people back under the Law, Paul opposed him to his face in public and later said that if you put yourself under any of the Law, then you must be under all of it. Furthermore, this is not an interpretation; it is an application. Everyone agrees that the interpretation has to do with piercings and the like. It is how to apply that passage today that some dispute.

Once again, an application, not an interpretation. No one disputes that the OT Israel worshipped on the Sabbath. However, that was a part of the Law to Israel that is not in effect for the Christian. They are not "biblically correct" for worshipping on Saturday.

Again, an application. The interpretation is clear. The Jews were to circumcise their male children on teh eighth day. But remember again, that is a part of the Law and is not in effect for Christians. If one receives circumcision as a part of keeping the Law, then Christ is of no avail and they are under obligation to keep the whole law (Gal 5:2-3).

Perhaps the difficulty is in distinguishing interpretation and application. Simplistically put, interpretation is what a passage was intended by its author to mean to its original audience. Application is the relationship of interpretation to a subsequent situation.

I could go on and on, but I think I've gotten the point across. I haven't even gotten to different Baptist congregations differing from each other. So if there's only one interpretation of Scripture, the Baptists are as much in error as anyone else.[/QB][/QUOTE]

 

By studying the historical, grammatical, and literary context to determine who the author was writing to and what he was trying to communicate with his words to his original audience. It admittedly is a lot more work than opening up the floor to allow everyone to offer their opinions.

 

Very true Mark,
And I would also agree with Pastor Larry that many times when you open up the floor for comments, it is frightening what some Baptists actually believe. But truthfully there are many many passages where good, learned Bible scholars, who use sound interpretive methods do not agree. There are passages where one definitive truth cannot be held up.

I would be quick to point out that the basic truths which are vital to my relationship with Christ are not among them. Jesus condemned the pharisees when they told him the story about the woman who married 7 brothers consecutively, and asked whose wife she would be in heaven. Many times we argue about issues which while they may have basis in important Biblical truth, are not foundational truths where a definitive answer is required or possible

 

Yes but that does not mean there is more than one valid interpretation. That means somebody is wrong. On some issues, this difference is of no practical or theological consequence. On others it is. That is why it is good to study a number of different commentaries.

 

I believe that the scriptures are most definatly inspired by God. {II Timothy 3:16} I believe that {as some of you have stated} that scripture has 1 interpretation and many applications.
Abby