Featured John R. Rice, Bob Jones Jr., and the “Mechanical Dictation” Controversy

Nathan Finn is an excellent historian, and has done his work. His PhD dissertation was on the rise of Fundamentalism in the South. I am currently in Houston, having just returned from two days of research in the John R. Rice Papers at Southwestern. (Had a wonderful lunch today with Dr. & Mrs. Paige Patterson.) There is much in the archives about the dispute, but too much yet to do to share it right now.

But that's okay. I lived through it. I was at BJU in the fall of 1971 when the whole thing blew up, with terrible results. It's late tonight so I won't write much, but I will way that in his book on inspiration JRR had two full chapters on why he did not believe in "mechanical" dictation. In fact, SBC theologian Millard Erickson makes exactly that point in his Christian Doctrine.

 

It's been years since I read "Our God-Breathed Book: The Bible" It gave me an impression of inspiration thru dictation, though I'm not sure if "mechanical" would be the best descriptor. Also, my impression may just be a reader's idea that lies outside of the author's intent.

 

This concept of God just using the authors as His robots would not been held by many, would it?

 

JRR used the term "dictation" in his book to describe the process of inspiration, based on previous authors on the subject who used that term, such as Louis Gaussen. However, he made it plain that he did not mean "mechanical dictation," pointing out that liberals used that term to mock believers in verbal inspiration. So to JRR the process was not mechanical, but a God/human process that preserved revelation and inerrancy in the very words of Scripture. Unfortunately, perhaps, he pointed out Stuart Custer of BJU as mistaking the terms and siding with liberals in his book Does Inspiration Demand Inerrancy? and Custer and Bob Jones Jr. & III took offense.

In 1969 JRR sent pre-pub. copies of his book to many theologians, and several evangelical theologians wrote endorsements. However, Custer of BJU did not, and the Bob Jones two opposed the book, not even allowing it to be sold in the BJU bookstore. So that snafu contributed greatly to the split between JRR and BJU, and indeed split fundamentalism.

 

No evangelical holds to that view. That concept is a construct of liberals who mock verbal inspiration.

 

It was a huge kerfuffle at the time.

 

Sad to say, there are many who claim to be saved who use those views to "mock" Bible believers!

 

I remember that: "much ado about nothing."

BJU has really shrunk, I've heard. So now they have sports teams again after over 60 years, no doubt to get students.

Thanks for the input, Doc. You're right on target.

 

Got it.

 

I remember, was enrolled at Calvary University (aka Calvary Bible College and Seminary) in the late 60's early 70's which took a firm stand against the "mechanical dictation" theory.

If JoJ says JRR did not endorse it that's good enough for me

But even if he did, not a big deal IMO in view of the whole doctrine of verbal plenary inspiration.

HankD

 

Not that I know of.

 

Correctamundo.