Justin Taylor: Do Historical Matters Matter to the Faith

Justin Taylor offers this book recommendation. It looks good. The subject of inerrancy, Biblical authority, sola scriptura, inspiration and the "International Council on Biblical Inerrancy" have been subjects of recent musings. Little appears in the popular media outlets on the subject. In addition to the book below, we strongly recommend reading the English Reformer, William Whittaker, and his volume, entitled, "Disputations on Holy Scriptures." The latter volume is available electronically by a books.google.com search. Here's Justin's post on "Do Historical Matters Matter to the Faith."

http://thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/justintaylor/2012/03/09/do-historical-matters-matter-to-faith/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+between2worlds+%28Between+Two+Worlds%29

Do Historical Matters Matter to Faith?

Crossway has just published a major new collection of essays from an international team of top-flight scholars on the historicity of Scripture and why it matters to faith: Do Historical Matters Matter to Faith? A Critical Appraisal of Modern and Postmodern Approaches to Scripture, edited by James K. Hoffmeier and Dennis R. Magary.

You can read the table of contents and the commendations below:

Foreword by John Woodbridge

Preface

Part 1: Biblical, Systematic, and Historical Theology:
1. Thomas H. McCall, “Religious Epistemology, Theological Interpretation of Scripture, and Critical Biblical Scholarship: A Theologian’s Reflections”
2. Graham A. Cole, “The Peril of a ‘Historyless’ Systematic Theology”
3. Mark D. Thompson, “The Divine Investment in Truth: Toward a Theological Account of Biblical Inerrancy”
4. James K. Hoffmeier, “‘These Things Happened’: Why a Historical Exodus Is Essential for Theology”
5. Michael A. G. Haykin ,”Fundamentum et Columnam Fidei Nostrae“: Irenaeus on the Perfect and Saving Nature of the Scriptures”

Part 2: Old Testament and Issues of History, Authenticity, and Authority

6. Richard E. Averbeck, “Pentateuchal Criticism and the Priestly Torah”
7. Robert B. Chisholm Jr., “Old Testament Source Criticism: Some Methodological Miscues”
8. Robert D. Bergen, “Word Distribution as an Indicator Authorial Intention: A Study of Gen. 1:1-2:3″
9. John W. Hilber, “The Culture of Prophecy and Writing in the Ancient Near East”
10. Richard L. Schultz , “Isaiah, Isaiahs, and Current Scholarship”
11. Alan Millard, “Daniel in Babylon: An Accurate Record?”
12. Willem A. VanGemeren & Jason Stanghalle, “A Critical-Realistic Reading of Psalms Titles: Authenticity, Inspiration and Evangelicals”
13. Jens Bruun Kofoed, “The Old Testament as Cultural Memory”

Part 3: New Testament and Issues of History, Authenticity, and Authority

14. Robert W. Yarborugh, “God’s Word in Human Words: Form-Critical Reflections”
15. Craig L. Blomberg, “A Constructive Traditional Response to New Testament Criticism”
16. Darrell L. Bock, “Precision and Accuracy: Making Distinctions in the Cultural Context that Give Us Pause in Pitting Gospels Against Other”
17. Eckhard J. Schnabel, “Paul, Timothy, and Titus: The Assumption of a Pseudonymous Author and of Pseudonymous Recipients in the Light of Literary, Theological, and Historical Evidence”
18. Thomas W. Davis, “Saint Paul on Cyprus: The Transformation of an Apostle”

Part 4: The Old Testament and Archaeology

19. John M. Monson, “Enter Joshua: The Mother of Current Biblical Debates”
20. Richard S. Hess, “Yahweh’s ‘Wife’ and Belief in One God in the Old Testament”
21. Michael G. Hasel, “New Excavations at Khirbet Qeiyafa and the Early History of Judah”
22. Steven M. Ortiz, “The Archaeology of David and Solomon: Method or Madness?”
Here are a few of the endorsements:

“Standing athwart the tide of strident voices currently demanding that we abandon confidence in the truthfulness and reliability of the Bible, the chapters in this volume constitute a defense of historic Christian confessionalism on the nature of Scripture. Mercifully, however, they are not mere regurgitations of past positions. Rather, they are informed, competent, and sometimes creative contributions that urgently deserve the widest circulation. In months and years to come, I shall repeatedly refer students and pastors to this collection.”
—D. A. Carson, Research Professor of New Testament, Trinity Evangelical Divinity School

“Few Christian convictions are of as pervasive importance as the absolute perfection of Scripture—and few convictions fall under more perennial criticism. Hence the need for this volume, which seeks to defend the evangelical doctrine of biblical inerrancy against scholars who argue that in accommodating his truth to human understanding, God has made his Word susceptible to error. Here James Hoffmeier, Dennis Magary, and a broad range of learned colleagues take seriously the self-witness of Scripture and respond to some of the latest, hardest objections to inerrancy by providing clear, comprehensive, persuasive, and charitable answers. Do Historical Matters Matter to Faith? is an invaluable resource for any student of Scripture who doubts the doctrine of inerrancy or has serious questions about the historical reliability of the Bible.”
—Philip Graham Ryken, President, Wheaton College

“Whether in a university open forum or in the church, I am consistently asked about the trustworthiness and authority of Scripture. I am therefore delighted that the authors have engaged the critics’ challenge as well as the Bible afresh and met the arguments head-on with insightful scholarship and the historicity of Scripture. I commend this unique and timely volume and believe it will be an important work for decades to come.”
—Ravi Zacharias, Founder and President, Ravi Zacharias International Ministries; author, Jesus Among Other Gods

“To scholars unconvinced of the classical Christian doctrine of Holy Scripture, Do Historical Matters Matter to Faith? offers a challenge both substantive in its argumentation and respectful in its tone. To scholars convinced of this doctrine, this volume models how to advance the argument on a multidisciplinary, evidentialist basis. We owe the editors and authors a debt of gratitude.”
—Raymond C. Ortlund Jr., Lead Pastor, Immanuel Church, Nashville, Tennessee

“This is a book that has been sorely needed. The Bible has long been under attack from those outside evangelical faith, and now more recently from those supposedly inside. Here in one volume the questions are addressed in a comprehensive way, including theological, historical-critical, and archaeological issues. Written with an irenic tone—and yet confronting the questions directly—this book will surely take a prominent place on the shelves of all those who love the Bible and look for solid answers to give to its detractors. The editors are to be commended for bringing the book to fruition and for their breadth of vision in organizing it.”
—John Oswalt , Distinguished Professor of Old Testament, Asbury Theological Seminary

“James Hoffmeier and Dennis Magary have assembled a first-rate team of evangelical writers to join them in exploring the historical issues related to the interpretation of Holy Scripture and the formation of Christian theology. Each chapter makes a significant contribution to this comprehensive and focused volume—which both affirms and defends the complete truthfulness and full authority of the Bible while fully engaging the questions and challenges raised by modern and postmodern approaches to biblical interpretation. Informative and winsome, this impressive work will be immensely helpful for a generation of students, pastors, and scholars alike.”
—David S. Dockery, President, Union University

“Here is a collection of first-rate essays written by an international team of scholars, each affirming what must be called the historic Christian view of Holy Scripture—that the Bible, God’s Word written, is trustworthy and totally true in all that it affirms. Rather than simply rehearsing platitudes of the past, this volume advances the argument in the light of current debate and recent challenges. A magisterial undertaking to be reckoned with.”
—Timothy George, Founding Dean, Beeson Divinity School; General Editor, Reformation Commentary on Scripture

“In recent decades evangelicals have felt increasing pressure to abandon their high views of Scripture—a pressure that comes not only from scholars outside their circles, but also from some inside. This volume represents a welcome response to both, but especially to the latter. The contributors represent evangelical scholarship at its best as they address critical challenges with clarity and conviction, even while keeping their tone civil and charitable. This book will serve as a handy reference tool for students, pastors, and scholars who need a fair and responsible treatment of the evidence and clear declaration of their conclusions.”
—Daniel I. Block, Gunther H. Knoedler Professor of Old Testament, Wheaton College; author, The Gospel according to Moses: Theological and Ethical Reflections on the Book of Deuteronomy

“To the credit of its editors and authors, this book is not so much a reaction to the recent statements of Peter Enns and Kenton Sparks on biblical inerrancy, which called it forth, but an apologetic response to their works. To that effect, it is not a monument to the doctrine, but rather an advancement of its method and intent.”
—C. Hassell Bullock, Pastor, Warren Park Presbyterian Church, Cicero, Illinois; Franklin S. Dyrness Professor of Biblical Studies Emeritus, Wheaton College

“This is a timely work, both in the sense that it addresses an emerging issue—a loss of confidence in the historicity of the Bible—and in the sense that its authors are conversant in the current state of the debate. The topics discussed include all the essentials: the foundational theological issues, the major source-critical and historical-critical questions, and matters arising from archaeology. This book will be a valuable resource for both scholars and students.”
—Duane A. Garrett, Professor of Old Testament, The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary; author, A Modern Grammar for Biblical Hebrew and Amos: A Handbook on the Hebrew Text

“This is a brilliant response to evangelical skeptics such as Peter Enns and Kenton Sparks, and, in a broader sense, also to mainstream skeptics such as Philip Davies, Keith Whitelam, or Robert Coote. The list of contributors is a stellar lineup of first-rate scholars in their disciplines who defend the traditional, orthodox view of Scripture as historically reliable in sophisticated and convincing ways. Even those who might remain unconvinced of the book’s main argument will have to rethink their positions. I highly recommend this work.”
—David M. Howard Jr., Professor of Old Testament, Bethel University, St. Paul, Minnesota

Psalms at Morning Prayer (Day 18), Notes on Psalm 90

Psalm 90. No specific crisis is identified, but this is suitable for any time of lament when “the frailty of life stands in stark contrast to God’s eternal strength.” Format: vss.1-2, God’s eternal nature; vss.3-6, the brevity of life; vss.7-11, human sinfulness causes the dismal state of the human race; vss.12-17, prayer for wisdom and grace.

90.1. dwelling place. In contrast to the temporary and uncertain nature of human life is the eternity of God as the refuge for His people. God is the one to go to in times of lament and insecurity, for God is before all creation and time.

Westminster Larger Catechism. “Q. 7. What is God? A. God is a Spirit, in and of himself infinite in being, glory, blessedness, and perfection; all-sufficient, eternal, unchangeable, incomprehensible, everywhere present, almighty, knowing all things, most wise, most holy, most just, most merciful and gracious, long-suffering, and abundant in goodness and truth.

The hymn, “O God our Help in Ages Past,” gives the devotional aspect.

A marvellous rendition is offered at Westminster Abbey. The words are below the video link found at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=asrwlIxLeko

The words of this hymn are:
O[ God, our help in ages past,
Our hope for years to come,
Our shelter from the stormy blast,
And our eternal home.

Under the shadow of Thy throne
Thy saints have dwelt secure;
Sufficient is Thine arm alone,
And our defence is sure.

Before the hills in order stood,
Or earth received her frame,
From everlasting Thou art God,
To endless years the same.

Thy Word commands our flesh to dust,
Return, ye sons of men:
All nations rose from earth at first,
And turn to earth again.

A thousand ages in Thy sight
Are like an evening gone;
Short as the watch that ends the night
Before the rising sun.

The busy tribes of flesh and blood,
With all their lives and cares,
Are carried downwards by the flood,
And lost in following years.

Time, like an ever rolling stream,
Bears all its sons away;
They fly, forgotten, as a dream
Dies at the opening day.

Like flowery fields the nations stand
Pleased with the morning light;
The flowers beneath the mower’s hand
Lie withering ere ‘tis night.

Our God, our help in ages past,
Our hope for years to come,
Be Thou our God while life shall last,
And our eternal home.

Wikipedia gives us these few brief notes. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/O_God,_Our_Help_in_Ages_Past (accessed 18 Aug 2010).

“The hymn was originally part of The Psalms of David Imitated in the Language of the New Testament, published by Watts in 1719. In this book he paraphrased in Christian verse the entire psalter with the exception of twelve Psalms which he felt were unsuited for Christian usage.

The hymn is often sung at festive occasions in England.”

It remains a classic in the repertoire of Anglican hymns.

90.1. LORD, you have been our dwelling place in all generations. The Psalmist looks back to Eden, the flood, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Moses, the Conquest, the Judges, Samuel, Saul and the establishment of the monarch, David, Solomon, and the division of the monarchy with their respect kings. This is a summary of redemptive history and is laced with the merciful, gracious, lovingly kind, and abiding covenanted mercies.

We are reminded of the historic width and breadth of this covenant in the Westminster Confession of Faith, Chapter 7.5-6:

V. This covenant was differently administered in the time of the law, and in the time of the Gospel: under the law it was administered by promises, prophecies, sacrifices, circumcision, the paschal lamb, and other types and ordinances delivered to the people of the Jews, all fore-signifying Christ to come; which were, for that time, sufficient and efficacious, through the operation of the Spirit, to instruct and build up the elect in faith in the promised Messiah, by whom they had full remission of sins, and eternal salvation; and is called the Old Testament.
VI. Under the Gospel, when Christ, the substance, was exhibited, the ordinances in which this covenant is dispensed are the preaching of the Word, and the administration of the sacraments of Baptism and the Lord's Supper: which, though fewer in number, and administered with more simplicity, and less outward glory, yet, in them, it is held forth in more fullness, evidence, and spiritual efficacy, to all nations, both Jews and Gentiles; and is called the New Testament. There are not therefore two covenants of grace, differing in substance, but one and the same, under various dispensations.

The Psalmist evinces an understanding of the covenanted presence of God with His people.

90.3. return man to dust. Punishment for the first sin in Eden. Death now reigns throughout the human race. The entire creation groans, awaiting the day of redemption (Rom.8). In Gen.3.19, death is pictured as a return to dust from which God created man. The emphasis is on the brevity of life and the difficulties of life under the divine sentence.

90.4. thousand years. The contrast is between the brevity of human life and God’s eternity. Time is but fleeting with God, a thousand years but a breath. Augustine: “No one may imagine a thousand years are reckoned by God as one day, as if with God days were so long, when this is said in contempt of the extent of time; he adds, `and as a watch in the night:’ which only lasts three hours.”

90.4. are but yesterday when it is past. The fall in Eden is ever present to the eye of the eternal God. The final judgment is ever present to God (Westminster Confession of Faith, Chapter 33). Church and all other histories are but as a “yesterday,” a fleeting moment.

90.5-6. Human frailty and mortality are like a passing dream, forgotten by the morning. “Time carries life away like a raging flood sweeps away everything in its path. Life comes and goes; it is but “vanity of vanities” apart from God (Ecclesiastes). The Bible is a sure antidote to clinical narcissism.

90.7-11. It is not just brevity of life that brings despair. God’s anger over sin causes life many hardships and difficulties (Gen.3). Life is burdensome. There is toil, sweat of the brow, and havoc in creation. Life comes to end as a “sigh.”

90.7. by your wrath we are dismayed. “Dismayed” is the ESV. “Are afraid” is the Psalter version of the 1662 Book of Common Prayer. This gives another glimpse of God’s relationship to sin, even for the people of God.

Ex.34.6-7. And the LORD passed by before him, and proclaimed, The LORD, The LORD God, merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abundant in goodness and truth, Keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, and that will by no means clear the guilty; visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children, and upon the children's children, unto the third and to the fourth generation.

90.8. secret sins. Sins that are “hidden from our thinking unless it be revealed in the law of God.” (Chemnitz, Lutheran Study Bible, 935).

Hence, the daily prayer in the 1662 Book of Common Prayer:

Almighty and most merciful Father; We have erred, and strayed from thy ways like lost sheep. We have followed too much the devices and desires of our own hearts. We have offended against thy holy laws. We have left undone those things which we ought to have done; And we have done those things which we ought not to have done; And there is no health in us. But thou, O Lord, have mercy upon us, miserable offenders. Spare thou them, O God, who confess their faults. Restore thou them that are penitent; According to thy promises declared unto mankind in Christ Jesu our Lord. And grant, O most merciful Father, for his sake; That we may hereafter live a godly, righteous, and sober life, To the glory of thy holy Name. Amen.

In the Anglican prayer book is the studious awareness of: (1) secret desires and devices that give rise to actual sins and (2) the need to repent and unfeignedly repair to the Eternal God as the refuge of His people through all generations.

90.12. A series of requests or petitions ensue. First, that we may learn understanding and wisdom. Second, that we may use of days advisedly and with wisdom. Third, that we should take refuge in the eternal God, our bulwark and rock.

90.12-17. A prayer for God to turn His anger to stedfast love.

90.13-16. Return, O LORD! The prayer is to end the despair. The Psalmist longs to see God’s power. “Satisfy us in the morning with your stedfast love.” (vs.15) The “morning” is a time of renewal and refreshment.

90.14. Satisfy us in the morning with your stedfast love, that we may rejoice and be glad all our days. Notwithstanding the sorrows, brevity, and sins noted above, this prayer rehearses the understanding, belief and embrace of Leviticus, the sacrifices, the Feasts of worship and the Sabbath, the Day of Atonement, God’s holiness, God’s presence with Israel, God’s covenant of mercy, God’s forgiveness and kindness, and the Gospel of blood-atonement of propitiation and expiation. It is a prayer to be satisfied with the Gospel's assurances, comforts and love.

90.15. Prayer that life’s joys will balance out life’s sorrows. God’s answer is outlined and goes much further (Rom.8.28-39).

90.16. Let your work be shown to your servants. This is God’s work of salvation (Ps.96.2-3). The Psalmist seeks deliverance from crisis, famine, enemies, sickness, and injustice. It is prayer to understanding and enlightenment, as well as the actual deliverance. It is a call to doctrine, worship and pious living.

It is a call for the Light of lights, God of God, and the Light of the world (Jn.8.12) to “lighten our way.” From Evening Prayer of the 1662 Book of Common Prayer:

The Third Collect, for Aid against all Perils.

Lighten our darkness, we beseech thee, O Lord; and by thy great mercy defend us from all perils and dangers of this night; for the love of thy only Son, our Saviour, Jesus Christ. Amen.

Another suitable prayer and prayer for the LORD to feed and shew mercy. http://comfortablewords.com/comwords/prayers.php?searchtype=keywords&searchvalue=Wisdom (accessed 18 Aug 2010)

Knowledge From The Scriptures
Bede (c. 672-735)

And I pray Thee, loving Jesus, that as Thou hast graciously given me to drink in with delight the words of Thy knowledge, so Thou wouldst mercifully grant me to attain one day to Thee, the fountain of all wisdom and to appear forever before Thy face.