In Defense of the Bible: A Comprehensive Apologetic for the Authority of Scripture

448 Pages·2013·2.62 MB·English

by  Steven B. Cowan

“In Defense of the Bible is a substantive and scholarly work. It provides a clear and comprehensive
treatment of the critical issues related to the Holy Scriptures. This book will serve the church well.”
Daniel L. Akin, President, Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary
“The battle for inerrancy is not over! In this book, a bevy of first-rate scholars address the issue of
biblical truthfulness from a wide-ranging gamut of philosophical, methodological, textual, historical,
ethical, scientific, and theological challenges. Clear, concise, comprehensive; this book should be on
everyone’s shelf. I highly recommend it.”
David L. Allen, Dean of the School of Theology, Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary
“Never before our present time have forces throughout our culture so conspired to disregard and
discount the Scriptures as having any current value for our society. While the assault on our faith comes
from secular sources many of the times, it is sadly prevalent among the ranks of professing Christians. Paul
urged Timothy “to command certain people not to teach other doctrine or to pay attention to myths and
endless genealogies” or “promote empty speculations rather than God’s plan” (1 Tim 1:3–4). That is more
necessary today than ever before. Steven Cowan and Terry Wilder have provided a valuable document for
all of us to use in standing confidently on God’s inerrant Word. Every pastor and teacher should have this
volume at their fingertips! It is invaluable for use by the serious student of God’s Word.”
Jimmy Draper, President Emeritus, LifeWay Christian Resources
“In Defense of the Bible is an impressive, important, and timely collection of serious essays, providing a
faithful apologetic for the truthfulness of Holy Scripture. Steven Cowan and Terry Wilder are to be
commended for assembling a fine group of authors who have offered well-informed, readable, and
engaging presentations that will be both helpful and hopeful for students and church leaders alike. I trust the
book will receive a wide readership.”
David S. Dockery, President, Union University
“Professors Cowan and Wilder have assembled an impressive group of scholars to defend the rationality,
truth, and pertinence of the Holy Scriptures. This is needful since ‘the battle for the Bible’ will not end until
its Author returns (1 Pet 3:15; John 10:35; 2 Thess 2:8). This timely volume addresses nearly every
significant area of dispute on the authority of the Bible, thus repaying its reader with an increase in
knowledge concerning ‘the living and active’ Word of the Living God (Heb 4:12).”
Douglas R. Groothuis, Professor of Philosophy, Denver Seminary
“The assault parameters on the veracity of Scripture have changed direction of late, often emphasizing
textual corruption and editorial changes. Entering the fray is this excellent volume edited by Steve Cowan
and Terry Wilder. Divided into three parts with seventeen chapters, written by major, well-accomplished
authors, this text follows an orderly progression through the relevant topics. Further, this book features a
wide array of strong arguments, fascinating details, and fresh, valuable insights not often found elsewhere.
Altogether, it comprises an assortment of responses for those who wonder how these recent challenges may
be addressed. I strongly recommend this volume, especially as a textbook that presents an updated rejoinder
to the recent assertions.”
Gary R. Habermas, Distinguished Research Professor & Chair, Department of Philosophy,
Liberty University and Theological Seminary
“Cowan and Wilder have amassed a stellar team of contributors who produce a book that is at once deep
in coverage and wide in scope. This is an authoritative treatment of biblical inspiration and inerrancy, and I
highly recommend it.”
J. P. Moreland, Distinguished Professor of Philosophy, Talbot School of Theology, Biola
University
“In Defense of the Bible is much more than an apologetic for the authority of Scripture, as important as
such an undertaking always is. This important volume explains, for skeptics and believers alike, why the
Bible can and indeed should be accepted as the Word of God on which fallible human beings can rely for
information about God and the world, sin and salvation, truth and error, and about how we should live.
Readers will learn much about the viability of the historic Christian position that the Bible is the true and
inerrant Word of God. And they will be competently introduced into a wide variety of areas, including
philosophy, logic, linguistics, exegetical methodology, the history of interpretation, Israel’s conquest of the
promised land, Jesus’ miracles, the narratives of Jesus’ resurrection, ethics, slavery, gender relations,
science, biblical manuscripts, the canon of the Old and New Testament. Carefully argued, meticulously
documented, and lucidly and creatively written, In Defense of the Bible should be read by every pastor and
student, believer and skeptic, who is concerned about truth—the truth about God, the truth about the Bible,
and the truth about ourselves.”
Eckhard J. Schnabel, Mary F. Rockefeller Distinguished Professor of New Testament Studies,
Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary

In Defense of the Bible, Digital Edition
Based on Print Edition
In Defense of the Bible: A Comprehensive Apologetic for the Authority of Scripture
Copyright © 2013 Steven B. Cowan and Terry L. Wilder
Broadman & Holman Publishing Group
Nashville, Tennessee
All rights reserved
ISBN: 978-1-4336-7678-9
Dewey Decimal Classification: 239
Subject Heading: CHRISTIANITY—APOLOGETIC WORKS \ APOLOGETICS \ BIBLE
Unless otherwise noted, Scripture quotations are taken from the Holman Christian Standard Bible ®
Copyright © 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2009 by Holman Bible Publishers. Used by permission.
Scripture quotations marked ESV are from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version, copyright ©2001 by
Crossway Bibles, a division of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture citations marked NASB are from the New American Standard Bible. ©The Lockman Foundation,
1960, 1962, 1968, 1971, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995. Used by permission.
Scripture citations marked NIV are from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®.
Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan Publishing
House. All Rights Reserved.
Scripture citations marked NKJV are from The New King James Version, copyright © 1979, 1980, 1982,
Thomas Nelson, Inc., Publishers.
Scripture quotations marked NLT are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright ©
1996. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Wheaton, Illinois 60189. All rights reserved.
Scripture citations marked NRSV are from the New Revised Standard Version of the Bible, copyright ©
1989 by the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of Churches of Christ in the United
States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture citations marked RSV are from the Revised Standard Version of the Bible copyright 1946, 1952,
© 1971, 1973 by the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the U.S.A. and used by permission.
Dear friends, although I was eager to write you about our common salvation, I found it
necessary to write and exhort you to contend for the faith that was delivered to the saints once
for all.(Jude 3)
To Paige Patterson and Paul Pressler,
contenders for the faith.
Untold numbers of Christians are forever in your debt.
Contents
Abbreviations
Contributors
Introduction
Steven B. Cowan and Terry L. Wilder
Part One
Philosophical and
Methodological Challenges
Chapter One
Can and Would God Speak to Us? A Dialogue on Divine Speaking
R. Douglas Geivett
Chapter Two
What Does It Mean to Say that the Bible Is True?
Douglas K. Blount
Chapter Three
Higher Criticism: What Has It Shown?
Charles L. Quarles
Chapter Four
Can We Understand the Bible? 89
Richard R. Melick Jr.
Part Two
Textual and Historical Challenges
Chapter Five
Has the Old Testament Text Been Hopelessly Corrupted?
Paul D. Wegner
Chapter Six
Has the New Testament Text Been Hopelessly Corrupted?
Daniel B. Wallace
Chapter Seven
Does the Bible Contain Forgeries?
Terry L. Wilder
Chapter Eight
Is the Story of Jesus Borrowed from Pagan Myths?
Mary Jo Sharp
Chapter Nine
Is the Old Testament Historically Reliable?
Walter C. Kaiser Jr.
Chapter Ten
Is the New Testament Historically Reliable?
Paul W. Barnett
Chapter Eleven
Are There Contradictions in the Bible?
Douglas S. Huffman
Part Three
Ethical, Scientific, and Theological Challenges
Chapter Twelve
Does the Bible Condone Genocide?
Matthew Flannagan and Paul Copan
Chapter Thirteen
Does the Bible Condone Slavery and Sexism?
James M. Hamilton
Chapter Fourteen
Does the Bible Conflict with Science?
William A. Dembski
Chapter Fifteen
Are There Conflicting Theologies in the Bible?
Craig A. Blaising
Chapter Sixteen
Do We Have the Right Canon?
Paul D. Wegner, Terry L. Wilder, and Darrell L. Bock
Chapter Seventeen
Is the Bible the Word of God?
Steven B. Cowan
Abbreviations
AB Anchor Bible
BASOR Bulletin of the American Schools of Oriental Research
BECNT Baker Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament
CBH Cambridge History of the Bible
EBib Études bibliques
EKKNT Evangelisch-katholischer Kommentar zum Neuen Testament
ET English translations
GBS: OTS Guides to Biblical Scholarship Old Testament Series
IBS Irish Biblical Studies
ICC International Critical Commentary
JBL Journal of Biblical Literature
JETS Journal of the Evangelical Theological Society
JSNTSup Journal for the Study of the New Testament: Supplement Series
JSOTSup Journal for the Study of the Old Testament: Supplement Series
JTS Journal of Theological Studies
LCL Loeb Classical Library
NAC New American Commentary
NICOT New International Commentary on the Old Testament
NIVAC NIV Application Commentary
NovT Novum Testamentum
NSBT New Studies in Biblical Theology
NTS New Testament Studies
SBL Society of Biblical Literature
TOTC Tyndale Old Testament Commentaries
WBC Word Biblical Commentary
WUNT Wissenschaftliche Untersuchungen zum Neuen Testament
Contributors
Paul W. Barnett is associate in ancient history at Macquarie University,
Lecturer Emeritus at Moore College, and Teaching Fellow at Regent College.
He was formerly Anglican Bishop of North Sydney. He received his M.A. from
the University of Sydney, B.D. and Ph.D. from the University of London, and
Th.D. from the Australian College of Theology. He is the author of many works
on the New Testament including The Birth of Christianity: The First Twenty
Years; Paul, Missionary of Jesus; Finding the Historical Christ; The Second
Epistle to the Corinthians (New International Greek Testament Commentary);
and Is the New Testament Reliable?
Craig A. Blaising is executive vice president, provost, and professor of theology
at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. He earned his B.S. from the
University of Texas, Th.M. and Th.D. from Dallas Theological Seminary, and
Ph.D. from the University of Aberdeen. He is the author of several theological
publications, including co-author (with Darrell Bock) of Progressive
Dispensationalism, co-editor (with Darrell Bock) of Dispensationalism, Israel
and the Church: The Search for Definition, and (with Carmen S. Hardin) Psalms
1–50 (Ancient Christian Commentary on Scripture), and he is also a contributor
to Three Views on the Millennium and Beyond and Three Views on the Rapture:
Pretribulation, Prewrath, or Posttribulation.
Douglas K. Blount is professor of theological studies at Dallas Theological
Seminary. He received his B.A. and M.A. from Baylor University and M.A. and
Ph.D. from the University of Notre Dame. He has written several works in the
area of philosophy and theology. He co-edited (with Joseph Wooddell) The
Baptist Faith and Message 2000: Critical Issues in America’s Largest Protestant
Denomination, and he contributed articles to a number of books including Faith,
Film, and Philosophy: Big Ideas on the Big Screen; The Apologetics Study Bible;
The Lord of the Rings and Philosophy: One Book to Rule Them All; and God and
Time: Essays on the Divine Nature.
Darrell L. Bock is research professor of New Testament studies and professor
of spiritual development and culture at Dallas Theological Seminary. He earned
his B.A. from the University of Texas, Th.M. from Dallas Theological
Seminary, and Ph.D. from the University of Aberdeen. He is the author of
numerous articles and books on the New Testament including A Theology of
Luke and Acts: God’s Promised Program, Realized for All Nations (Biblical