contained between the covers of one Book, something that we can hold in our hands as English speaking laymen or elders. We are speaking of an entity which we can read daily for our own edification and read aloud to our families, friends, and Church. That "something" is known as the Authorized or King James Bible. We proclaim without reservation that it is the Holy Spirit guided, absolutely faithful English translation and rendering of God's original wording. As such, it speaks to us as final authority (in context) against which all matters must be measured and tested. It is "THE" Bible, the living Words of the Living God - it is the Word of God.

THE MODERN VIEW OF INERRANCY AMONG MOST CLERGY

The current vogue in conservative, fundamentalist scholarship will come as a great surprise to the layman. Today, most conservative Protestant clergymen have been brainwashed as mere youths in their late teens or early twenties at the various denominational Bible colleges and seminaries concerning the doctrine of inerrancy of Scripture. As a result, when most of these pastors etc., declare that they believe in the verbal, plenary inspiration and/or inerrancy (or some other similar declaration of faith in the Scriptures) what they really mean is that only the original autographa were inerrant. Now this is devastating, as we have no originals preserved for our use. But the situation is even worse than that, for neither do the vast majority of these men believe that the text contained in the original autographs has been preserved intact. That is, they have been taught as very young men that for hundreds of years many original readings have been lost to the Church.

They have also been taught, hence most subscribe to the teaching, that these lost readings are in the process (and have been so for the past one hundred years) of being restored back to their pristine original forms by the use of modern textual criticism techniques and methods. Thus, if we were to ask one of the scholars representing this school of thought whether he could show us the "infallible Word of the Living God", he would take us to his private study - wave his hand toward between 800-1200 books on his library shelves and reply that somewhere contained within all those volumes exists the Word of God. He would inform us that the problem was very complex, but all was well as he and other brilliant scholars were working on putting the puzzle back together. Besides, he would assure us, no major doctrinal issues are in doubt in the meantime.

If we pressed these men further to better define their position, we would discover that very few believe that there exists on the earth today between two covers such that it could be held in the hand - the Bible. That is - in their view, is that which they hold in their hand having the words "Holy Bible" inscribed thereon and read from the pulpit to their flocks, the inerrant Word of God? If they were honest, regardless of the version to which they personally subscribe, the answer would be "NO"!

When these men are interviewed by pulpit committees, deacons etc. and are asked whether they believe in the inerrancy of the Scriptures, they will invariably reply in the affirmative.1 However, this is a deception. The committee means something that they can hold in their hands, study, meditate over, and read to their children. As outlined previously, the potential local pastor being interviewed means something quite different. Thus a deliberate wicked misrepresentation of beliefs is being foisted upon the laity. The reason for the dishonesty is that most conservative congregations would not knowingly select men of so little faith in God's promises to preserve His Word to serve as their pastors. Truly of those the Scripture has spoken and is verified in them:

For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows (I Tim.6:10).

1 The candidate having been so instructed by his seminary professors - remember Semler's "accommodation" policy? (see Ch. VI., page 77)

115


continued...