Ep 57: The Chicago Statement on Biblical Inerrancy: A Critical Analysis

Ep 57: The Chicago Statement on Biblical Inerrancy: A Critical Analysis 

In this episode, I analyze the Chicago Statement on Biblical Inerrancy, a document drafted in 1978 and signed by over 200 evangelical scholars and church leaders. The Chicago Statement articulates the formal evangelical understanding of the doctrine of inerrancy, which states that the Bible is without error in everything that it affirms, including modern conceptions of history and science.

I argue that the doctrine of inerrancy as outlined by the Chicago Statement undermines both the authority of scripture and our ability to interpret the Bible historically. We will go line-by-line through the text and explore both the strengths and inconsistencies of this historical doctrinal summary. I will ultimately argue that the categories of authority, reliability, and inspiration are superior to inerrancy and allow us to faithfully interpret the Bible in its historical context without imposing upon it our modern intellectual ideas and categories.

Additional Resources

The Chicago Statement on Biblical Inerrancy: https://www.etsjets.org/files/documents/Chicago_Statement.pdf

The Chicago Statement Wikipedia Page: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chicago_Statement_on_Biblical_Inerrancy

The Scandal of the Evangelical Mind, Mark Noll:  https://a.co/d/9jYqzgo

Deserting the King, David Beldman: https://a.co/d/i87rl02

Jesus Remembered, James Dunn: https://a.co/d/3bIc5Px

My Episode on Biblical Interpretation: https://theprotestantlibertarianpodcast.buzzsprout.com/1978104/10705266

Timothy Price on Biblical Inerrancy: https://theprotestantlibertarianpodcast.buzzsprout.com/1978104/11181723

Conversation on Biblical Anarchy Podcast, Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tXjzzEoegXA&t=1082s

Daniel 3 Podcast, Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/nl/podcast/daniel-3-ep-92-protestantism-and-inerrancy-w/id1575925285?i=1000596725706

Daniel 3 Podcast, Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/3qxdj7JzZzsWdcKf19nJpQ?si=SJgHiIMBQEacTQQwC2OGXw