By definition, a high view of Scripture inheres in evangelicalism. However, there does not seem to be a uniform way to articulate an evangelical doctrine of Scripture. Taking up the challenge, Vincent Bacote, Laura Miguélez and Dennis Okholm present twelve essays that explore in depth the meaning of an evangelical doctrine of Scripture that takes seriously both the human and divine dimensions of the Bible. Selected from the presentations made at the 2001 Wheaton Theology Conference, the essays approach this vital subject from three directions. Stanley J. Grenz, Thomas Buchan, Bruce L. McCormack and Donald W. Dayton consider the history of evangelical thinking on the nature of Scripture.John J. Brogan, Kent Sparks, J. Daniel Hays and Richard L. Schultz address the nature of biblical authority. Bruce Ellis Benson, John R. Franke, Daniel J. Treier and David Alan Williams explore the challenge of hermeneutics, especially as it relates to interpreting Scripture in a postmodern context.Together these essays provide a window into current evangelical scholarship on the doctrine of Scripture and also advance the dialogue about how best to construe our faith in the Word of God, living and written, that informs not only the belief but also the practice of the church.



Laura Miguelez Quay is assistant professor of theology at Wheaton College in Wheaton, Illinois.







Vincent E. Bacote (Ph.D., Drew University) is assistant professor of theology at Wheaton College in Wheaton, Illinois. He is the author of The Spirit in Public Theology: Appropriating the Legacy of Abraham Kuyper (Baker) and a contributorto The Gospel in Black and White (IVP), The Dictionary for the Theological Interpretation of the Bible (Baker) and Best Christian Writing 2000 (HarperCollins). His work has also appeared in such publications as Re:generation Quarterly, Urban Mission, Christianity Today and Journal for Christian Theological Research.







Okholm (Ph.D., Princeton Theological Seminary) teaches in the department of theology and philosophy at Haggard School of Theology, Azusa Pacific University. Previously he was associate professor of theology at Wheaton College in Wheaton, Illinois.He is also an ordained minister in the Presbyterian Church (USA), and an oblate of a Benedictine monastery (Blue Cloud Abbey, SD). He has coauthored and coedited several books, including two collections of papers presented at the annual Wheaton Theology Conference and Welcome to the Family: An Introduction to Evangelical Christianity (all in partnership with Timothy R. Phillips).



Introduction



Part One: Scripture and the Evangelical Tradition

1. Nurturing the Soul, Informing the Mind: The Genesis of the Evangelical Scripture Principle - Stanley J. Grenz

2. Inerrancy as Inheritance? Conflicting Genealogies of Biblical Authority - Thomas Buchan

3. The Being of Holy Scripture: Karl Barth in Conversation with American Evangelical Criticism - Bruce L. McCormack

4. The Pietist Theological Critique ofBiblical Inerrancy - Donald W. Dayton



Part Two: Scripture and Evangelical Exegesis

5. Can I Have Your Autograph? Uses and Abuses of Textual Criticism in Formulating an Evangelical Doctrine of Scripture - John J. Brogan

6. The Sun Also Rises: Accommodation in Inscripturation and Interpretation - Kent Sparks

7. Jeremiah, the Septuagint, the Dead Sea Scrolls and Inerrancy: Just What Exactly Do We Mean by the "Original Autographs? - J. Daniel Hays

8. How Many Isaiahs Were There and What Does It Matter? Prophetic Inspiration in Recent Evangelical Scholarship - Richard L. Schultz



Part Three: Scripture and Evangelicals in the Postmodern Context

9. "Now I Would Not Have You Ignorant": Derrida, Gadamer, Hirsch and Husserl on Authors' Intentions - Bruce Ellis Benson

10. Scripture, Tradition and Authority: Reconstructing the Evangellical Conception of Sola Scriptura - John R. Franke

11. Canonical Unity and Commensurable Language: On Divine Action and Doctrine - Daniel J. Treier

12. Scripture, Truth and Our Postmodern Context - David Alan Williams



Contributors