Bob Thune 2004-03-29 2
From Summa Bergania
From : Bob Thune, Jr
Sent : Monday, March 29, 2004 4:54 PM
To : David Bergan
Subject : Re: Cross-examination
Yes, I have MS word, and your flow chart would be welcome.
Your 16 questions are a little overwhelming, partly because you've never told me what rules of debate you're willing to agree to! You've never stated whether the claims of the Bible to its own inspiration are "in" or "out"... you've never indicated what your hermeneutical assumptions are when you deal with the text... you've never told me what the rules of the game are or should be. I'm willing to play by your rules if you'll explain what they are.
Just some quick thoughts:
2) Can you find any reason in the text itself here in Matthew 12 why this statement has any bearing on inspiration? Or is this a Messianic statement, a claim to deity/authority? I'm not really excited about reading things into the text that aren't there.
3) Yes, these are both inspired, but inspired poetry is different than inspired didactic teaching because the genre is different. (and I guarantee you can find even more difficult stuff than this in the Psalms. Check out 137.) Also keep in mind the progressive nature of revelation - what comes later builds on what comes before. Leviticus is inspired by God, but it is not applied the same way to us as it was to OT Israel because of Hebrews 10. (Or maybe Leviticus is "more inspired" than Hebrews, and so women shouldn't be allowed in church while they are menstruating... but I digress. ;) )
4) Show me the contradiction???
Suggestion: go to a theological library near you (maybe Augustana?) and look for a book entitled "A General Introduction to the Bible" by Geisler and Nix. They will address at least a few of your questions (9,10,13,14) in a much more thorough manner than I can do over email. Then maybe we can discuss what you agree/disagree with in their treatment of these matters.
I can recommend some other resources that might make for good reading. Unless we sit down and talk in person, I'm going to have trouble going into enough detail on some of these things to satisfy you. Maybe next time you're in Omaha, we can meet?
Happy vacation, let's pick a question and pursue it when you get back,
Bob
