The Authenticity, Inspiration, And Canonical Authority Of The Holy Scriptures (1838) By Archibald Al

The Still Waters Revival Books video book summary for "Evidences of the Authenticity

, Inspiration, and Canonical Authority of the Holy Scriptures" (1838) by Archibald Alexander

"Evidences of the Authenticity, Inspiration, and Canonical Authority of the Holy Scriptures" (1838) by Archibald Alexander is a book of 390 pages and is an example of the old Princeton apologetic -- having been written by one of the early Princeton theologians. Human reason is accorded a major role in this form of apologetic.

Along this line Alexander writes, "In receiving therefore the most mysterious doctrines of revelation, the ultimate appeal is to reason. Not to determine whether she could have discovered these truths; not to declare whether considered in themselves they appear probable; but to decide whether it is not more reasonable to believe what God speaks, than to confide in our own crude and feeble conceptions" (p. 11).

The first part of the book thus argues for the reasonableness of Christianity in general, and Christian beliefs such as revelation, miracles, and the inspiration of the Bible in particular. The second part of the book deals with the canon of Scripture. It discusses how the books of the Old and New Testament were determined to be authentic, and why the Apocryphal books are not to be accepted as canonical. Regarding the New Testament, the following is noted: "Three methods of determining what books of the New Testament are canonical, have been adopted by different persons. The first is, the authority of the Church, that is, the Church of Rome, which arrogates this authority to herself. The second is, internal evidence, which some have deemed sufficient, without the aid of external testimony. The third is, to refer to historical testimony, as has been done in regard to the Old Testament" (p. 337).

Alexander, of course, rejects the first method, and is cautious about the second. For him, historical testimony is the key to determining which New Testament books are canonical. "While, therefore, internal evidence ought not to be rejected, but may afford much light as an auxiliary source of evidence, our principal reliance must be upon historical testimony: and it is a matter of thankfulness that this is so complete, as to leave little more to be desired for the satisfaction of every impartial inquirer" (p. 338).

There are many other topics (like the preservation of the text, prophecies, etc.) which Alexander deals with, insuring that Christians investigating the development of the canon will find much of interest here.

by: Still Waters

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