The Fundamentals - Torrey - VI - Chapter 5 (Holy Scripture and modern negations)

Required reading
The Fundamentals edited by R. A. Torrey (Available from Amazon or free here) - Read Chapter 5 'Holy Scripture and modern negations'.

My summary
Now Orr wades in and affirms the Bible as a reliable document.

Firstly Orr explains that the original conception of the infallibility of the Bible lies in the Scriptures themselves, not the Roman Catholic church.

Then he makes a few comments about the positives and negatives of modern criticism, but primarily the negatives.

The rest of the chapter is then concerned with outlining a tenable doctrine of Holy Scripture based on the:
(i) structure of the Bible;
(ii) supernatural revelation;
(iii) supernatural inspiration.

What grabbed me
Not the best of chapters but I did like Orr's affirmation of the right to be 'critical' of the Bible: 'By all means, let criticism have its rights. Let purely lit- erary questions about the Bible receive full and fair discussion. Let the structure of books be impartially examined. If a reverent science has light to throw on the composition or authority or age of these books, let its voice be heard. If this thing is of God we cannot overthrow it; if it be of man, or so far as it is of man, or so far as it comes in conflict with the reality of things in the Bible, it will come to naught as in my opinion a great deal of it is fast coming today through its own excesses. No fright, therefore, need be taken at the mere word, "Criticism."'

God expects us to use our minds critically, not blindly following every person's claim of supernatural revelation. 

Thus we should carefully examine the claims of the Bible.  If it is indeed the word of God, it has nothing to fear from intellectual engagement.

Next week's reading
Read Chapter 6 'Christ and criticism'.

Now it's your turn
Please post your own notes and thoughts in the comments section below.