Dogmatic Theology Vol 1 - Shedd - X - Chapter 3 (Credibility of the Scriptures)

Required reading
Dogmatic Theology Vol 1 by William G.T. Shedd (Available from Amazon or free here) - Read Chapter 3 Credibility of the Scriptures.

My summary

Today Shedd defends the credibility of the Scriptures.

Firstly he gives proofs of the credibility of the New Testament from:

(i) the excellence of the doctrines;

(ii) the character of Jesus Christ;

(iii) the effects in the history of the world;

(iv) the miracles.

Next Shedd refutes the principal theories antagonistic to the credibility of the New Testament:

(i) the theory that the four gospels are the productions of imposters;

(ii) the mythical theory.

Then Shedd is careful to point out that this evidence for the credibility of the New Testament can only produce a historical faith, not a saving faith.

To finish, Shedd teaches us that the credibility of the Old Testament is proved by the New Testament.

What grabbed me

Another excellent chapter.

I was pleased to see the affirmation that the Scriptures can only produce saving knowledge by the work of the Holy Spirit, not by reason: 'But while there is this amount and kind of evidence for the credibility of the New Testament, it must be noticed that it can produce only a historical faith. It cannot produce saving faith; that higher species of confidence which accompanies salvation. The scripture applies here, "The natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them because they are spiritually discerned," 1 Cor. 2: 14. In accordance with this statement, the Westminster confession (I. v.), after asserting that "we may be moved to a high and reverent esteem of scripture, by the testimony of the church, the heavenliness of the matter, the efficacy of the doctrine, the majesty of the style, the consent of all the parts, and the scope of the whole," adds that " our full persuasion and assurance of the infallible truth and divine authority thereof, is from the inward work of the Holy Spirit bearing witness by and with the word in our hearts." Similarly, Calvin (Inst. I. viii. 13) remarks that "the scripture will be effectual to produce the saving knowledge of God, only where the certainty of it shall be founded on the internal persuasion of the Holy Spirit. Those persons betray great folly who wish it to be demonstrated to infidels that the scripture is the word of God, which cannot be known without faith."'

Amen.

Next week's reading

Read Chapter 4 The Canonicity of Scripture.

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