Author: Achtemeier, Paul J. Title:  Inspiration and authority. Publisher:  Peabody, Mass: Hendrickson Pubs, 1999

LaFosse, Mona Tokarek

English

Wilfrid Laurier University

ConsensusVolume 28Issue 2 Spirituality and Health Article 2011-25-2002Inspiration and Authority: Nature and Function ofChristian ScriptureMona Tokarek LaFosseFollow this and additional works at: http://scholars.wlu.ca/consensusThis Book Reviews is brought to you for free and open access by Scholars Commons @ Laurier. It has been accepted for inclusion in Consensus by anauthorized editor of Scholars Commons @ Laurier. For more information, please contact scholarscommons@wlu.ca.Recommended CitationLaFosse, Mona Tokarek (2002) "Inspiration and Authority: Nature and Function of Christian Scripture," Consensus: Vol. 28 : Iss. 2 ,Article 20.Available at: http://scholars.wlu.ca/consensus/vol28/iss2/20Book Reviews 129 I heartily recommend The Dictionmy of Historical Theology. It will prove an indispensable source for those needing an introduction and orientation to unfamiliar names and movements that they encounter in footnotes in other texts. For the ambitious reader, here is a spade for deeper digging. Allen G. Jorgenson St. James' Lutheran Church Mannheim, Ontario Inspiration and Authority: Nature and Function of Christian Scripture Paul J. Achtemeier Peabody, MA: Hendrickson, 1999 166 pages, $16.50 Softcover For Christians who are grappling with the "nature and function" of the Bible in the modern world, particularly with a way to think about how Scripture relates to God's activity in believers' lives, Achetemeier provides a solid, accessible starting point for consideration. Unconvinced by the doctrine of "factual inerrancy," but from an admittedly conservative point of view, Achtemeier evaluates both the "liberal" focus on the human origins of Scripture and the "conservative" insistence on God's role. He questions the assumptions driving each view. In a thoughtful, intelligible and pragmatic manner, he demonstrates how the benefits of critical scholarship can contribute positively to a contemporary Christian understanding of the inspiration of Scripture. Yet, he confirms that Scripture always points beyond itself to the reality of the living God. Achtemeier develops a model in which the locus of inspiration , rather than being in several inspired individuals or in the words themselves, is in a dynamic, long-tenn, Spirit-led process. In the ancient world, the process involved God's interaction with the community of faith, which led to the development of Scriptural texts and the formation of the canon. The process of inspiration continues into the present because the content of the Bible offers a transformative experience to Published by Scholars Commons @ Laurier, 2002130 Consensus believers in Christian community today. As Achtemeier articulates, "as new situations develop, old traditions are used in new and different ways" (p.69). Many of the original insights of Achtemeier's first edition of this book (published under a slightly different title in 1980) are still relevant today. However, in his new chapter on Scriptural authority, Achtemeier fails to engage some important ideas that can affect how we understand the function of Scripture. Achtemeier proposes that the authority of Scripture derives from the fact that Scripture points beyond itself to God. Since God's actions and will are consistent with Scripture, no experience outside of the content of Scripture can be affirmed as being from God. Perhaps, the implications of this thesis are more complex than Achtemeier has been willing to admit. First, believers in different historical and cultural settings will bring different experiences to their readings of the content of Scripture, and their readings may differ (and have differed). Achtemeier notes that the claim to hear God's voice must always be subordinate to the biblical witness or else it becomes subjective. However, he does not acknowledge that hermeneutics are always involved in interpreting the biblical witness, and thus involves some element of subjectivity, especially when parts of Scripture can be interpreted in different ways. Certainly there are better and worse interpretations of texts, and God is active in the process, but the human element can create many complexities. In addition, because "authority" necessarily occurs in a community context, one may ask: who is "allowed" (given authority) to interpret the Scriptures within the community? Overall, Achtemeier presents a thoughtful reflection on how Christians can retain the importance of the inspiration of Scripture without adhering to a dogmatic statement of inerrancy. Though some consideration of power issues in human community and the tension between Scriptural and cultural norms would have made his discussion on authority more realistic and up-to-date, this book provides a solid, comprehensible starting place for considering the "nature and function of Christian Scripture" today. Mona Tokarek LaFosse University of Toronto http://scholars.wlu.ca/consensus/vol28/iss2/20

Inspiration and Authority: Nature and Function of Christian Scripture

Scholars Commons

Consensus
Volume 28
Issue 2 Spirituality and Health Article 20
11-25-2002
Inspiration and Authority: Nature and Function of
Christian Scripture
Mona Tokarek LaFosse
Follow this and additional works at: http://scholars.wlu.ca/consensus
This Book Reviews is brought to you for free and open access by Scholars Commons @ Laurier. It has been accepted for inclusion in Consensus by an
authorized editor of Scholars Commons @ Laurier. For more information, please contact scholarscommons@wlu.ca.
Recommended Citation
LaFosse, Mona Tokarek (2002) "Inspiration and Authority: Nature and Function of Christian Scripture," Consensus: Vol. 28 : Iss. 2 ,
Article 20.
Available at: http://scholars.wlu.ca/consensus/vol28/iss2/20
Book Reviews 129 
I heartily recommend The Dictionmy of Historical Theology. It 
will prove an indispensable source for those needing an introduction 
and orientation to unfamiliar names and movements that they encounter 
in footnotes in other texts. For the ambitious reader, here is a spade for 
deeper digging. 
Allen G. Jorgenson 
St. James' Lutheran Church 
Mannheim, Ontario 
Inspiration and Authority: Nature and Function of Christian 
Scripture 
Paul J. Achtemeier 
Peabody, MA: Hendrickson, 1999 
166 pages, $16.50 Softcover 
For Christians who are grappling with the "nature and function" of 
the Bible in the modern world, particularly with a way to think about 
how Scripture relates to God's activity in believers' lives, Achetemeier 
provides a solid, accessible starting point for consideration. Unconvinced 
by the doctrine of "factual inerrancy," but from an admittedly 
conservative point of view, Achtemeier evaluates both the "liberal" 
focus on the human origins of Scripture and the "conservative" insistence 
on God's role. He questions the assumptions driving each view. In a 
thoughtful, intelligible and pragmatic manner, he demonstrates how the 
benefits of critical scholarship can contribute positively to a contemporary 
Christian understanding of the inspiration of Scripture. Yet, he confirms 
that Scripture always points beyond itself to the reality of the living 
God. 
Achtemeier develops a model in which the locus of inspiration , 
rather than being in several inspired individuals or in the words 
themselves, is in a dynamic, long-tenn, Spirit-led process. In the ancient 
world, the process involved God's interaction with the community of 
faith, which led to the development of Scriptural texts and the formation 
of the canon. The process of inspiration continues into the present 
because the content of the Bible offers a transformative experience to 
Published by Scholars Commons @ Laurier, 2002
130 Consensus 
believers in Christian community today. As Achtemeier articulates, "as 
new situations develop, old traditions are used in new and different 
ways" (p.69). 
Many of the original insights of Achtemeier's first edition of this 
book (published under a slightly different title in 1980) are still relevant 
today. However, in his new chapter on Scriptural authority, Achtemeier 
fails to engage some important ideas that can affect how we understand 
the function of Scripture. Achtemeier proposes that the authority of 
Scripture derives from the fact that Scripture points beyond itself to 
God. Since God's actions and will are consistent with Scripture, no 
experience outside of the content of Scripture can be affirmed as being 
from God. Perhaps, the implications of this thesis are more complex 
than Achtemeier has been willing to admit. First, believers in different 
historical and cultural settings will bring different experiences to their 
readings of the content of Scripture, and their readings may differ (and 
have differed). Achtemeier notes that the claim to hear God's voice 
must always be subordinate to the biblical witness or else it becomes 
subjective. However, he does not acknowledge that hermeneutics are 
always involved in interpreting the biblical witness, and thus involves 
some element of subjectivity, especially when parts of Scripture can be 
interpreted in different ways. Certainly there are better and worse 
interpretations of texts, and God is active in the process, but the human 
element can create many complexities. In addition, because "authority" 
necessarily occurs in a community context, one may ask: who is 
"allowed" (given authority) to interpret the Scriptures within the 
community? 
Overall, Achtemeier presents a thoughtful reflection on how 
Christians can retain the importance of the inspiration of Scripture without 
adhering to a dogmatic statement of inerrancy. Though some 
consideration of power issues in human community and the tension 
between Scriptural and cultural norms would have made his discussion 
on authority more realistic and up-to-date, this book provides a solid, 
comprehensible starting place for considering the "nature and function 
of Christian Scripture" today. 
Mona Tokarek LaFosse 
University of Toronto 
http://scholars.wlu.ca/consensus/vol28/iss2/20


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Inspiration and Authority: Nature and Function of Christian Scripture

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