Customer Reviews

Scripture Alone: The Evangelical Doctrine (R. C. Sproul Library) (R. C. Sproul Library)

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**** Is the Bible trustworthy? That has been an issue for many years, but issues such as the increasingly hot debates over creation vs. Darwinianism, or whether or not recent bestsellers have any validity have made it more important to be sure that the Bible is what it claims, the word of God. In a scholarly, yet conversational style, this book examines why it is important to know where you stand on that point of doctrine and why the Bible can be trusted. The explanation of complex terms and the historical background of the debate will broaden readers' acumen in multiple ways. Granted, it is not light reading, but it is worth your time. ****

Reviewed by Amanda Killgore, Freelance Reviewer.

Before I read this book, I had my doubts about the Evangelical doctrine of scriptural inerrancy. It seemed hard for me to affirm it in the face of so many difficult passages and apparent errors and contradictions in the Bible. But Sproul has done an excellent job defending this central Christian belief. He examines the alternatives--such as "limited" inerrancy and the Neo-orthodox view that the Bible "becomes" the Word of God through the individual's encounter--and shows where they fall short. He also explains exactly what is meant by the word "inerrancy," pointing out that it does not necessarily require a particular interpretation of Scripture (e.g., young-earth creationism, dispensationalism, etc.). He admits that there are difficult passages in the Bible (though not as many as the critics would have us think), but recent scholarship has resolved many of them, and future insights may resolve even more. Finally, he also emphasizes that, although belief in the inerrancy of Scripture is very important to a sound theology, it is not necessary for salvation.

This book also contains the full text of the 1978 Chicago Statement on Biblical Inerrancy, with explanations of each article. I would highly recommend it to any Christian (or non-Christian) who wishes to better understand the Protestant teaching of Sola Scriptura.

One thing I love about RC Sproul is he tells it like it is. If you want to know whether something passes the reformed orthodoxy text, see what Sproul says about it. More than that, he writes in a manner that's easily understandable, engaging, intelligent, and warm. I really think his "heart" gets thru to the reader (speaking metaphorically). Considering the all important nature of theology and scripture as it's authoritative basis, I would've hoped that RC provided more of an apologetic for the authority of scripture, beyond something that seemed to remind me of a sort of Van Tillian approach. Not believing in the authority of scripture myself, I was interested in seeing how RC would support it. I felt the general thrust of the book was less about making such a case, and more about integrating the concept theologically within the overall reformed structure. Under most circumstances I wouldn't consider that a problem, but considering the nature of the claim of authority I would've expected a more thorough support.

Concerning a Protestant defense of the doctrine of scripture alone, this is as good as it gets. Dr. Sproul is a favorite theologian of mine but I must say this is one of his least convincing works. Ironically, a former acolyte of Dr. Sproul's does a much better job of a biblical defense for Sola Scriptura in his first lecture of the course, The Bible Alone. Dr. Hahn's course is far more convincing in the first lecture than Dr. Sproul's book or any other work I have read on the topic. But, be forewarned, Dr. Hahn proceeds in those lectures to demonstrate how even his most biblically based of all cases is full of problems. The wise student would do well to compare this with Dr. Hahn's lectures for a better understanding of this topic.

Dr. Sproul's fellow evangelicals like Dr. D. H. Willams and Dr. Craig Allert would also have issues with Dr. Sproul's work. See either Tradition, Scripture, and Interpretation: A Sourcebook of the Ancient Church (Evangelical Ressourcement: Ancient Sources for the Church's Future) or A High View of Scripture? The Authority of the Bible and the Formation of the New Testament Canon (Evangelical Ressourcement: Ancient Sources for the Church's Future).

Scripture alone, as a principle, also touches on the issue of the duetero-canonical books. After all, if our sole guide is scripture then we had better find out what scripture consists of. God did not give us an inspired table of contents for the canon. See more on this in Why Catholic Bibles Are Bigger: The Untold Story of the Lost Books of the Protestant Bible. Readers may also wish to round their education by way of Mark Shea's little book on the topic, By What Authority?: An Evangelical Discovers Catholic Tradition.

This is an important topic not to be taken lightly. It is important to make a decision in this matter and Dr. Sproul is right to offer the reformed position to the marketplace of ideas. Read what Dr. Sproul has to say but do not stop there. Study to show yourself approved (2 Tim 2:15).

I bought this shrink-wrapped from a local book store. Had I been able to flip through, I probably would have passed it by. As Clem says in his review, this collection of Dr. Sproul's writings is not an apologetic of the doctrine of Sola Scriptura, but rather "more about integrating the concept theologically within the overall reformed structure." I agree 100% with this assessment.

The writing is - as always - superb. Dr. Sproul is a learned and intelligent man and it certainly shows! I did find this book to be a bit of a disappointment, however, solely because I expected something different.

So-so. If you can get it used or from the library, do so!

I was excited to look into the pages in this book, and became very dissapointed on the authors approach. He refrences many writings and philosophies and sounds more like a catholic reading than a fundamentalist. I believe that the words in the bible are protected by the holy spirit but the interpretation is what the heart of the matter should be. He gives no evidence that the bible is the sole rule of truth. according to 1 time 3:15 the church is the pillar of truth. And if the holy spirit protects the truth, then the holy spirit must protect the church. Also if two people have a dissagrement the bible clearly states that the church is the arbitrator and not the bible mt 18:17. Also in titus 2:15 paul charges him to "exhort and reprove with all authority".

If Jesus is the truth, and the holy spirit is the protector of truth, then if Jesus grants authoritative truth to the church, the church must also possess all truth. Just because something is inspired doesnt mean it is granted authority over all truth.