We are told the Bible is inspired by God but what constitutes being inspired? What in the New Testament suggests the writers were inspired? Was John inspired when he wrote Revelation or was he taking dictation? Was Luke inspired or was he making a record for his friend as he claimed he was doing and how about the rest of the New Testament?
Were the writers of the Old Testament inspired or taking dictation or reporting? What constitutes being inspired?
For Christians the nineteenth century was rough. In a span of about twenty years, three independent, technical and powerful forces converged to challenge the historical reliability of Genesis, not to mention other parts of the Old Testament. The conflicts that ensued are the very stuff of liberal-versus-conservative divide and continue today.
One of the three forces is natural sciences advance and its effect on how we understand our planet. In the eighteenth century, geology, showed by the fossil record the earth is millions upon millions of years old---far older than most people had taken for granted and far older than a literal interpretation of the Bible allows. Darwin's work in the nineteenth century followed on the heels of these discoveries. His theory of human origins further challenged the biblical view of the origin of life, to put it mildly.
The second force is developments in biblical studies known as biblical criticism; the academic study of the Bible that is marked mainly by a historical investigation into the date and authorship of biblical books.
Complementing the work of biblical criticism was a third factor, biblical archaeology; the growing field of archaeology of ancient Israel and the surrounding area.
The nineteenth century was without a doubt a pivotal moment in recent intellectual history with huge implications for a good many things, including how we read Genesis and thus also for the evolution discussion as well as the discussion of the authorship and dates of the Old Testament including the Pentateuch.
We all have a tendency to believe that the way things are they have always been but this is not necessarily correct and the Bible is no exception. As anyone who wants to remain relevant in their professional field must be aware of changes and discoveries in their field of expertise the same goes for Christians.
If Christians are to remain relevant we should not ignore Augustine of Hippo’s advice?
“In matters that are so obscure and far beyond our vision, we find in Holy Scripture passages which can be interpreted in very different ways without prejudice to the faith we have received. In such cases, we should not rush in headlong and so firmly take our stand on one side that, if further progress in the search for truth justly undermines this position, we too fall with it. That would be to battle not for teaching of Holy Scripture but our own, wishing its teaching to conform to ours, whereas we ought to wish ours to conform to that of Sacred Scripture"
One of the reasons the church loses a large number of its youth may be that when those youth find themselves in situations unlike those to which they are accustomed they find some of what they have been taught is not true. That should not be.
"It is difficult for men in high office to avoid the malady of self-delusion. They are always surrounded by worshippers. They are constantly and for the most part sincerely assured of their greatness."
---Calvin Coolidge, upon leaving the presidency following five and a half years
