Inspiration: Hard Questions Honest Answers (Revised)

Is the Bible historically accurate?Are there any contradictions in the Bible?If we look too closely at the Bible might we find things that will destroy our faith?Should I be afraid that some new archeological discovery will prove the Bible wrong?How much freedom do I have to interpret the Bible?Combining history Scripture and an understanding of human nature Dr. Thompson takes on the difficult questions regarding the Bible and inspiration. He goes beyond the question of whether you can trust the Bible to ask whether you can trust yourself as you study.This unique study of inspiration uses internal evidence from the Bible text its history collection and transmission to look at the way in which God works through prophets and Bible writers. As an experiential lens he uses the experience of the Seventh-day Adventist community of which he is a part and its reception and use of Ellen White as Gods messenger. This provides an example of someone who produced an incredible volume of written material in her lifetime yet maintained a great humility and understood her own spiritual experience as one of growth.However Inspiration: Hard Questions: Honest Answers is not just for Seventh-day Adventists. The lessons drawn from the experience of one community have wide applicability as we look at a range of views on biblical interpretation experience tradition and contemporary claims of a prophetic word. All communities of faith would do well to ask the hard questions addressed in this book and to learn from the history and experience of others.Ultimately the author is addressing a question that comes to all of us: What is Gods will and how can I know it? Can I be certain? To find the answers we need Dr. Thompson reminds us We cannot just know Scripture we have to know God.In this Second Revised Edition you will find a new bridge chapter designed to invite readers outside of the Adventist tradition to join in the conversation as well as a number of minor updates and a set of beautiful photographs and drawings inspired by scripture prepared for this edition by Wanda Thompson. It is not enough to determine how the inspiration of scripture works as a theological tenet or a doctrinal point. Ultimately for Gods Word in scripture to accomplish its mission we must each be inspired by it as well.