The following are some books we recommend on the Doctrine of Scripture
Michael Kruger, Canon Revisited: Establishing the Origins and Authority of the New Testament Books (Wheaton, IL: Crossway, 2013). This study of the New Testament canon and its authority looks deeper than the traditional surveys of councils and creeds, mining the biblical text itself for direction in understanding what the original authors and audiences believed the canon to be. Canon Revisited distinguishes itself by placing a substantial focus on the theology of canon as the context within which the historical evidence is evaluated and assessed. In effect, this work successfully unites both the theology and the historical development of the canon, ultimately serving as a practical defense for the authority of the New Testament books. Kruger helps Christians see why thety have solid justification for why they believe that the Protestant canon is the true word of God.
D. A. Carson, The Enduring Authority of the Christian Scriptures Hardcover, Eerdmans 2016
thirty-seven first-rate evangelical scholars present a thorough study of biblical authority and a full range of issues connected to it. Recognizing that Scripture and its authority are now being both challenged and defended with renewed vigor, editor D. A. Carson assigned the topics that these select scholars address in the book. After an introduction by Carson to the many facets of the current discussion, the contributors present robust essays on relevant historical, biblical, theological, philosophical, epistemological, and comparative-religions topics. To conclude, Carson answers a number of frequently asked questions about the nature of Scripture, cross-referencing these FAQs to the preceding chapters.
John Piper, A Peculiar Glory: How the Christian Scriptures Reveal Their Complete Truthfulness, (Wheaton, IL: Crossway 2016)
God has provided a way for all people, not just scholars, to know that the Bible is the Word of God. John Piper has devoted his life to showing us that the glory of God is the object of the soul’s happiness. Now, his burden in this book is to demonstrate that this same glory is the ground of the mind’s certainty.
God’s peculiar glory shines through his Word. The Spirit of God enlightens the eyes of our hearts. And in one self-authenticating sight, our minds are sure and our hearts are satisfied. Justified certainty and solid joy meet in the peculiar glory of God.
James K. Hoffmeier and Dennis R. Magary, Do Historical Matters Matter to Faith: A Critical Appraisal of Modern and Postmodern Approaches to Scripture (Wheaton, IL: Crossway, 2012). This is a collection of articles written in response to a recent book by Kenton Sparks entitled, God’s Word in Human Words. Sparks argues that although much of the Old Testament is not historically accurate, God is still able to speak his word to his people through the Bible. In response, the authors of Do Historical Matters Matter to Faith argue for the historical accuracy of the Old Testament while also demonstrating that Sparks does not understand rightly the nature of Scripture.
G. K. Beale, The Erosion of Inerrancy in Evangelicalism: Responding to New Challenges to Biblical Authority (Wheaton, IL: Crossway, 2008). In this book, Beale evaluates Examines recent postmodern efforts to redefine the traditional evangelical view of scriptural authority and counters with sound logic that supports inerrancy. Due to recent popular challenges to evangelical doctrine, biblical inerrancy is a topic receiving an increasing amount of attention among theologians and other scholars. Here G. K. Beale attempts vigorously and even-handedly to examine the writings of one leading postmodernist, Peter Enns, whose writings challenge biblical authority. In support of inerrancy, Beale presents his own set of challenges to the postmodern suppositions of Enns and others. How can the Bible be historically inaccurate while still serving as the authoritative word on morality and salvation? Beale concludes that it cannot, and his work will aid all who support biblical inerrancy in defending their position against postmodern attacks. This is an issue that affects the entire body of Christ.
John Frame, The Doctrine of the Word of God (Phillipsburg, NJ: P & R, 2010). This is a full doctrine of Scripture that examines all the major doctrinal concerns including inspiration, inerrancy, authority, canonicity, the transmission and clarity of Scripture, the adequacy of human language, and the Bible’s relationaship to historic creeds and confessions. This fourth and final volume in the Theology of Lordship series discusses God's Word in modern theology and how God's Word comes to us as his controlling power, authority, and personal presence. Very good!
Peter A. Lillback and Richard B. Gaffin, The Word is Still Truth: Essential Writings on the Doctrine of Scripture from the Reformation to Today (Phillipsburg, NJ: P & R, 2013). Contributions include writings from Francis Turretin, Jonathan Edwards, Herman Bavinck, B. B. Warfield, J. Gresham Machen, E. J. Young, to mention only a few. Topics include discussions on biblical authority, hermeneutics, harmonization, the question of oral tradition, nature’s relationship to Scripture, and other vital subjects related to the doctrine of Scripture. This new collection of Reformed thinkers' writings from the Reformation to today brings together key documents on the inerrancy of Scripture in one readable volume. One of the hallmarks of Westminster Theological Seminary since its beginning in 1929 has been a high view of Scripture that reflects the historic Reformed theological and confessional tradition. Thy Word Is Still Truth confirms that Westminster still holds this high view.
D. A. Carson, Collected Writings on Scripture (Wheaton, IL: Crossway, 2010). God’s Word has always had enemies, but in recent years the inspiration and authority of Scripture have been attacked with renewed vigor. Respected scholar D. A. Carson has written widely on the nature of Scripture over the past thirty years, and here presents a timely collection of his work in two parts.
Paul D. Wegner, The Journey from Texts to Translations (Grand Rapids: Baker, 1999). Though written thousands of years ago, the Bible continues to fascinate and guide readers today. This book explains how the Bible that we use came to be in its present form. Wegner introduces the Bible and its arrangement, describes how the various books were collected into a single canon, examines how the Bible was passed from one generation to the next, explores how and why early versions were produced, and discusses the myriad of English translations. Numerous charts, photos, and illustrations are included.
Kevin DeYoung, Taking God at His Word (Wheaton, IL: Crossway, 2014). Can we trust the Bible completely? Is it sufficient for our complicated lives? Can we really know what it teaches? With his characteristic wit and clarity, award-winning author Kevin DeYoung has written an accessible introduction to the Bible that answers important questions raised by both Christians and non-Christians. This book will help you understand what the Bible says about itself and encourage you to read and believe what it says—confident that it truly is God's Word.
John Hannah, ed., Inerrancy and the Church (Chicago: Moody, 1984). The issue of inerrancy is not the concern of twentieth-century minds exclusively - the authority of the Bible has been a tenet of the church since its inception. This in-depth investigation into the writings of key church Fathers, Scholastics, Reformers and later thinkers examines the history of the controversy over biblical inerrancy to give perspective to our thinking. Authors include John Hannah, J. I. Packer, and Robert Preus.
Vern Poythress, Inerrancy and Worldview: Answering Modern Challenges to the Bible (Wheaton, IL: Crossway, 2012). In Inerrancy and Worldview, Dr. Vern Poythress offers the first worldview-based defense of scriptural inerrancy, showing how worldview differences create or aggravate most perceived difficulties with the Bible. His positive case for biblical inerrancy implicitly critiques the worldview of theologians like Enns, Sparks, Allert, and McGowan. Poythress, who has researched and published in a variety of fields— including science, linguistics, and sociology—deals skillfully with the challenges presented in each of these disciplines. By directly addressing key examples in each field, Poythress shows that many difficulties can be resolved simply by exposing the influence of modern materialism.
Vern Poythress, Inerrancy and the Gospels: A God-Centered Approach to the Challenges of Harmonization (Wheaton, IL: 2012). Responding to the questions surrounding the gospel narratives, New Testament scholar Vern Poythress contributes a worthy case for inerrancy in the gospels and helps readers understand basic principles for harmonization. He also tackles some of the most complicated exegetical problems, showing the way forward on passages that have perplexed many, such as the centurion's servant, the cursing of the fig tree, and more.
Herman Bavinck, Reformed Dogmatics, Vol. 1: Prolegomena (Grand Rapids: Baker Academic, 2003). In several sections of Reformed Dogmatics Bavinck provides weighty arguments from the Scriptures themselves why we can believe the Bible is inspired by God, inerrant, and fully authoritative. Many sections have an abundance of biblical references. In partnership with the Dutch Reformed Translation Society, Baker Academic is proud to offer the first volume of Herman Bavinck's complete Reformed Dogmatics in English for the very first time. Bavinck's approach throughout is meticulous. As he discusses the standard topics of dogmatic theology, he stands on the shoulders of giants such as Augustine, John Calvin, Francis Turretin, and Charles Hodge. This masterwork will appeal to scholars and students of theology, research and theological libraries, and pastors and laity who read serious works of Reformed theology.
J. I. Packer, Fundamentalism and the Word of God (Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1992). In this classic book, Packer defends the historical understanding of the inspiration and inerrancy of Scripture against controversies in the 1950s. The material in this book is still very relevant and helpful.
B. B. Warfield, The Inspiration and Authority of Scripture (Philadelphia: Presbyterian and Reformed, 1948). If the Bible is written by fallible human beings, how can its words convey divine revelation? Perhaps the greatest challenge of Warfield’s lifetime was the modernist skepticism of biblical inspiration and authority. Modern biblical scholars showed that textual and linguistic analysis proved the human authorship of the Bible, and from there proceeded to strip miracles of their power, texts of their authenticity, and God of his historical intervention in the lives of individuals. Warfield responded to modernist and higher biblical critics by showing that intellect of the biblical authors not only remained fully operational and engaged, but that God also worked through human words and texts to convey divine revelation. In perhaps his most famous work, Warfield defends with scholarly detail and rigor the doctrines of inspiration, inerrancy, and biblical authority. This book belongs on every Christian’s shelf and is available as a free eBook on Monergism
Timothy Paul Jones, Misquoting Truth: A Guide to the Fallacies to Bart Ehrman’s ‘Misquoting Jesus’ (Downer’s Grove, IN: InterVarsity, 2007). Were the New Testament documents widely distorted by copyists? Can we in fact have no idea what was in the originals? Do we have no hope of knowing what eyewitnesses said and thought? Are other documents left out of the New Testament better sources for understanding early Christianity? While readily conceding that Ehrman has many of his facts straight, pastor and researcher Timothy Paul Jones argues that Ehrman is far too quick to jump to false and unnecessary conclusions. In clear, straightforward prose, Jones explores and explains the ins and outs of copying the New Testament, why lost Christianities were lost, and why the Christian message still rings true today.
Wayne Grudem, C. John Collins, and Thomas Schreiner, Understanding Scripture: An Overview of the Bible’s Origin, Reliability, and Meaning (Wheaton, IL: Crossway, 2014). Covering a diverse range of essential subjects, including how to read the Bible well and why it is reliable, these eighteen essays delve into specific topics such as world religions, canon, and archaeology. Pastors, lay leaders, students, and other Christians engaged in studying God’s Word will benefit from this collection, written by notable contributors, including J. I. Packer, John Piper, Daniel B. Wallace, and Vern Poythress.Useful as both a general overview of the Bible and as a tool for more specific reference and training, this book will help you grow in your understanding of Scripture and your ability to apply the Bible to life.
D. A. Carson and John D. Woodbridge, eds., Scripture and Truth (Grand Rapids: Baker, 1992). From a biblical, historical, or theological perspective each essay examines a challenge to belief in the integrity and reliability of Scripture. What emerges from these essays is a full-orbed restatement of this evangelical doctrine.
Sinclair Ferguson, From the Mouth of God: Trusting, Reading, and Applying the Bible (Edinburgh: Banner of Truth, 2014). This accessible little book is aimed at ordinary Christians who may not have a lot of experience in the doctrine of Scripture or in studying the Bible for themselves. Ferguson takes the reader through basic doctrines like inspiration and inerrancy, while also helping his readers understand how to interpret the Bible.