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Those who would argue for the infallibility or the…

“Those who would argue for the infallibility or the inerrancy of scripture logically should also claim the same infallibility for the churches in the fourth and fifth centuries, whose decisions and historical circumstances left us with our present canon. This is apparently what would be required if…” quote by Lee M. McDonald
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““Those who would argue for the infallibility or the inerrancy of scripture logically should also claim the same infallibility for the churches in the fourth and fifth centuries, whose decisions and historical circumstances left us with our present canon. This is apparently what would be required if we were to only acknowledge the twenty-seven NT books that were set forth by the church in that context. Was the church in the Nicene and post-Nicene eras infallible in its decisions or not? (Formation of Christian Biblical Canon)””

Lee M. McDonald

About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Questions the infallibility of early church decisions on canon formation, suggesting that if Scripture is infallible, so should be the councils that defined the canon.

In simple terms: If Scripture is flawless, early councils should be too.

Key Takeaway

Critically examine historical church authority.

Themes

theology canon formation authority

Mood

critical inquisitive

Type

essay argument

When to use this quote

  • academic study
  • faith discussion

Key Concepts

infallibility scriptural interpretation historical councils

Questions to Reflect On

  • How does recognizing human influence affect faith?
  • Can modern believers accept canon without infallibility?
A Different Perspective

Historical decisions were influenced by politics, not pure infallibility.

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