Inspiration

by David R. Law

Overview

Law develops his theory of inspiration starting with texts as varied as Virgil's Aeneid and Shakespeare's plays before focusing on the Bible. Following Karl Jaspers, Law views all human knowledge as having limits beyond which there exists the Transcendent. He believes that there are symbols, signs and characters-or ciphers-that inhabit religion and art and which point beyond these horizons. Perceiving these is at the heart of inspiration and the knowledge of God. For Law, the key to the question of inspiration and the Bible lies with understanding the reader's encounter with these ciphers, the supreme of which is Christ.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780826461964
Publisher:	Bloomsbury Academic
Publication date:	08/15/2001
Series:	New Century Theology
Edition description:	Revised ed.
Pages:	242
Product dimensions:	5.50(w) x 8.50(h) x 0.51(d)

About the Author

Dr. David R. Law is Reader in Christian Thought in the School of Arts, Histories and Cultures, at the University of Manchester. He is author of "Inspiration" (Continuum, 2001) and "Briefly: Sartre's Existentialism and Humanism" (SCM, 2007).

Table of Contents

	Preface	iv
1	The problem of biblical authority	1
2	Word-centred theories of inspiration	41
3	Non-verbal theories of inspiration	99
4	The inspiration of the Bible	145
	Bibliography	213
	Index	224

Editorial Reviews

(On the NCT series) "The aim is to ensure that key theological issues - God, Sin, Love come out of the religious ghetto to be talked about in homes, pubs and clubs. They are very readable, not too long and well designed."
Borderlands: 1, Summer 2002

""Inspiration "...is a reader-friendly textbook on the doctrine of biblical inspiration and authority. Law lays out his subject matter in a well-ordered, systematic treatment which commends its use as an upper-level college or seminary text....Law effectively resuscitates the notion of 'authority' from the deadly effects of authoritarian and legalistic associations. Equally worthwhile are the incisive critiques of word-based theories of inspiration, particularly the devastating critique of rigid theories of inerrancy. "Inspiration "should not be the only book to inform one's view of Scripture, yet clearly it deserves a prominent place in the library of such works."- Ben Leslie, "Journal of Nabpr "

"a book of interesting and exciting ideas" New Directions, October 2001

"useful for careful discussion of the issues concerning Biblical authority" Reform, November 1, 2001

"A thorough study. The first part is plainly reasoned, cogent, important, and should be read by every Christian, or at least every Fundamentalist." Brian Firth, Rapport Magazine, March 2002

"A worthwhile addition for larger libraries and institutions committed to the topic." Theological Book Review Feed the Minds

"The books are for those who know the seriousness of the issues raised. Intellectual rigour and honesty are notable characteristics of these two volumes . . .David Law [ ] treats us to helpful examinations of word-centred and then non-verbal theories of inspiration . . . I shall certainly be looking out for the other volumes as they are published." Baptist Times, 4 April 2002 (reviewed with James Byrne's God)

"a book of interesting and exciting ideas" --New Directions, October 2001

From the Publisher