Comments on: Quoting errancy

By: Ebenezer Robinson

Ebenezer Robinson — Tue, 01 Aug 2006 13:30:59 +0000

You’re right, Clark. The REAL belief in inerrancy is not for the scriptures, but rather for the preachings of the GAs.

Great post, J.

By: Jack

Jack — Tue, 01 Aug 2006 03:12:25 +0000

Well, they overreact in the other direction when their hobbyism is challenged.

By: Clark

Clark — Tue, 01 Aug 2006 02:37:01 +0000

I don’t think there’s really anything like inerrancy, even on a practical level. But I do think people look askew when people simply reject a passage of scripture, especially in modern revelation, because it doesn’t mesh with their preconceptions. That is we accept errancy but I think the burden of proof is definitely on those claiming something is wrong. Further, because some see others simply downplaying scripture, I think many Mormons tend to overreact the other way a tad bit too much.

But I think people are more than willing to accept that something was erroneous, especially if there are some significant GAs backing up that newer reading.

By: J. Stapley

J. Stapley — Tue, 01 Aug 2006 01:11:35 +0000

Thanks Kevin, especially for the exegesis. That really does add a different flavor to the text for Mormons.

By: Kevin Barney

Kevin Barney — Tue, 01 Aug 2006 00:43:30 +0000

Nice post, J. On the Hebrew underlying KJV "turn," the word is the hiphil or causative form of shub. The basic verb means "to turn"; in the hiphil, it means "to cause to return; to bring back." This is usually understood as some sort of familial, intergenerational reconciliation. Joseph's reading has the germ of this idea, but on steroids. Another way to understand it is that those of all generations must repent and turn back to God. The NET takes this tack:

He will encourage fathers and their children to return to me,10 so that I will not come and strike the earth with judgment.â€11

I comment on the Hebrew verb shub briefly here. Note that the verb shub is repeated three times in Malachi 3:7, where it has a repentance context. This may be related to the usage in 4:6; I haven't thought enough about it to try to figure out what the relationship is. The KJV of that passage follows:

Even from the days of your fathers ye are gone away from mine ordinances, and have not kept [them]. Return unto me, and I will return unto you, saith the LORD of hosts. But ye said, Wherein shall we return?