The Sean McDowell Show Is it Time to Rethink Biblical Inerrancy? A Much-Needed Debate
Oct 14, 2025
Join Dr. Michael Licona, a New Testament scholar focusing on Gospel differences, and Dr. John West, who critiques flexible interpretations of biblical inerrancy. They dive into the stakes of the inerrancy debate and explore whether Gospel writers adapted sayings of Jesus for theological reasons. The discussion also touches on the historical reading of Scripture, textual scholarship, and the implications for church doctrine. With a nuanced look at literary adaptation, can tradition and modern scholarship find common ground?
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Risk To Biblical Authority
- John West warns that allowing gospel authors to invent sayings risks undermining the truth and authority of Christianity.
- He argues this methodology can lead to a postmodern view of truth and long-term theological drift in institutions.
Seattle Pacific Career Anecdote
- John West recounts his time at Seattle Pacific where faculty drifted away from historic inerrancy over time.
- He links that drift to hiring patterns that eventually led to a faculty vote rejecting traditional marriage.
Johannine Editorial Shaping
- Michael Licona says many evangelical New Testament specialists already acknowledge Johannine editorial shaping of traditions.
- He cites scholars like D.A. Carson and Daryl Bach to show John's Gospel often recasts implied traditions explicitly.
