Back Page: summer 1991 NOTE... that the old Testament teaches the actual existence of only

Back Page: summer 1991

NOTE...
that the old Testament teaches the actual existence of only one God" and then 
concluded from this that "(a)ny interpretation of any passage that puts Bible 
writers in contradiction with themselves in this basic affirmation is forced, 
unnecessary, and unwarranted,"  but to take such a position is a resort to 
the logical fallacy I just noted: trying to prove Bible inerrancy by simply 
assuming Bible inerrancy.  I have admitted (p. 4) that many passages in the 
Bible clearly teach monotheism. That does not mean, however, that other 
passages do not convey polytheistic concepts. To argue that no passage in 
the Bible could possibly be teaching polytheistic concepts because some 
passages undeniably teach monotheism is to assume that the Bible does not 
contradict itself.  This is unsound, illogical reasoning. The meaning of an 
idea must be determined within the context of what that writer said and not 
by comparison to what another writer said somewhere else.  On the matter 
now in dispute, it would be possible that one writer was polytheistic whereas 
the other was monotheistic.

   Of all the shortcomings of Deaver's rebuttal, however, the most damaging 
was his failure to explain away statements made by Bible characters and 
writers that showed an obvious belief in the reality of pagan gods.  To 
express the majesty and greatness of Yahweh, Bible writers called him "the 
God of gods," but if there were no other gods, the comparison is totally 
meaningless.  Although he sacrificed his own daughter as a burnt-offering, 
Jeph-   thah was nevertheless listed as a great hero of faith in Hebrews 
11:32. He considered Chemosh to be elohim to the Ammonites as much as 
Yahweh was elohim to the Israelites. He thought that Chemosh had given the 
Ammonites certain territory to possess  in the same way that Yahweh had 
given the Israelites a territory to possess (Judges 11:24).  Passages  like 
this pose  a serious problem for Mr. Deaver that he did not and cannot ex-
plain away.                  

                       ********************


            TILL-McDONALD DEBATE 

   Farrell Till and Jerry McDonald will conduct an oral debate at Sullivan, 
Missouri, on July 29, 30, and August 1, 2, 1991, at the Community Center in 
Sullivan.  McDonald, a frequent rebutter in TSR, is a Church-of-Christ 
preacher and the editor of Challenge, a quarterly journal that devotes much 
of its space to exchanges on the inerrancy issue.                       

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                FAILED PROPHECIES
 
   A study of imaginary and failed Bible prophecies is now available. Farrell 
Till  examines the popular prophecies (Is. 7:14; Ps. 16:10; Micah 5:2; Jer. 
31:15; etc.) so often referred to as "proof" of inspiration and shows them to 
be failures or misrepresentations of original intentions. Double-column layout, 
38 pages, $2.50 ppd.      

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      OTHER DEBATES & BACK ISSUES

   The Laws-Till Debate ($2) that Till's opponent withdrew from and The 
Jackson-Till Debate ($2.25) are still available postpaid at the cost indicated. 
All propositions concerned Bible inerrancy.


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   All four 1990 issues of The Skeptical Review are also available at $1 per 
copy.  Send orders to the address on page two.   

                       ********************


      TSR ON COMPUTER DISKS
   
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