INERRANCY AND THE GOSPELS : A GOD-CENTERED APPROACH TO THE CHALLENGES OF HARMONIZATION

Introduction

Inerrancy and the Gospels, authored by Vern Polythress, confronts the challenges of harmonizing the gospels. Polythress is professor of New Testament interpretation at Westminster Theological Seminary. He earned his M.Div. and Th.M. in apologetics from that seminary. He also has an M.Litt in New Testament from the University of Cambridge, as well as a Th.D. in New Testament from the University of Stellenbosch in South Africa. The book is an apologetic that maintains that the gospels are inerrant, in the face of differences found in the gospel accounts of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John. Polythress states that his goal is to, “treat [the gospels] in harmony with the conviction that the Bible is God’s word” (13).

Summary

The book is written in seven parts discussing the challenges, principles and attitudes of harmonization and how they apply to a variety of specific cases. Polythress lays a foundation of an uncompromising belief in inerrancy, and an acknowledgement of the finiteness of the human condition when attempting to harmonize. His initial case study is a fascinating look at the differing accounts in Matthew and Luke of the role of intermediaries in the healing of the centurion’s servant. After rejecting as improbable the possibility of two events, Polythress examines how the differing emphases of the two gospel writers were manifest in the differing details of the account: “In sum, Matthew and Luke have distinctive emphases; Matthew emphasizes the centurion’s Gentile status, and Luke emphasize his humility. Both of these emphases say something significant about the kingdom of God and Jesus’ ministry” (24). Polythress uses this case as a starting point for laying out principles of harmonizati...

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...this is more a reflection of the novice’ attempt to understand than it is poor communication on the author’s part. If there is another weakness, it is that the book is not comprehensive. One is left wishing for a reference version of all gospel harmonization issues handled in the same style available in Polythress’ examples.

Conclusion

Inerrancy and the Gospels: A God-Centered Approach to the Challenges of Harmonization by Vern Sheridan Polythress is a useful and instructive book for anyone who believes in the inerrancy of Scripture but has wrestled with differences in the gospel accounts. This reader would go so far as to say that it is a must-have for the desk of any preacher or teacher of the Word of God. Those who wish to be faithful to the message of Scripture and God’s infallible Word will be encouraged, equipped and inspired by this work.