Is the Bible clear on marriage…or anything at all?

Jun 5, 2019 by

by Ian Paul, Psephizo:

Martyn Percy, Dean of Christchurch, Oxford, has contributed to an ongoing series of posts on the Via Media blog setting out the view that the Bible is not clear in its teaching about marriage—or on anything else for that matter. It is an interesting series, in the sense that it points clearly to the idea that those wanting the Church of England to change its position on same-sex relationships actually are looking for some wholesale changes in the way the Church has historically viewed Scripture and doctrine—which is in fact what those defending the current position on marriage have said all along. Although same-sex relationships are the presenting issue, in many ways this debate is the manifestation of some much deeper and wider differences in the Church.

It is also worth noting that very few of these arguments are in any sense new. Scepticism towards the Bible as a coherent theological document has been around in the West since at least the late 18th century, and the position of Liberal Protestantism has deeply influenced theology and biblical studies in both our universities and many of our theological colleges until very recently. But it is still worth exploring the claims made, and seeing whether they stand up to scrutiny; we need to be committed to following the evidence where it leads, and not be tempted to dismiss different views on merely dogmatic grounds. Are there good reasons for treating the Bible in the way Christians have done so traditionally, or does the evidence lead us somewhere else?

Read here

See also: Why the Bible is clear about marriage – a response to Martyn Percy, by Martin Davie

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