Inerrancy and Myth
There are a host of words that I like to refer to as the ubiquitous and ambiguous terms. They are usually words that at one point had a real defined meaning, but overtime, because different people mean different things when they use them, the terms become sort of empty and meaningless in general parlance. Terms like: gospel, missional, cultural mandate, and hipster. The term that concerns me in this post is “Myth.” It is a word that gets thrown around frequently and in its application to the Scriptures people often mean different things. Some people mean to speak of the Scriptures as “myth” in positive terms (think of people like C.S. Lewis and Peter Enns, two individuals who even mean different things when they speak positively about the Scriptures as “myth”), some mean quite negative things like Rudolf Bultmann. But if we take our cues from Scripture itself, and if we hold to an inerrant Word from God, then there is no sense in which we can apply this term to the Bible.
When we look at what Scripture has to say about this term we find that it is not very positive. In the New Testament we find five passages that discuss myths, in each case believers are told to avoid the pursuit of myths. So Paul writes twice in his first letter to Timothy concerning this matter. So in 1 Timothy 1:3-4 Paul warns:
As I urged you when I was going to Macedonia, remain at Ephesus that you may charge certain persons not to teach any different doctrine, nor to devote themselves to myths and endless genealogies, which promote speculations rather than the stewardship from God that is by faith.
Note that for Paul there is a close association between different (i.e. false) doctrine and myth, both of which promote speculations rather than concern for God’s truth. He reiterates his warning in chapter 4 verse 7:
Have nothing to do with irreverent, silly myths. Rather train yourself for godliness.
Again we see a contrast, this time between “irreverent, silly myths” and “godliness.” In his second letter to Timothy Paul gives the young pastor a heads up about what the future of preaching the gospel will look like. He says:
For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions,and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths. (2 Timothy 4:3-4)
The Greek word here for “sound” means to be in good health. Paul warns Timothy that a time is coming when healthy, correct, well-grounded teaching will be rejected. And what will “sound teaching” be rejected in favor of? Myths. The contrast is between truth and myth. It’s the same contrast drawn by Paul when he writes to another young pastor, Titus. He says:
This testimony is true. Therefore rebuke them sharply, that they may be sound in the faith, 14 not devoting themselves to Jewish myths and the commands of people who turn away from the truth. (Titus 1:13-14)
Jewish “myths,” here, are compared to the commands of people who turn away from the truth. Turning away from the truth and pursuing myth go well together.
Probably the most significant passage in Scripture on this discussion of myth is 1 Peter 1:16. Here the apostle makes a very bold and simple declaration about the roots of the gospel:
For we did not follow cleverly devised myths when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we were eyewitnesses of his majesty.
Peter proclaims himself and his fellow apostles “eyewitnesses.” The gospel message is rooted in historical reality. This is the same claim that Luke makes at the start of his gospel (Luke 1:2), and John (John 3:11; 1 John 1:1). The truth is that the whole Scriptures are rooted in historical reality, and the authors are either telling the truth or they are liars. The concept of myth, then, is totally incompatible with inerrancy. This does have bearing, then, on how we understand one of the more hotly debated parts of Scripture, Genesis 1-11. Is literal historical reality the only plausible interpretation? Is there any sense in which we can hold to alternate origin theories, beyond Creationism that is, and still believe in an inerrant, inspired Scripture? That’s next week: Inerrancy and Creation Accounts.
Sparrow & Heart Soul Care 