[Glossary] Criticism of Neo-orthodox's Containment Theory of the Bible

1. (Clark 1965, 16): "[Chapter I] Section iv says that the authority for which the Scriptures should be believed depends wholly on God, who is truth itself and the author of the books; therefore the sixty-six books itemized in section ii are to be received because they are the Word of God. Here it is to be noted that the authority of God attaches to all the Scripture, not to a part only. Scripture has been defined as the sixty-six books, and God is declared to be the author of them all. God is truth itself, and the Scripture not merely contains but is the Word of God."

According to the Westminster Confession of Faith, all of the Bible is the Word of God.

According to the neo-orthodox's Containment theory, some but not all of the Bible contain the Word of God.

Therefore, the neo-orthodox view of the Bible is inconsistent with the Westminster Confession of Faith's view of the Bible.

If the Westminster Confession of Faith's view of the Bible is true, then the neo-orthodox view of the Bible is false.


Reference:

Clark, Gordon H. 1965. What Do Presbyterians Believe? The Westminster Confession: Yesterday and Today. Phillipsburg, New Jersey: Presbyterian and Reformed Publishing Company.

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