An
odd moment in Mike Bird’s chapter in the Five Views of Inerrancy book:
“Ancient historians were storytellers, not modern journalists,
so naturally they were given to creativity in their narratives and filled in
the gaps on details where necessary.” (p.168)
Two
questions:
1. That might be true of
ancient historians (allowing for the rather massive generalisation) but how does it fit with Luke 1:1-4, 2 Peter
1:16, 1 John 1:1-3? Would Luke, Peter and John call themselves storytellers
without reservation?
2. Modern journalists: not given
to creativity? Really?
We really need to get away from this modern history = objective, ancient history = creative idea.
All history writing is selective and subjective. It can nevertheless be true and accurate in whatever it describes.