RECEIVING THE WORD BY SAMUEL KORANTENG-PIPIM COPYRIGHT © 1996 1 CONTENTS FORWARD ......................................................................................................................................................... 3 TO THE READER ............................................................................................................................................. 5 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS AND DEDICATION......................................................................................... 14 CRISIS OVER THE WORD ........................................................................................................................... 16 TRUSTING THE WORD ................................................................................................................................ 29 DOUBTING THE WORD ............................................................................................................................... 39 QUARRELING OVER THE WORD ............................................................................................................. 51 DEPARTING FROM THE WORD ................................................................................................................ 71 THE BIBLE--SOLE OR PRIMARY AUTHORITY?...................................................................................................74 THE BIBLE – FULLY OR PARTIALLY INSPIRED?.................................................................................................81 THE BIBLE – FULLY OR PARTIALLY TRUSTWORTHY?.....................................................................................105 THE BIBLE – PROGRESSIVE REVELATION OR PROGRESSIVE IDEAS?................................................................114 THE BIBLE – “LITERAL” OR “PRINCIPLE” APPROACH?...................................................................................124 ADVENTISM FOR A NEW GENERATION – PERCEPTION OR DECEPTION? ..........................................................136 CONTENDING FOR THE WORD .............................................................................................................. 148 UPHOLDING THE WORD1 ......................................................................................................................... 157 LIBERATING THE WORD.......................................................................................................................... 169 RIGHTLY DIVIDING THE WORD ............................................................................................................ 191 WRESTLING WITH THE WORD .............................................................................................................. 209 TESTIFYING ABOUT THE WORD ........................................................................................................... 228 LIVING BY THE WORD .............................................................................................................................. 241 APPENDIX A--THE AUTHORITY OF SCRIPTURE............................................................................... 255 APPENDIX B--THE USE OF SCRIPTURE................................................................................................ 260 APPENDIX C--METHODS OF BIBLE STUDY......................................................................................... 265 GLOSSARY .................................................................................................................................................... 271 2 Forward Published works that speak with compelling eloquence do not need introductions; they constitute their own introductions. Such is the case with respect to Samuel Koranteng-Pipim's Receiving the Word. Therefore, instead of employing this page to highlight the merits of this timely work, I will direct my comments to the author himself, commending him for his courage in writing this book and alerting him to the kinds of interesting reactions his work is likely to generate. I offer my comments from the vantage point of one who has been closely acquainted with the author in his evangelistic work in Africa, Europe, and North America: Samuel, at a time when some prefer not to debate issues, your book evidences that: (1) you prize the quest for biblical truth over the pursuit of theological tranquility; (2) you neither believe in the myth of theological neutrality nor the political expediency that encourages it; and consequently, (3) you have chosen not to maintain the status quo of silence on the divisive issue of biblical authority and interpretation. These characteristics of your work make it invaluable for anyone seeking to understand some of the current theological developments in the Seventh-day Adventist church. But in today's climate of theological pluralism and its culture of indifference to truth, you need to be reminded that those who dare to call others to biblical accountability, particularly on forbidden issues, are seldom tolerated. Thus, while your book will be a blessing to thousands of earnest truth-seekers, you must also expect some negative reactions against your work, and even against yourself. Such a barrage would be mounted even if Receiving the Word had not been written by an African. For whenever error is exposed, it always finds ways to vent its wrath against the message and the messenger of truth. With this in mind, I urge you to take counsel from advice given by William W. Adams to Mr. Robert Shank some three decades ago. These words are memorialized in the introduction to Shank's provocative book against the long held position of "once saved always saved" (see Robert Shank's Life in the Son [Springfield, Missouri: Westcott Publishers, 1961], xviii-xix). To personalize the advice, I will replace Mr. Shank's name with your own: "Samuel, unless human nature has recently and radically changed, there are some who will do their utmost to give your book the 'silent' treatment. Some will be too learned to acknowledge that they have not known all there is to know on the subject. They will consider that their first obligation is to their personal academic reputation and professional interests. With great scholarly dignity, they will carefully ignore your book. "Some will loudly denounce your book merely because you dare to call in question some of their customary interpretations and to challenge their accustomed doctrinal position. They will label you a heretic or a novice. Let me urge you to ignore all criticisms of yourself, and all criticisms of your book that amount to mere general disapproval and denunciation. This will be the resort only of men who are incapable of presenting any serious reply to your interpretations and thesis. Negative criticisms that fail to demonstrate objectively that your interpretations are incorrect will not deserve serious consideration or serve the cause of truth. "Some will consider that 'unity' is more important than truth and that, right or wrong, conformity to tradition and popular opinion is the only wise course. Men so easily become enslaved by vested interest in the status quo, and many will refuse to venture the risk of honestly searching for the truthat the possible expense of comfort. "Some, thank God, will read your book with growing provocation and an insatiable hunger and determination to see the study through to a conclusion that is unquestionably Biblical. They are the ones (I pray they may be many) who will profit from the reading of your book and form an honest effort to refute it. Whatever the ultimate verdict, their knowledge of the 3 Scriptures will be increased and their lives and Christian witness will be enriched because of your book. "Samuel, there may be other responses to your book which neither you nor I can foresee. But this much is assured: all genuine scholars and searchers after truth will be compelled to take your book into consideration." My earnest prayer is that every reader of Receiving the Word will be led to take an uncompromising stand for God's truth--no matter the cost. It is this truth alone which can truly set us free (John 8:32). Thank you, Samuel, for challenging us to receive the Word and live by it. Chicago, Ill. October, 1996 4 To The Reader Receiving the Word has an innocent title; but it deals with an explosive issue--biblical inspiration and interpretation and their impact on our faith and practice. Since the subject matter is contentious, readers must be aware of the two dangers confronting anyone who seeks to address the issue. On the one hand is the risk of becoming cowardly, hesitant, people-pleasing, waffling, and compromising. On the other hand lies the danger of becoming headstrong, judgmental, unkind, abrasive and dogmatic. In the name of "love," the first option risks not speaking the truth; in the name of "truth," the second fails to speak in love. In this book we have done our best to speak the truth in love. Still, we anticipate varied reactions to this work. For those unaware of the internal sophisticated challenge to our distinctive doctrines and lifestyle, this book will be a disturbing eye-opener. For those seeking to understand the underlying causes of recent theological conflicts in the Seventh-day Adventist church, this volume will provide a probing explanation. For those who believe in the "progressive" ideas of theological liberalism and its method of higher criticism, this book will present a biblically compelling alternative. And for those who have always accepted the Bible as God's inspired,