Dr. Stephen Nichols

And the other figure was Karl Barth. And here's something for you, Nathan. Dr. Sproul actually had, as a seminary professor, Barth's son was at the seminary where R.C. Sproul went. Anyway, Barth tried to say that the Word of God, the Bible, contains the words of God, but stopped short of calling it the Word of God. Well, here's what happened.

And the other figure was Karl Barth. And here's something for you, Nathan. Dr. Sproul actually had, as a seminary professor, Barth's son was at the seminary where R.C. Sproul went. Anyway, Barth tried to say that the Word of God, the Bible, contains the words of God, but stopped short of calling it the Word of God. Well, here's what happened.

The Bardian influence, the Boltmannian influence was all through the seminaries, both transatlantic and here in the United States. And again, just as earlier with the Princetonians in the turn of the 20th century, as the seminary goes, so goes the pulpit, and as the pulpit goes, so goes the church.

The Bardian influence, the Boltmannian influence was all through the seminaries, both transatlantic and here in the United States. And again, just as earlier with the Princetonians in the turn of the 20th century, as the seminary goes, so goes the pulpit, and as the pulpit goes, so goes the church.

And so these churches that had come out of the modernist-liberalist controversy, now they were selling their birthright. And again, this was trans-denominational. It was in the Baptist Church, in the Presbyterian Church, in the Lutheran Church, among the Methodists, among the independent sort of church world, a wavering and a compromising of the doctrine of inerrancy.

And so these churches that had come out of the modernist-liberalist controversy, now they were selling their birthright. And again, this was trans-denominational. It was in the Baptist Church, in the Presbyterian Church, in the Lutheran Church, among the Methodists, among the independent sort of church world, a wavering and a compromising of the doctrine of inerrancy.

And they were beginning to ask, is there another way to understand God's Word apart from inerrancy? And that was a crisis in the life of the church in the late 1960s.

And they were beginning to ask, is there another way to understand God's Word apart from inerrancy? And that was a crisis in the life of the church in the late 1960s.

Well, Nathan, Chicago is known for so many things. It's right here on the shores of Lake Michigan. And some people know Chicago for its sports teams. They might even be their favorite teams. Know Chicago for the art museum or the architecture and the tall buildings. But it actually plays a role. The city played a role in 20th century evangelicalism and in church history in 1978.

Well, Nathan, Chicago is known for so many things. It's right here on the shores of Lake Michigan. And some people know Chicago for its sports teams. They might even be their favorite teams. Know Chicago for the art museum or the architecture and the tall buildings. But it actually plays a role. The city played a role in 20th century evangelicalism and in church history in 1978.

A group of theologians, several hundred of them, theologians, church leaders, and not only from the United States, but many countries were represented, gathered here and signed and affirmed the Chicago Statement on Inerrancy. That statement, as the statement proper, consists of five points. It's followed by 19 articles of affirmation and denial.

A group of theologians, several hundred of them, theologians, church leaders, and not only from the United States, but many countries were represented, gathered here and signed and affirmed the Chicago Statement on Inerrancy. That statement, as the statement proper, consists of five points. It's followed by 19 articles of affirmation and denial.

And it was the product of the International Council on Biblical Inerrancy. This was a small group of theologians. R.C. Sproul was a leader among them. Also included J.I. Packer and others. Dr. Sproul's buddy, what he called his foxhole buddy, James Montgomery Boyce from 10th Press in Philadelphia.

And it was the product of the International Council on Biblical Inerrancy. This was a small group of theologians. R.C. Sproul was a leader among them. Also included J.I. Packer and others. Dr. Sproul's buddy, what he called his foxhole buddy, James Montgomery Boyce from 10th Press in Philadelphia.

Norman Geisler was part of that, Earl Rodmacher, several others formed that committee and produced the Chicago Statement at this very city where we are back in 1978.

Norman Geisler was part of that, Earl Rodmacher, several others formed that committee and produced the Chicago Statement at this very city where we are back in 1978.

It does, in a very fascinating way, Nathan. We leave Chicago and go back to the Ligonier Valley Study Center in western Pennsylvania. And in 1973, Dr. Sproul convened what I actually think might be Ligonier's very first conference And it was a conference on the inerrancy of Scripture.

It does, in a very fascinating way, Nathan. We leave Chicago and go back to the Ligonier Valley Study Center in western Pennsylvania. And in 1973, Dr. Sproul convened what I actually think might be Ligonier's very first conference And it was a conference on the inerrancy of Scripture.

It was held not at the Study Center, but a few miles away at a retreat center nestled in the woods, a little waterfall, big rocks all around the property, a beautiful property, just a retreat in the woods. And there at that retreat center, a couple hundred people were gathered. About eight folks came that were invited by R.C. to present papers. And at that conference, R.C.

It was held not at the Study Center, but a few miles away at a retreat center nestled in the woods, a little waterfall, big rocks all around the property, a beautiful property, just a retreat in the woods. And there at that retreat center, a couple hundred people were gathered. About eight folks came that were invited by R.C. to present papers. And at that conference, R.C.