Journal: Conservative Theological Journal
Volume: CTJ 03:10 (Dec 1999)
Article: Inerrancy And The Minor Prophets
Author: Mal Couch

CTJ 3:10 (December 1999) p. 374

Inerrancy And The Minor Prophets

Mal Couch

President and Professor of Theology & Languages
Tyndale Theological Seminary, Ft. Worth, TX.

This is a continuation of a series on the inerrancy of Scripture. So far we’ve looked at the inerrancy of (1) the books of Moses, (2) the historic books, (3) the poetry books, and (4) the major prophetic writings. In future articles we’ll deal with inerrancy and (1) the Gospels, (2) the Pauline epistles, (3) the general epistles, (4) the book of Hebrews, and (5) the book of Revelation.

Review Of The Doctrine Of Inerrancy

Inerrancy is actually an extension of the doctrine of inspiration. If the Holy Spirit has inspired the writers of Scripture and superintended their message, then it stands to reason that the message is without error. The written revelation reflects the thoughts of a holy God who would speak to us only what is true.

Inerrancy extends only to the original autographs of the prophets and apostles. It does not cover the transmission and copying of the text. Both inspiration and inerrancy are described:

Inspiration may be defined as the inward work of the Holy Spirit in the hearts and minds of chosen men who then wrote the Scriptures so that God got written what He wanted. The Bible in all of its parts constitutes the written Word of God to man. This Word is free from all error in its original autographs … It is wholly trustworthy in matters of history and doctrine. However limited may have been their knowledge, and however much they may have erred when they were not writing sacred Scripture, the authors of Scripture, under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, were preserved from making factual, historical, scientific, or other errors.1

The Minor Prophets And Inerrancy

The second division of the Hebrew canon is called “The Twelve” or “The Book of the Twelve Prophets,” or simply the “Minor Prophets.”

CTJ 3:10 (December 1999) p. 375

From the time of Augustine the Latin Church used the title “Minor Prophets” because of their brevity when comparing the “Major Prophets.” “The order in the Hebrew Canon is apparently partly, chronological but other now-unknown factors entered the arrangement.”2

Hosea

Hosea (Hebrew, HOSHEA, “salvation”), a southern prophet, ministered from about the time of king Uzziah (767) to the beginning of the reign of Hezekiah (711 BC). The Lord used the prophet to teach the nation about the unfaithfulness of Israel to her God. Hosea was instructed by the Lord to marry a prostitut...