A helpful narrative of the formation of the doctrine of Scripture in the modern age, interspersed with primary source materials. Covers the challenges that face the authority, sufficiency, and interpretation of Scripture.

Belief in the Bible as God's authoritative revelation to humanity forms the bedrock of the Christian faith, laying the groundwork for nearly everything in the practice of theology. For the last 150 years or so, this doctrine has been put under the microscope of the modern age, with focused attention-and criticism-falling on three main subject areas: the authority of Scripture, the sufficiency of Scripture, and the interpretation of Scripture.

Ancient Word, Changing Worlds tells the story of these developments in the doctrine of Scripture in the modern age, combining in one volume both narrative chapters and chapters devoted to primary source materials. This new genre of historical theology will appeal to general readers, who will be drawn in by the book's prose style, and students, who will benefit from features like timelines, charts, explanations of key terms, and introductions and explanatory notes for the primary source documents.

"The doctrine of Scripture is back on center stage once again, and Nichols and Brandt have provided us with a comprehensive survey of approaches to the doctrine of Scripture, showing the drift among evangelical and Reformed theologians over the past century from a commitment to Scripture's infallibility/inerrancy. This book deserves careful reading even by those who are familiar with the plot-lines of the issue. It would be difficult to exaggerate the timeliness of this book."
—Derek Thomas, John E. Richards Professor of Theology, Reformed Theological Seminary; Minister of Teaching, First Presbyterian Church, Jackson, Mississippi

"Ancient Word, Changing Worlds is the best, clearest, and most reliable historical overview of the doctrine of Scripture for a contemporary audience. As careful historians, Nichols and Brandt show what the church has always believed about the Bible as the Word of God, and also how our understanding of the inspiration, inerrancy, and interpretation of Scripture has grown through the centuries. The authors let scholars and theologians on all sides of the age-old battle for the Bible speak in their own words, giving us the historical context and theological framework we need to accept the Bible's own witness to its beauty, perfection, and divine authority." —Philip Graham Ryken, Senior Minister, Tenth Presbyterian Church, Philadelphia