“The Authority and Sufficiency of Scripture,” authored by SWBTS staff, now available

By Ashley Allen
June 8, 2022

FORT WORTH—Seminary Hill Press, the publishing arm of Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, released today The Authority and Sufficiency of Scripture, a collection of essays written by 15 Southwestern Seminary and Texas Baptist College faculty members applying a high view of the Bible to their respective academic disciplines.

“In keeping with the commitment to the authority and sufficiency of the Bible held by this institution from its founding in 1908 and throughout its storied history, our faculty demonstrates in this volume its ongoing confidence in Holy Scripture as the basis for its work on Seminary Hill,” said President Adam W. Greenway. “Our high view of Scripture is the first principle that grounds the entire mission of Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary today. This Seminary Hill Press title is just the latest in a growing catalog of books released in the last three years underscoring this institution’s unwavering conviction about the authority and sufficiency of Scripture. It is my prayerful hope that this book will bless Southern Baptists and others who are committed to the Bible.”

Greenway co-edited the book with David S. Dockery, distinguished professor of theology and special consultant to the president at Southwestern Seminary.

“The nature, authority, and sufficiency of the Bible continue to be discussed and debated,” Dockery said. “Numerous pressing issues present in both church and society point to the ongoing crisis of biblical authority. Our view of Scripture, its truthfulness, dependability, inerrancy, authority, and sufficiency, will largely determine where we stand on these issues. It has been a genuine joy to join with capable Southwestern Seminary colleagues to put together this volume which seeks to affirm, expound, and apply these important convictional truths about God’s written Word for our ever changing 21^stcentury context. We trust this new Seminary Hill Press publication will be beneficial for many Southern Baptists as well as for the larger evangelical community.”

In the preface, the editors explain the book’s contents represent “Southwestern Seminary faculty’s shared commitment to the Bible as the prophetic-apostolic word, which is God’s Word written. Without this writing, there would be no Scriptures and therefore no Word of God available to us. This understanding calls for a renewed commitment in every generation to the Bible’s full truthfulness, sole authority, and supreme sufficiency. To affirm these truths about Scripture means we believe it is trustworthy, reliable, infallible, and inerrant.”

In his endorsement of the book, Charles F. Stanley, founder of In Touch Ministries and pastor emeritus of First Baptist Church of Atlanta, Georgia, declared, “The writers brilliantly remind us of the importance of Scripture for everything the child of God could ever face or endeavor in His name. The Authority and Sufficiency of Scripture is an excellent volume, and I am grateful for the faithful saints who have contributed to it. It is certainly needed in our churches, colleges, and seminaries and is an exceptional response to the questions of our times.”

Nathan A. Finn, provost and dean of the university faculty at North Greenville University, stated, “The faculty of Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary have rendered a great service to the church with this helpful book. They write from their respective areas of expertise, each applying the authority and sufficiency of Scripture to a sphere of life, academic discipline, or aspect of ministry. The Authority and Sufficiency of Scripture is a timely word about God’s Word. Highly recommended!”

O.S. Hawkins, president emeritus of GuideStone Financial Resources, also praised the new book.

“For over a century now Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary has stood tall and firm upon the solid Biblical foundation laid by our founder, B.H. Carroll,” he said. “Throughout the decades of theological turmoil, Southwestern has been the single Southern Baptist seminary whose faculty has never wavered from its insistence upon the authority and sufficiency of Scripture. This volume written by our present faculty continues in this tradition as they prepare the next generations for Christian ministry. When you finish this book of essays you will join the Psalmist of Israel in affirming ‘Forever Oh Lord is Your Word settled in heaven.’”

Thirteen chapters by authors from all four graduate schools and the undergraduate college of Southwestern Seminary cover a wide array of disciplines to which the authority and sufficiency of Scripture are applied, including theology, biblical studies, pastoral ministry and preaching, history, worship, discipleship, biblical counseling, ministry with families, humanities, evangelism, and missions. Additionally, the book includes an index of all Bible verses cited and an index of important names cited.

Attendees of the June 15 Southwestern Seminary Alumni and Friends’ Luncheon during the Southern Baptist Convention annual meeting in Anaheim, California, will receive a free copy of the book at the gathering.