Vindication of the Divine Authority and Inspiration of the O. and N. T.: in Answer to Five Lettres of Jean Le Clerc

Vindication Of The Divine Authority And Inspiration Of The O. And N. T.: In Answer To Five Lettres Of Jean Le Clerc by William Lowth. A 17th-century theological defense addressing Jean Le Clerc’s Five Letters that questioned the inspiration of Holy Scripture. Lowth argues for the divine inspiration and enduring authority of both the Old and New Testaments, asserting that the Apostolic writings stand on equal footing with the Old Testament and are intended for perpetual use in the Church. The work outlines key propositions: God’s plan to preserve Christian doctrine to the world’s end; writing as the most reliable means of transmission; the exclusive sufficiency of the New Testament alongside the Old; the Apostles’ writings as a standing rule of faith; the post?apostolic period recognizing their authority; and the necessity of biblical canons and prophetic gifts. It also defends the Holy Spirit’s agency in inspiration, explains the interpretation of prophecies (including literal and mystical senses), and defends the canonicity of Psalms, Proverbs, and other biblical books. The volume is a rigorous defense of Protestant orthodoxy against contemporary criticisms and a detailed affirmation of Scripture’s universal authority.