Includes bibliographical references (p. 215- 224) and index.

Introduction -- Reconstructing the doctrine -- The Enlightenment and liberal thgeology -- Fundamentalism and inerrancy -- Infallibility : an evangelical alternative -- Scripture and confession -- Preaching scripture -- Conclusion.

A.T.B. McGowan engages with the issues, debates and terminology, and reconstructs and re-expresses an evangelical doctrine for the current context. • First, he reconsiders the place of Scripture in theological systems, and argues that it should be relocated, in order to emphasize that it is an aspect of God's self-revelation and the work of the Holy Spirit. • Secondly, he revisits the vocabulary used to articulate the doctrine, with some proposals for new terminology. • Thirdly, he examines the important differences between two evangelical positions, 'inerrancy' and 'infallibility', with some further proposals for strengthening an evangelical doctrine. • Finally, he addresses two key issues – the relationship between Scripture and our creeds and confessions, and how Scripture is preached in the context of the life of the church.