The Journal of Baptist Studies 8 (2016)
superintendence, preserving him from error, and from other defects and faults, to which ordinary historians are subject.”41 This is a significant statement for Fuller to make, indicating that he believed all of Scripture to be free from error, even in matters of historical detail.42 In the next section of the letter, Fuller takes on the role of an apologist43 and delineates the features of Scripture that should lead one to accept its inspiration. Regardless of whether the reader finds these to be compelling proofs for the Bible’s authenticity, Fuller’s discussion contributes to his overall doctrine of Scripture. In the first place, Fuller notes that the Bible is true. He says in regard to this characteristic, It requires that a book professing to be a revelation from God should contain truth, and nothing but truth: such particularly must be its history, its prophecies, its miracles, and its doctrines. Now, as the Scriptures abound with these, if they be untrue, it can be no difficult undertaking to prove them so. The facts being stated, with the evidence accompanying them, it lies upon those who disbelieve them to show cause. It certainly has not been for want of adversaries, nor of adversaries of talent, that this work has never been accomplished.44 This is a straightforward and unqualified testimony to the Bible’s inerrancy,45 which Fuller grounds in the nature of God. In his mind, if a book claims to be from God as his personal revelation, it must be true and “contain nothing but truth.” Its account of history, its predictions of the future, its testimony to God’s supernatural work in the world, and its teachings—everything must be accurate, or it cannot be a Word from God.
41 42
135–36.
Ibid., 747. On this issue of degrees with respect to inspiration, see also Haykin, “‘The Oracles of God’,”
43
There has been considerable attention given to Fuller’s apologetics. See the various essays in Haykin, ed., “At the Pure Fountain of Thy Word”; and Brewster, Andrew Fuller, 144–56. 44 Fuller, Letters on Systematic Divinity, 747. 45 See also Michael A. G. Haykin, “Andrew Fuller and the Sandemanian Controversy,” in “At the Pure Fountain of Thy Word,” 224.
83