C.S. Lewis's view of Scripture vs. Chicago Statements on Biblical Inerrancy & Hermeneutics

### Background of the question It has been widely recognized that C.S. Lewis's view of Scripture is complicated, situated between two extremes: - Late 19th century fundamentalist inerrancy concept which holds that every word is historical and literal truth (if the passage at least allows that possibility), which created the necessity of six 24-hour day creation, for example. This view is heavily linked with Biblicism, see 2020 article by Michael Bird: [What is Biblicism?](https://www.patheos.com/blogs/euangelion/2020/08/what-is-biblicism/) - Karl Barth's view that Scripture is privileged human document set apart as canonical "witness" until it becomes the inspired Word of God in the heart of believers (see Justin Elmers's 2020 three-part articles on Karl Barth and the Word of God from Evangelical perspective: [Part 1](https://academic.logos.com/karl-barth-doctrine-of-the-word-of-god-part-1-of-3/) , [Part 2](https://academic.logos.com/evangelical-critiques-of-barths-view-of-scripture-part-2-of-3/) , and [Part 3](https://academic.logos.com/assessing-barths-evangelical-interlocutors/)) . In the evangelical circles, many pastors and theologians have expressed their concern that C.S. Lewis cannot be considered an Evangelical when it comes to Scripture, because even though Evangelicals have moved on from the 19th century fundamentalist inerrancy concept, C.S. Lewis's view still falls short of what most Evangelicals hold as the "gold standard": the [Chicago Statement on Biblical Inerrancy](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chicago_Statement_on_Biblical_Inerrancy) (1978) which is accompanied later by the Chicago Statement on Biblical Hermeneutics (1982) and the Chicago Statement on Biblical Application (1986). Thus we find articles such as these: - 2016 article [The Mixed Blessing of C.S. Lewis](https://sharperiron.org/article/mixed-blessing-of-c-s-lewis-part-1) by Pastor Gary Gilley - 2015 article [Four Things CS Lewis Said About the Bible That Shook My Faith](https://www.patheos.com/blogs/barrierbreaker/four-things-cs-lewis-said-about-the-bible-that-shook-my-faith/) - 2003 *The Trinity Review* article [Did C.S. Lewis Go to Heaven?](https://www.trinityfoundation.org/PDF/The%20Trinity%20Review%200205a%20DidCSLewisGotoHeaven.pdf) by John W. Robbins At the same time, C.S. Lewis never claimed to be a professional theologian and never explicitly promoted a certain doctrine of Scripture. Instead, the main goals of his Christian writings are - for his fellow 20th century people to critically see the falsity of modern assumptions in culture, science, and philosophy and to take away modern objections to Christianity - to share his experience in encountering Christ in his journey from atheism to idealism to theism and finally to Trinitarian Christianity, and from then on to aide Christians in their Christian life by sharing how he overcome or deal with his own difficulties with his sins, his longings, grief, his instinctive distaste with church life, apparent contradictions in Scripture, reconciliation with science, etc. - to offer *fresh perspective* through his writings in many genres (philosophical, fantasy, essays, children's literature, etc.) to understand our problem (the need for salvation), the gospel (the good news), and what God is doing to help us (as the agent of our salvation) **so that people can encounter Christ without baggage and clouds of erroneous assumptions**. The Bible is rarely the focus, but mostly stays in the background. ### The Question Given the unease and the love-hate relationship many evangelicals feel toward C.S. Lewis, especially with C.S. Lewis's view of Scriptures (which he expressed only tangentially in his writings or in personal letters, EXCEPT against liberals), **what is the definitive and scholarly comparison between C.S. Lewis's view of Scripture and the Chicago statements on Biblical Inerrancy & Hermeneutics?** The answer should not pick and choose quotes or take them out of context without considering the implied respect and authority of the Bible in his other writings. ### Helpful Resources for an answer - 2013 lecture [Inerrancy and the Patron Saint of Evangelicalism: C.S. Lewis on Holy Scripture](https://www.desiringgod.org/messages/inerrancy-and-the-patron-saint-of-evangelicalism-c-s-lewis-on-holy-scripture) - Spring 2010 Issue article in C.S. Lewis Institute's journal *Knowing & Doing* [The Inerrancy of Scripture](https://www.cslewisinstitute.org/The_Inerrancy_of_Scripture_FullArticle) by Kevin J. Vanhoozer - 2010 article in *Sehnsucht: The C.S. Lewis Journal* [C.S. Lewis on Scripture and the Christ, the Word of God: Convergence and Divergence with Karl Barth](https://www.jstor.org/stable/48580098) by P.H. Brazier - 2012 *BioLogos* article: [Surprised by Jack: C.S. Lewis on Mere Christianity, the Bible, and Evolutionary Science](https://biologos.org/articles/surprised-by-jack-c-s-lewis-on-mere-christianity-the-bible-and-evolutionary-science) by David Williams