The Bible is both inspired and inerrant, which sets it apart from all other books. When I say the Bible is inspired, I mean it’s the very Breath of God (2 Tim 3:16, KJV). The Bible teaches us that Christ was the Word of God made flesh and dwelt among us (Jn 1:1). Therefore, we should believe nothing less than the Bible is the inspired Word of God and therefore authoritative. Jesus clearly endorsed this view in Mat. 5:17-18:
Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfill. For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled.
The Bible supports the claim of God-breathed inspiration and, by implication, inerrancy. 1 Tim. 3:16-17 states, “All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.” All Scripture” makes it clear to every believer that no verse in the Bible can be questioned.
It should be noted that this applies only to the original texts and oral commands that God gave the prophets. It does not extend to copies and translations. We can certainly find some discrepancies between the ancient manuscripts, but surprisingly, very few. It is evident that great care has been taken to preserve God’s self-revelation to mankind. All in all, the canon we possess is very sufficient to get as close as possible to the original texts and oral communication between God and the prophets. We can have complete confidence that God has ultimately preserved His Word for us.
This writer has encountered some Christians who insist that only the King James Version of the Bible is the Word of God. I would like to point out that if we put more confidence in a translation than we do the Author, it is akin to idolatry. Jesus claimed His words were more than mere words. In John 3:63, Jesus claimed that His words were Spirit and Truth. God’s Word transcends time, copies, and translations. The “King James Version Only” folks would do well to have as much faith in God as they do a particular translation.
Competing Views
Biblical Argument: Some insist that the Bible doesn’t use the word “inerrant” to describe itself; however, the concept is clearly evident as I have pointed out. The Bible is more than inerrant; it’s Spirit and Truth. The Author has made it difficult to separate Himself from His Word. Jesus was the incarnate Word. (Jn 1:1). The Almighty God stands behind every verse, every promise, and every jot and tittle.
Historical Argument: Others deny that the church has historically held this doctrine; instead, they believe that Princeton theologians of the 19th century invented a new doctrine concerning inerrancy. This is a weak argument since they fail to consider a “host of clear affirmations of inerrancy.” This is the weakest argument for Protestants since we put little value in historical church doctrines, many of which have proved dubious. We put more emphasis on sola Scriptura—by scripture alone.
Epistemological Argument: Still other faith-challenged groups claim that since some errors may be present in the Bible, we can’t determine with certainty which parts to believe and which parts to doubt. This argument is moot since there are no errors in God’s Word. Jesus expected His followers to repent and believe the [whole] Gospel (Mk. 1:15). We do not get to pick and choose which parts to believe and follow.
The Slippery Slope Argument: Finally, some claim there is no link between denying inerrancy and central doctrines of the Bible. This claim is completely false since the premise implies that they are errors in the Bible and that God is untrustworthy. Notwithstanding my defense, this may be the doubters’ strongest argument. Not everyone who doubts Biblical inerrancy deviates from the core doctrines of Christianity.
Conclusion
Christians must have complete confidence in the Bible. If we give any room for doubt, then the whole Bible becomes dubious. We must adopt the whole Bible as inspired and inerrant. The Bible is completely trustworthy since it is literally God-breathed. The Bible is without error and inspired by an Almighty God. Since all Scriptures are inspired, we can trust in it being inerrant; God cannot lie. Thus, we should live our lives as if every word in the Bible applies to us and has the power to change our lives.
Bibliography
Elwell, Walter A., ed. Evangelical Dictionary of Theology. 2nd ed. Grand Rapids, Mich.: Baker Academic, 2001.
This is another small school essay. I hope you enjoyed it. If we do not believe that the Bible is inerrant, then we can believe almost any doctrine under the sun. For the technical record, I believe the Bible, as originally written, was inerrant. Compare the texts. One of the most incredible things about the copies of the scrolls is their uniformity. There is so little variation that is a miracle within itself. The scribes were beyond meticulous.
