Rev. S. Wilson
Jesus Christ, God in the flesh, affirmed that the Bible was true in ALL that it teaches. So should you, and here is why!
Let’s start out with this quote from the man of God that shook a generation, John Wesley:
“Nay, if there be any mistakes in the Bible, there may as well be a thousand. If there be one falsehood in that book, it did not come from the God of truth.”
So, what is meant by biblical inerrancy?
It means just what John Wesley stated in the above quote. It is simply the belief that “the Bible is the written word of God to humanity and is true in all that it teaches.” Its complete truthfulness pertains not only to matters of soteriology and theology, but also those of the natural world and history.
An inspired, infallible, and inerrant Bible was the belief proclaimed by Christ himself and has been the historic position of the early church and virtually all of Christianity until the rise of the age of human reason in the 18th century, also called the “Enlightenment.”
Clement of Rome in the first century wrote, “Look carefully into the Scriptures, which are the true utterances of the Holy Spirit. Observe that nothing of an unjust or counterfeit character is written in them.”
A century later, Irenaeus concluded, “The Scriptures are indeed perfect, since they were spoken by the Word of God and his Spirit.”
The view of a totally true Bible has been the historic position of the Christian Church in general throughout the centuries and is so well established, that even some liberal, modern theologians that attempt to negate it have freely confessed and conceded this point.
(For a deeper study on the historicity of biblical inerrancy, see John Hannah, Inerrancy and the Church, Moody Press)
These subtle and sometimes brazen attacks by “progressive” theologians against the teaching of inerrancy have been met and defeated before, but periodically the subject needs to be revisited in light of the latest efforts of those that would say the Bible is not true in all that it teaches.
This all time bestselling book is indeed “an anvil that has worn out many hammers.” In 1978, a more extensive definition of biblical inerrancy was compiled in what has become known as the “Chicago Statement on biblical inerrancy,” which can be viewed in its entirety online with any search engine.
So, what exactly is at stake when we discuss the subject of biblical inerrancy? Nothing less than the very character of God and His word! The seriousness of this subject can be illustrated like this: If God appeared just now and audibly spoke something to you, would you believe what He said is true? Yes? Ok, why? Well, I think we would agree because HE HIS GOD of course and “it is impossible for God to lie.” (Heb. 6:18)
But, if you believe the one, true God is capable of falsehoods, you may want to quit reading right here because we are starting from two completely different planets of premise. However, if you, like me also affirm the holy, perfect, and true character of the one and only Creator, Sustainer, and Redeemer, then, please continue reading because we’re halfway there!
God´s written revelation to people of every nation, tribe, and tongue
To delve deeper into this all-important issue, we must ask, “what specifically did God give to humanity to reveal who He is and what is true regarding life, morality, and eternity?” He most certainly did not leave us a pope, a prophet, or even a church. History has proven all these entities often err and contradict one another. No- He left us…his word, the Bible, which together with the Holy Spirit promises to lead us into all of God´s revealed truth to humankind.
But, is the Bible truly the word of God? Does it even claim such a title?
No less than Jesus Christ himself called the Scripture “the word of God” on numerous occasions such as in Mark 7:13 and John 10:35. In his direct confrontation with Satan in the wilderness, the Son of God quoted directly from Scripture with complete authority to deflect all three of the evil one’s temptations. “It is written!” is the rock in which He stood firm. This constant appeal to the Bible reveals his own absolute conviction that these words were inerrant and were the very words of divinity.
That the Old Testament Scriptures were the authoritative and completely accurate written word of God is what Christ clearly believed, taught, and preached while He walked the Earth as a man. In the Gospels, He quoted from at least twenty-seven books from the Old Testament. He can constantly be heard saying,
“Have you not read…”
“It is written…”
“…that the Scripture might be fulfilled,”
“You know not the Scriptures, nor the power of God,”
“Well has Isaiah prophesied…”
“…and the Scripture cannot be broken,”
and so on and so on.
The Lord Jesus, the night before his suffering, fervently interceded for his disciples, praying: “Father, sanctify them with your truth. Your word is truth.” John 17:17.
Notice, Jesus did not just say, “your word contains truth.” He said, “your word IS truth.” Now that´s a powerful theological statement.
So, should your view of the Bible be any less than the view espoused by Christ Himself?
Let me ask that question again in case you missed it…
SHOULD YOUR VIEW OF HOLY SCRIPTURE BE ANY LESS THAN THE VIEW OF CHRIST HIMSELF?
I hope your answer is no, because affirming biblical inerrancy aligns us with the very position held by Christ, his apostles, the reformers, and virtually all the great missionaries, evangelists, and preachers during the last five hundred years.
Now let’s take a closer look at the conviction the apostles held regarding the matter.
The Apostle Paul, writing by the inspiration of the Holy Spirit declared that “unto the Jews have been entrusted the very words of God.” (Romans 3:2). He was referring to the Old Testament of course.
He told Timothy,
…and that from childhood you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. 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 complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work. II Timothy 3:15-17
A careful reading of these passages reveal that Paul had the highest view of the Old Testament Scriptures. It was the same view that Christ himself affirmed.
Should our value of the New Testament be any different? Of course not.
Jesus did not in any way modify the common affirmation of biblical inerrancy during his time of earthly life but confirmed it through his many statements in the Gospels as already shown. He even spoke of “jots and tittles” not passing away. These were the most minor grammar points. That seems pretty exact!
Christ then even went on to say, “Heaven and Earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away,” thereby giving his words the same infallibility as the holy book he spent his life quoting from constantly.
So, if Jesus considered the Old Testament to be without error, as well as his own words, would it not stand to reason that God is powerful enough to inerrantly inspire and preserve the New Testament as well? The answer to that question is, of course- yes! We can indeed read the Bible and know that “thus says the Lord!”
The apostles in Acts 1 declared that the “Holy Spirit spoke by the mouth of David” referring to Psalm 41. In other words: Mouth of David in the Psalms = Holy Spirit speaking
Romans 9:17 declares, “For Scripture says to Pharaoh: “I raised you up for this very purpose, that I might display my power in you and that my name might be proclaimed in all the earth.” See how the Apostle equates the term Scripture with the actual, literal words of God?
Again, the author of 13 New Testament books declares:
“And we also thank God continually because, when you received the word of God, which you heard from us, you accepted it not as a human word, but as it actually is, the word of God, which is indeed at work in you who believe.” ( I Thess 2:13 ) Yes, the writings of Paul also constitute the word of God.
The Apostle Peter equates Paul’s writings in the New Testament with “the Scriptures,” when he writes:
“…also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things, in which are some things hard to understand, which untaught and unstable people twist to their own destruction, as they do also the rest of the Scriptures.”
So, according to Jesus, the Apostles, and early Christianity, the New Testament obviously is on the same level as the Old. The two together form this marvelous, perfect book we call the Bible.
A very false equivalence
Progressive theologians have objected, “the Bible isn’t the word of God! Jesus himself is. He is the Word!” This is indeed a very important subject because it was precisely this premise which gave an open door to liberal theology in Germany in the early 1900’s. The thought was, “if Jesus is the true Word of God, then the Bible isn’t.” This is a very erroneous conclusion that begins the first step in the downward spiral that seems to always end in apostasy. (That is, if you believe that apostasy is even possible. Many progressive “christians” will not even use the word)
It is true that Jesus is called ¨the word¨ Λόγος (Logos) several times in the New Testament such as in John 1:1, but the written Scripture is also called the word (Logos) of God many times, even by Christ himself, such as in John 10:35 where he states,
“…unto whom the word (Λόγος-Logos) of God came, and the scripture cannot be broken.”
Here we see Christ referring to Scripture (Psalm 82:6) and calls it the “word of God” and even says that it cannot be broken.
In Mark 7:13 Christ scolded the Pharisees for “making the word (Logos) of God of none effect through your tradition.” Here, once again, the “word” he was referring to was none other than the written Scriptures themselves.
So, it is clear that Christ is the “incarnate Word of God”, and the Bible is the “written word of God.” This is why the Greek word “Λόγος” is used interchangeably throughout the New Testament. Indeed, Christ is the Word, but this in no way takes away from the fact that the Bible is the inerrant, written word of God to people of all nations and tongues. This alone cancels a great many of the tainted arguments used by modern “scholars” that dare claim that the Bible contains falsehoods and is not God’s perfect message to man.
“A man is only as good as his word,” is the adage. Indeed, a lying person cannot be trusted. The Bible is a reflection of God’s own character and is as true as He is.
No, we inerrantists don’t worship the Bible as some accuse us. This is an absolutely ridiculous accusation that is meant to create a false equivalency and distract from what is really at stake. Those that hold to the view of a perfect Bible are no more guilty of “bibliolatry” than was Moses, Isaiah, Jesus, Paul, John, Luther, Wesley, or Moody! None “worship the Bible” as they try and pin on us, but we do recognize it is 100% true because it was “God breathed” from the only One that is worthy of our worship! Believing that the Bible is God’s holy, inerrant word honors Him because it recognizes that the word of God is a reflection of His perfect character. Questioning, criticizing, and doubting it dishonors Him and puts one on the side of the hissing serpent in Eden. That is, if you even believe there was a serpent or an Eden! If you don´t believe in inerrancy, you probably don´t!
A new term?
Granted, the term “biblical inerrancy” is a relatively new term in church history, but the understanding that the Bible was divinely inspired, completely true, and preserved without error is the same exact teaching and has existed since Moses or even before.
The overwhelming understanding within the ancient Jewish world was that holy Scripture was absolute truth, because it came from an absolutely true God. We see this in Acts 17:11 where the Bereans diligently searched the Scriptures to see if what even the great Apostle Paul was teaching was correct and were commended for doing so. Did you get that? The Bible was their criteria for determining truth. Should it not be ours as well in these current days of relativism, apostasy and mass confusion?
The life changing power of believing in “Thus saith the Lord!”
I remember when I first came to Christ as a young man of 17. I began reading a nice leather-bound Bible that was given to me. I picked it up believing it was the very word of God spoken to me in the year 1988. I read it voraciously, sometimes several hours a day. I never even questioned its absolute accuracy and purity. I absorbed its words and teachings into my heart and spiritual life. I was completely transformed by the power of God´s word! At 18 I was sharing the Gospel and preaching to all that would hear with a heart and mind full of the words of the Living God.
I firmly believe it is only when the Bible is studied with this kind of conviction; the firm belief that it is absolutely true in all that it teaches, that it´s power and authority are received into the human heart and mind the way God intended. This is what the Psalmist meant when he wrote, “Your word have I hidden in my heart, that I may not sin against you.” Ps. 119:11 No one can tell me any different because I experienced it myself.
Sadly, I have also observed first hand as a pastor that many (if not most) young people in churches today within the USA appear to be spiritual zombies, in part because they have no interest in reading a Bible they have been taught contains mistakes and misinformation. (Of course, we don´t teach this in our church and the “zombi-ism is almost gone!”)
It has now been 36 years since I first opened the pages of that sacred book, and today its perfect truth has helped me walk with God even in difficult times. It has formed for me a perfect foundation of truth that never changes. This was God’s purpose for giving His word to all of us, and I see it marvelously fulfilled in my own life. The Bible is still a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path. Have you personally experienced the powerful truth of I John 2:14?…
“…I write unto you young men, because you are strong, and THE WORD OF GOD ABIDES IN YOU, and you have overcome the evil one.”
It is no wonder Satan hates the doctrine of biblical inerrancy. If I would have believed his lie that the Bible is tainted with error, I am sure that I would still be in the clutches of his deceptions today. Who knows? I may not even be alive today had I believed the serpent´s lie.
A necessary point: the origin of the New Testament as part of Holy Scripture
The Old Testament was already part of the established canon of Holy Scripture during Jesus´ ministry and he was in complete agreement with it. However, in meeting the false challenge that the compilation of the New Testament was the product of human reasoning and criticism, it is important to note that by the mid-2nd century, there was already a general consensus among early Christians and churches regarding the four Gospels, the Acts, the Epistles, and even Revelation. The writings commonly known and accepted as genuine were widely copied and circulated. In fact, today we can almost reconstruct the entire New Testament simply from the writings of these early Christians before the year 350 AD. Later councils only confirmed what was already common knowledge at the time.
So it was not “the Church,” at the Council of Nicaea in 325 AD, Carthage in 397 AD or any other “council” that determined the books of the New Testament, but rather “the churches” in general during the first two centuries AD. Due to a very strict criteria, these early believers knew which were the authentic writings of the apostles and their associates which were to be received as inspired and authoritative. These councils later simply confirmed what the Christian world already knew as fact. The Omnipotent God did indeed lead, direct, and confirm this process.
The Bible itself claims inerrancy
The Scripture itself many times puts forth the claim that it is the inerrant word of God. For example…
“The words of the Lord are pure words: as silver tried in a furnace of earth, purified seven times. Thou shalt keep them, O Lord, thou shalt preserve them from this generation forever. Psalm 12:6,7
“Forever, O Lord, thy word is settled in heaven.” Psalm 119:89
“The grass withers, the flower fades: but the word of our God shall stand forever.” Isaiah 40:8
“If anyone thinks they are a prophet or otherwise gifted by the Spirit, let them acknowledge that what I am writing to you is the Lord’s command.” I Corinthians 14:37
“His (Paul’s) letters contain some things that are hard to understand, which ignorant and unstable people distort, as they do the other Scriptures, to their own destruction.” II Peter 3:16
The above verses infer that the Bible is God´s perfect word and is true in all that it teaches. The Old Testament prophets believed it. Jesus proclaimed it. The apostles affirmed it, as did Christianity as a whole until apostate, liberal theology arose after the surge of secular humanism.
But, does it matter?
So, again, what exactly is at stake here? Well, just about everything. If the Bible contains errors, then we can be certain of nothing, and every doctrine and debate simply become a matter of personal opinion and arbitrary subjectivism.
If I am known to tell the truth most of the time, but you have personally observed me also telling a few lies and falsehoods, could you believe anything I say for sure? The answer is…absolutely not! Therefore, if the Bible is not true in all, it is not true at all. This is exactly what John Wesley, the man used by God to shake an entire nation and generation, was attempting to communicate with the quote:
“Nay, if there be any mistakes in the Bible, there may as well be a thousand. If there be one falsehood in that book, it did not come from the God of truth.”
Some progressive “christians” (notice the quotes) say that all that is truly necessary is to believe in the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ. Everything else is secondary, therefore believing in biblical inerrancy is not essential. The problem with this conclusion is that it attempts to separate Christ and the Gospel from the written word of God. This would be like trying to separate your lungs or heart from your body.
The birth, life, death, and resurrection of Christ have their very foundation in the prophesies of the Old Testament. It is impossible to separate the two. There is not some “generic Jesus,” or “gospel” floating around in a mystical ether somewhere unattached from the Bible. We believe in the true Jesus and the true Gospel because of holy Scripture, not separate from it. We see this clearly displayed in Acts 18:28 where it states:
“For he vigorously refuted his Jewish opponents in public debate, proving from the Scriptures that Jesus was the Messiah.”
Do you see in this passage how the conclusion that “Jesus is the Christ,” (Messiah) was based on the very foundation of the Scripture? This same foundation defines the true Gospel and the true Christ and protects us from the subjective, pragmatic false gospels and “christs” that the Apostles so frequently warned about.
Where does the rejection of biblical inerrancy lead?
If a person dislikes a verse because it condemns a practice or lifestyle they adhere to, all they have to say is that “the Bible is not inerrant, and I think those verses are in error.” Or “who knows if modern scholarship will later show those verses to be spurious or mistaken? So, why should I let them bind my conscience now?” Can you see where this dangerous conclusion leads?
So, if I reject the truth of biblical inerrancy, who are you or anyone else in the world to tell me that my lifestyle or beliefs are in error? This is indeed the inescapable conclusion. “Truth” then becomes a matter of personal opinion and pragmatism. Those that adhere to a denominational creed or manual may even harbor the hope that the latest “council,” “assembly,” or “community of faith” will change their stance on a topic or established doctrine, thereby making them the arbitrator of what God did or did not say. These are the dangers that present themselves when a flawed, low view of Scripture is entertained.
Our first loyalty is to God and His revealed word, not a creed, denomination, council, or assembly. We should “obey God rather than men.” Our conscience should be influenced by none other. Can you say amen? If you can’t, take heed my friend. I’m afraid you are ripe for the coming deception. A deception so great, that Christ himself warned that, if possible, would “deceive even the very elect.”
Even today, in many denominations there are thousands of inerrancy denying, progressives ready to pounce. They are impatiently fighting for and waiting for their General Council or Assembly to change their official position regarding different subjects, such as the homosexual lifestyle. This is usually achieved in progressive phases or steps. Here is how it usually unfolds…
1. it´s not an abomination, remove that offensive word!
2. we need to “dialogue” with the queer community
3. the orientation itself is not sinful because they were “born that way.”
4. Christians can be classified as “gay”
5. Who are you or anyone else to say who they can or cannot “love?”
6. Acceptance of gay “marriage” and gay couples adopting children is “love,” and God is love.
7. Full and complete inclusion of practicing homosexuals, including clergy.
8. Non tolerance and even hate for those that do not affirm this view
9. Complete and total apostasy. Ichabod, the glory has departed!
10. The complete and final destruction of the denomination or congregation.
This has been the story of many denominations and is the current state of others. Some are currently debating one of the above points. These are the steps of progression, but the end goal is always the same.
Those that seek to discredit the Bible and introduce that which historic Christianity has condemned for thousands of years are not content to seek a denomination that holds to their abhorrent view, but will not rest until the last truth preaching, Bible believing church or movement has yielded to their demands. They have already succeeded in many places, turning entire denominations and movements to embrace the sin of the homosexual lifestyle. This is just one dangerous place that rejection of biblical inerrancy leads.
I don´t want to to stray from the subject at hand and this may be an issue better left for a different time, but you can be sure that all the denominations that have bowed their knee to the Baal of LGBTQ had first rejected the belief in biblical inerrancy. However, this does not change what God says about this, or any other matter. Something doesn’t become truth simply because a council or assembly declares it. What an entire denomination teaches is true only if the infallible word of God affirms it.
The church does not determine what the Bible teaches: the Bible determines what the church teaches. This was the predominant message of the Reformation that eventually led to the understanding that mankind’s freedoms and liberties come directly from God, not from government. And it was this conviction of individual liberty from God that led in turn to the rise of the constitutional, representative republics and democracies of the Western world. Thank God for the Reformation!
The slippery slope of relativism, subjectivism, and pragmaticism within denominations can only be avoided through a high view of Scripture. How high? Once again, a view that is no lower than what Christ himself affirmed and taught.
It’s all true…or it isn’t.
Another author asks a good question:
“If the Scripture is unreliable, can we offer the world a reliable gospel? How can we be sure of truth on any issue if we are suspicious of errors anywhere in the Bible? A pilot will ground his aircraft even on suspicion of the most minor fault, because he is aware that one fault destroys confidence in the complete machine. If the history contained in the Bible is wrong, how can we be sure the doctrine or moral teaching is correct?” A very good question indeed.
I would make the case that the inerrancy of Scripture may well be the most important teaching within Christianity. Why? Because everything we believe and teach as essential doctrine is based upon it. Such essentials as “God is love,” Christ died for our sins, or adultery is wrong are based upon an understanding that God has revealed these truths in the Bible. We believe these essentials because God declares them in His word. It is the foundation of our faith.
A Firm Foundation
The Bible is our foundation of truth as Christ followers, but, “if the foundations be destroyed, what will the righteous do?” Psalm 11:3 So, if this precious foundation is destroyed, we have no authority upon which to base truth except the opinions of men, which are constantly changing and contradicting one another. Truth turns into a “flavor of the day” relativism in such cases, and in many others, the concept of absolute truth is rejected completely! Your truth may not be my truth and every definition is accepted except the concept of objective, absolute truth as defined by God in His word, the Bible. There is tolerance for anything and everything except that. Imagine.
It is easy to see why Satan’s most strategic attack is against the foundational doctrine of biblical inerrancy. If the Great Deceiver succeeds in causing a person to question one thing, he/she can be deceived into questioning almost anything. This was his very first attack upon innocence in Eden. The enemy of our souls did not tempt Eve with any other sin, just in the sin of questioning what God had commanded: in other terms, questioning… His word.
Today the enemy of all truth can still be heard hissing, “Yeah, hath God said…?” After getting her to question and doubt what God had said, the trap was set, and the next lie came, contradicting God´s clear commandment…
“thou shalt not surely die.”
She believed the lie, and here we are. The rest is history.
Of course, most of those that reject inerrancy do not actually believe this account even happened and usually accept the lie of Darwinian evolution to explain the origins of life and the human race. To them, Noah and the Flood or Jonah and the whale are just stories with a nice moral lesson. The problem is, Christ Himself declared these accounts as historical saying, “in the beginning God created them both male and female,” as well as quoting as factual the accounts of Noah and Jonah. If these accounts never happened, then Jesus lied and is imperfect himself, and therefore cannot be our perfect Savior. Once again, can you see where the rejection of biblical inerrancy leads? It really does matter. Yes, a lot is at stake here for sure.
A clarification and a defense
It is true that God used men to write the Bible and men are imperfect. But a perfect God superintended the composition and transmission of His word. The Bible is inerrant in spite of the fact that human vessels were used. The Scripture came through “holy men as they were moved by the Holy Spirit.” (I Pet 1:21) Indeed, these men in themselves were not perfect, but what came from them while writing under God’s supervision and inspiration truly was. It is possible to draw a straight line with a crooked stick.
The Scripture was “God breathed” (II Timothy 3:16) but at the same time expressed through human vessels in language, metaphors, and the common understanding of the time it was written. God used different personalities and literary expressions, but without compromising truth in any way, shape or form. All Christians that profess biblical inerrancy agree to this.
This is why Scripture can refer to the sun rising in the east, even though we know the sun doesn’t actually rise. Today we still refer to the “sunrise” and the “sunset.” There are many more examples I could cite, but this relaying of God’s message in the terms and understanding of the time in no way detracts from the Bible’s perfect accuracy.
Meeting the “Science Challenge”
Many progressive theologians that oppose the doctrine of inerrancy often say that this belief causes problems for the Christian faith because the inerrantist is obligated to meet and overcome all the latest challenges presented by “science.” They fear that holding to inerrancy will cause people to reject the Christian faith as a whole if it doesn’t line up with modern philosophies, theories, or conclusions. So, in an effort to “save Christianity,” they then promote the idea that it is acceptable to reject most of what the Bible teaches, as long as one adheres to just a few points of the Christian faith. This conclusion is extremely problematic and contributes not to the strengthening of faith, but to the loss of it.
Those that attempt to sacrifice or compromise the Bible´s teachings to accommodate the latest trend or theory are committing a grave mistake. They are ignoring the warning of God through the Apostle when he writes: “Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ.” Col 2:8
While it is true that the Bible is not in itself a science book, it does include dozens of declarations about the natural world that were unknown by mankind at the time of its writing and have been scientifically confirmed within the last few hundred years or less. This in itself is a strong argument for the divine origin of the Holy Scriptures. See http://www.provethebible.com/101-scientific-facts.html
It is important to understand that most all of us that believe that the Bible is inerrant actually love science and believe that it is completely compatible with its teachings. Those that believe in a perfect God and a perfect Bible welcome these challenges. But let me clarify that by the term “science,” we are talking about facts that are clearly proven through observation and the scientific method, not the “…oppositions of science falsely so called.” I Tim 6:20
True science would not include unproven theories such as macro-evolution, which is nothing but a religion masquerading as science. After our increased knowledge during the last 30 years or so, this unprovable theory seems even more impossible today than in 1859 when Darwin published his “Origin of the Species by means of natural selection or the preservation of favored races in the struggle for life.” (Yes, that was the complete, original, and racist title.)
What is often called “science” today is nothing more than the declarations of men that have sold out to the highest bidder or to whoever is funding their “research” to obtain a certain, sought after conclusion. (“Lucy” the ape woman is a good example of this!)
The latest “science” of modern gender theory will be seen in the portals of history and eternity in the same light as the doctors who proclaimed the benefits of smoking for respiratory health and that “bloodletting” with leaches was a life saver. These are just a few examples but many more could be given to show how time and time again what was once promoted as fact has fallen by the wayside after the test of time and observation. But in the midst of this, God´s word stands like an immovable rock. Yes, the Bible IS compatible with true science and archeology as well.
The great archeologist William Albright set out to prove the Bible false and historically inaccurate. After years of laborious archeological examinations, he came away with the firm conviction that the Bible was true in all of its historical accounts and ended up converted to Christ! This is just one of a myriad of examples that can be given.
It has not always been immediate, but time and observation have always confirmed the Bible´s teachings regarding the natural world and the historical record. All we need to do as Christ followers is to trust our Savior when He declares, “Thy word is truth.” (John 17:17) Even though the Bible´s teachings are true, there is still the element of faith that chooses to trust God even in the moments when everything is not totally clear, or the proof is still forthcoming.
The Bible records statements that are not true, but these statements are easily understood in context. The Bible says for example, “There is no God.” A full reading of the verse renders the true meaning. “The fool has said in his heart, there is no God.” So can almost every apparent contradiction or “problematic passage” be explained and understood. Time will not permit me to delve into defending or explaining these passages now. That has already been done in many other writings by people more knowledgeable than I in the areas of exegesis, context, and biblical languages.
A challenge already met
It is important to note that almost every attack on the Bible throughout history has already been met and overcome through proper understanding and hermeneutics. All the supposed “contradictions” or historical fallacies have been met by Bible scholars to the point that those that love God´s word continue to be convinced of its faithfulness in all things, even in the current year in which we are alive.
These same, tired attacks continue to fail again and again as Holy Scripture stands like an immovable rock to even the greatest scrutiny. The latest accusations that the Bible condones slavery or genocide are also easily refuted in the light of proper hermeneutics and exegesis. If I could recommend one book of many to read regarding the apologetics of God, the Bible, and the Christian faith, it would be “In Defense of the Faith,” by Dave Hunt. Check it out.
Yes, the Bible is indeed, an “anvil that has worn out many hammers!” It is noteworthy that those that reject biblical inerrancy tend to reject apologetics altogether. Sadly, they are depriving themselves of dozens of amazing, fulfilled prophecies found in the Bible as well as the many declarations about the natural world that were confirmed much later by relatively modern science. Believing in biblical inerrancy, far from damaging faith, causes it to become more solid and robust to the sincere heart that seeks truth above all else.
Continuing to meet the objections: A slippery slope
Other progressive theologians erroneously affirm that only the declarations of the first three or four general councils should be regarded as essential truth, or perhaps even the misnamed “Apostles Creed.” (Which was actually compiled hundreds of years after the apostles)
So…the Councils determined truth? Really? And who decided that? That would make them the absolute authority then on what is eternally true and what is not! No, God alone reveals truth and has declared this truth through Holy Scripture. It is His message to mankind spoken by the prophets, Christ, and Apostles. This amazing book is still the most widely read, printed, banned and translated worldwide year after year. The dark ages have passed, and it can now be read and understood individually without the help of any infallible council, pope, or scholar. All you need is the Holy Spirit! What a privilege!
What really matters regarding Christian Unity
Some would contend, “If every person can go directly to the Bible individually without the authority or help of popes, prophets, or Councils in their search for truth, wouldn´t that lead to an endless number of conclusions?” The answer to this question is, a resounding…no. It was to remove the “infallible mediators” between man and the Bible that the Reformation waged its uncompromising war.
If every person sincerely studied God´s word and was willing to accept its holy teachings apart from his/her own opinions and prejudices, most people would come to the same conclusions regarding the essentials with the help of the Holy Spirit, who leads “into all truth.” Yes, some topics that have always been universely considered non-essentials (spiritual gifts, music, church government, eschatology) may be understood differently, but this is not a problem. Why? Because the essential doctrines necessary for unity, salvation and holy living would be understood by all Christ followers without the help or interference of a third party. These subjects could be understood differently without much problem, because the unmovable foundation is the same and differing views can be adjusted without affecting the core value of biblical inerrancy. Certain subjects may be understood or defined in different ways, but the foundational teaching that the Bible is pure, infallible, and inerrant is the rock that will keep believers strong in faith even in this age of confusion, compromise, and apostasy.
The Bible, true only in parts?
As earlier stated, a common attack on inerrancy by some liberal voices today propose that only parts of the Bible are true, and others are not. Some may even teach that most of it is true, but that it still contains errors. This would be similar to saying, “most of the liquid in this glass is H2O, but there are other hazardous chemicals present, but you should still take a drink!, or, “most of these cookies were baked with the correct ingredients, but just a little dog excrement was used as well.” Would you drink that water or eat those cookies? If purity matters for water and cookies, how much more should it matter for God´s written revelation to mankind?
The rejection of biblical inerrancy or even the “partly inerrant” view invariably leads to groups such as the infamous “Jesus Seminar” back in the early 90`s where so-called “scholars” determined that Jesus probably only said 6% of what the Gospels attribute to him. This understanding flies in the face of the very character of God, who never lies! It will always lead to further doubt and skepticism, leading to the question, “who then determines what the true portions of the Bible are and what are the erroneous ones?”
As soon as this premise is entertained, then the Bible loses its power and authority in the lives and hearts of men. God is no longer feared, and sin often becomes trivial or subjective. Why? Because when this is done, the Bible no longer judges men, but men become the judges of the Bible. This was never God’s intention and is why the Bible itself claims to be without error. “The words of the Lord are pure words: as silver tried in a furnace of earth, purified seven times. Thou shalt keep them, O Lord, thou shalt preserve them from this generation forever.” Psalm 12:6,7
When the Bible is critiqued, judged, and discredited, then the final authority becomes that thing that does the critiquing, judging, and discrediting. Yes, once a link in the golden chain of biblical inerrancy has been broken, how does one know anything is true? Man has made himself the judge of Scripture instead of the other way around. We now must rely on “them” to tell us what is true and what is not. Are you willing to trust your eternity to what “they” tell you is true? I, for one…am not.
Of course, the problem with the conclusion of finite, human beings telling us what is true in the Bible and what is not is that they themselves are continually shifting their understanding and cannot agree by often contradicting one another. Many progressives and entire denominations are seeking to create a Christianity that is palatable to a perverted and lost world. They say, “My god would never…,” or “My god would approve of…” In this, they have created a god after their own image, instead of the other way around. They are correct in saying that their god would never do something that the Scripture teaches or affirm something the Scripture condemns, because “their god” doesn´t exist and is simply a creation of their own sinful thinking.
This is why the “god” of many progressive, Bible doubting “christians” is imperfect and limited in his knowledge. Those that ascribe to the heresies of process theology and open theism even teach that God learns from his mistakes or doesn´t even know the future! It is no wonder that they can now draw cartoons of Jesus marching in a parade in full support of gay pride. Indeed, they have crafted a god and a “Jesus” of their own imagining. Yes, this is where rejecting the doctrine of biblical inerrancy will almost always end up. You don´t believe me? Just look at history and observe the present. It is there for all to see.
I have also noticed that many people that deny biblical inerrancy will also spew heresies like “there are many ways to heaven,” “a literal hell doesn’t exist,” “God will not punish anyone,” and that “homosexual attraction is not sinful,” just to name a few. Once again, such things are the inescapable result when belief in a perfect Bible is traded for the opinions of sinful men.
Examining the issue further, the teaching that the Bible is inerrant only in some parts, but not in others is erroneous for two reasons:
First, we have the problem of “if I cannot trust you here, why should I trust you there?” If the Bible’s account of creation is not true, why should we believe it regarding salvation? If it is false in its geology, why should we trust its theology? This would be like me telling my wife, “I’ll tell you the truth about my relationships, but not my finances.” If I can’t be believed regarding my finances, should she trust what I tell her regarding my relationships? Of course not. If the Bible is indeed the word of God, then the very character of God would demand that all of it be true, not just parts or subjects that were somehow selected by finite and sinful men.
The second problem with the “inerrant only parts” premise is that it leads to the unavoidable question, “who then determines which parts are those that are without error?” A Pope? A prophet? A council? Mother Church? A “community of faith?” Which faith? As already stated, it was because of this very issue that the Reformation waged its uncompromising, spiritual war and placed the glorious light of “Sola Scriptura” in the hands and consciences of common men and women who could determine for themselves their own firm conviction of God´s truth.
What a marvelous thing for people of all classes and cultures to come to the same knowledge of God through a personal study of His word without coercion or deception! This is God’s plan; that we come to believe the timeless truths of His word by searching the Scriptures like the Bereans did in Acts 17 through the guidance from the Holy Spirit, not because we were “told what to believe” by a pope, prophet, council, or assembly.
Yes, we that believe in inerrancy may differ in some minor areas, but one thing is sure: what we believe is due to our own understanding and convictions gained by our own prayerful feeding on God’s holy word. Once again, I believe that if we all studied the Bible this way, we will eventually come into the unity of the faith.
The theological conclusions I hold to today have hardly changed in my 36 years of being a Christ follower, and I hold to them because of this personal study and understanding of God’s word, not because I was told by an ecclesiastical hierarchy what I should or shouldn’t believe. It was this same conviction that in 1521 emboldened a pious, German theologian to stand against the world, facing death, and declare, “Show me by Scripture my error or I will not recant. My conscience is captive to the word of God…Here a stand, I can do no other, God help me.”
Some examples learned from history
Finally, we must not simply examine a teaching. That is only half of the study. We must see where believing that teaching will lead. Without exception, the theological liberalism that rejects biblical inerrancy will always lead to deeper levels of the same. Progressivism knows no end. Thank God His truth does not change and…
“Forever is thy word established in the heavens.” Ps 119:89
History proves that when a person, church, society, or denomination abandons the belief that God has inerrantly spoken through his word the Bible, tragedy and spiritual death is the common result. It has been clearly observed and proven throughout history that rejecting biblical inerrancy has always been the first step in the downward spiral of apostasy for individuals and entire denominations.
Indeed, the rejection of biblical inerrancy is the “first base,” using a baseball metaphor, towards outright theological disaster. Preventing this first step is the only safeguard. If the runner is always thrown out at first, he will never make it to second, third, and certainly not home. The belief in an inerrant Bible is “the out” at first base for the progressive theologian and his errors that would take true Christianity down a road of certain corruption.
A Good Example
Most of the Ivy League universities began as a training centers for ministers and missionaries over two hundred years ago. They are now bastions for humanistic thought and a myriad of other ungodly philosophies. Think about that for a moment. This transformation did not happen overnight. This is why landmarks of theological integrity must be set and never moved. Once again, you can´t make it to home plate if you don´t make it to first base. You can´t count to ten without first using the number one. The firm foundation of biblical inerrancy is the landmark which God has set. It is the “first base” and the “number one” in guarding against the dangerous lies of the Evil One.
Europe was once the continent of the reformers, powerful preachers, first missionaries, and great revivals. After the surge and acceptance of liberal theology rising out of Germany in the early 20th century, a spiritual death began to infect the continent. The result was the embracing of ungodly, humanistic philosophies that led directly to two horrendous world wars.
As I alluded to earlier, one of the foremost teachings of this liberal theology was that the word of God was not the Bible, but rather Christ himself, the Logos. As already mentioned, that is a half-truth that sounds ok from the outside, but without the Holy Scripture, even the incarnate Logos is subject to personal interpretations, opinions, and pragmatism. No wonder the Apostle Paul feared the Corinthians would tolerate “another Jesus, another gospel, and another spirit.” (II Cor 11:4) Without the Bible to define who the “Logos” is, Jesus could just as well be the half-brother of Lucifer as Mormonism teaches, a Guru who went to India as the New Agers teach, or simply a prophet that is not the Son of God as Islam declares.
In actuality, is it possible to affirm anything about Jesus Christ apart from the Sacred Scripture that gives testimony of Him? What do we honestly know for sure about Christ apart from the Bible? The answer? Absolutely nothing.
After the belief in inerrancy was rejected generally in Europe, Darwinian evolution, relativism, and militant nationalism were then embraced because “truth” became a matter of subjective opinion. The spiritual vacuum had to be filled and the loudest voices and the biggest guns prevailed. Culture and society were changed as the concept of absolute truth defined by God was rejected for a relative morality defined by humanistic thought. This is how the rejection of the Bible and its absolute morality led to the horrors of over 70 million deaths in both world wars from 1914-1945 and to the equally evil system of humanistic Marxism that killed even more people after that. Was all this from simply rejecting the theological concept of biblical inerrancy? I absolutely believe it was the safeguard that was removed from society and culture and what began to turn the wheels toward the horrors that followed.
A serious call for reflection
Unless Christians and churches in the United States return to preaching and believing in the absolute, inerrant truth of God’s holy word, it will find itself spiraling in the ever-downward trend of the theological liberalism and following the footsteps that led to the spiritual graveyard that is today´s Western Europe. Can anyone deny that this is exactly what we are seeing today? In the same measure that biblical inerrancy has been compromised or rejected, we have seen the corresponding moral decadence of Western culture and society.
In Scandinavia, (Iceland, Denmark, Norway, Sweden, Finland) recent polls have revealed that there is now barely one young person in a thousand that believes that Jesus Christ is the only Way, Truth, and Life. This is none other than the direct result of their forefathers rejecting the doctrine of biblical inerrancy from years before. After all, if the story of Adam and Eve is not true, how do we know that the story of the Resurrection is?
Once again: God did not give the Bible to man so that he could pick and choose what he likes or doesn’t like as if he were at a buffet restaurant. The Bible is true…or it isn’t. It stands as a unit and cannot be separated nor compromised.
A source of true power and why many are blind to it
Not surprisingly, most of the opposition to the doctrine of biblical inerrancy comes from so called “higher learning.” But if you travel to places like Africa, China, and Latin America where Christianity is exploding and people are coming to Christ by the thousands on a daily basis, you will find that Christians there may not be highly educated, but almost without exception they believe the Bible is the infallible word of God. This, along with genuine repentance are the common denominators that unite the great revivals and supernatural moves of God and during the past several hundred years.
There is a spiritual element to understanding the things of God that transcends all criticism, philosophies, and doctorate degrees. The Scripture rings true: “Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools.” The “natural man” does “not like to retain God in his knowledge,” and usually the reason he chooses to deny the Bible as inerrant is because there is something that his carnal mind doesn’t care for or simply won’t accept.
The opposition to biblical inerrancy is deeply rooted in the innate, sinful nature of man, which “cannot receive the things of God, for they are foolishness to him, nor can he know them, for they are spiritually discerned.” A deeper study of I Corinthians 2 reveals (if you believe that chapter to be true of course!) that God’s words cannot be approached with the prideful arrogance of human understanding, but only with a spiritual mind and humble heart willing to be led by the author of Scripture, the Holy Spirit Himself.
It matters not how many university degrees a person piles on to their name, if they do not approach God’s word with fear and trembling, he/she will never be able to grasp it with the true, spiritual understanding that only God can give. Yes, God still “has hidden these things from the wise and learned and revealed them unto little children.” Mat 11:25 He still “looks…to the one that trembles at (his) word.” Is 66:2
Churches and Christianity in general are becoming every day more powerless and less relevant in our society of post-modernism. There is a reason for this, simply because God cannot bless that which is not true. Most churches are dying because they proclaim a powerless message that is not based on the eternal truth of God´s holy word, the Bible. When His word is denied or negated, His power and presence depart. God will no more bless a message that is false than would He send fire to consume the sacrifice upon Baal’s altar in Elijah´s day, even though the false prophets scream, bleed, and dance. They may fill a large building with people, but the end result are lives that are no different than those outside the building. There is no weeping for sin, no repentance, and certainly no powerful, genuine move of the Holy Spirit. They are doing nothing more than giving a “high five” to a drowning man.
There is POWER when the word of God is accepted just as He meant it to be; completely inerrant and authoritative. This is the first step toward a genuine revival and true move of God.
I previously mentioned how when I came to Christ, I began to feast on it for hours a day. I was truly “not living by bread alone, but by every word of God.” I believed what the Bible said about itself and received it as authoritative and true spiritual food. I was experiencing I Peter 2:2 in a wonderful way:
“As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby.”
But there is something else I need to mention about my teenage experience. After about a year or so of this awesome spiritual growth, I read some literature that caused me to begin to doubt the absolute inerrancy of the God´s word without even realizing it. I was rather gullible and subconsciously gave place to this lie without investigating it or presenting it to God in prayer. I could feel my joy wane and my spiritual life begin to abate. Thank God, this didn´t last too long and when I began to understand some of these things that I am sharing with you today and to again believe God’s word was perfect and inerrant, the joy and the power returned! So, I know firsthand where rejecting biblical inerrancy can lead if we´re not careful. But by God´s grace, He rescued me from “Doubting Castle” with the “Key of Promise,” just like in Bunyan´s Pilgrim´s Progress. (Who, by the way, also firmly believed in the doctrine of inerrancy!)
The moment a person, church or denomination subjects the Bible to criticism and skepticism, they can no longer exercise true spiritual power and authority. Spiritual sickness and death then begin to creep in. Hearts no longer “burn within them while (Christ) opens unto them the Scriptures” (Lk 24:32) because it is not accepted for what it is; God speaking inerrantly to us!
Conclusion
Dear follower of the Living Christ, believe and declare what the Lord Jesus himself affirmed over and over: that the Bible is the holy and perfect word of God! This truth will be your protection in these times of apostasy and the time of great deception that is yet to come. (Or is it already here?)
Say together with the Apostle Paul: “We are not as many, which corrupt the word of God.” (II Cor 2:17)
Yes, Jesus afirmed the doctrine of biblical inerrancy. I hope now you can see why you should as well.
Let God be true 