The Bible
The Inerrancy of Scripture
Psalm 119:89
Forever, O Lord, Your word is settled in heaven.
NKJV
"Scripture is without error. It tells the truth." But, how do we know the Bible is completely true?
First, let us make clear our term. Inerrancy means that the original manuscripts were without error. Man has copied these manuscripts over and over again since they were written. Remember, the first books of the Bible were written about 1400 B.C.! Transcription errors have appeared in some copies of the manuscripts over these 3,400 years.
Inerrancy is an issue because some religious "scholars" have repeatedly redefined such terms as "infallible" to mean the Bible could still have factual historical errors. Where inerrancy is not held, one by one certain Bible doctrines (deity of Christ, etc.), historical facts (such as the literal creation), and other biblical views (on issues such as homosexuality or women's roles) are denied.
We can rest assured that the Bible claims inerrancy for itself:
First, let's use man's logical reasoning:
The Bible is God's word
Matthew 4:4-11
But He answered and said, It is written,
"Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from
the mouth of God." "5 Then the devil took Him up into the holy city, set
Him on the pinnacle of the temple,6 and said to Him, "If You are the Son
of God, throw Yourself down. For it is written: 1 "He shall give His angels
charge over you," and, "In their hands they shall bear you up, Lest you
dash your foot against a stone."" 7 Jesus said to him, It is written
again, "You shall not tempt the Lord your God." "8 Again, the devil
took Him up on an exceedingly high mountain, and showed Him all the kingdoms
of the world and their glory.9 And he said to Him, "All these things I
will give You if You will fall down and worship me."10 Then Jesus said
to him, "Away with you, Satan! For it is written, "You shall worship
the Lord your God, and Him only you shall serve." "11 Then the devil left
Him, and behold, angels came and ministered to Him. (NKJV)
God is always truthful
Titus 1:2
In hope of eternal life which God, who cannot
lie, promised before time began (NKJV)
Hebrews 6:18
That by two immutable things, in which it is
impossible for God to lie, we might have strong consolation, who have
fled for refuge to lay hold of the hope set before us.(NKJV)
Therefore the Bible is completely true (inerrancy).
The teachings of Christ reflect this inerrancy
Matt.4:4 - "every
word that proceeds from the mouth of God."
Matt.5:18 - "the
smallest letter or stroke shall not pass away from the law until all is
fulfilled."
John 10:35 - "scripture cannot be broken."
Inerrancy still allows for approximation, free quotations, figures of speech, language of appearances ("the sun set," etc.) and different (but not contradictory) accounts of the same event.
As inerrantists, we acknowledge that there are sometimes "apparent" contradictions but we affirm that with further knowledge the seeming discrepancy would disappear. This is continually the case as archaeology, etc. repeatedly confirms Bible statements.
