Inerrancy and Inspiration

Inerrancy and Inspiration

            I read the Bible because I know it’s true. I know it’s true because I’ve seen what this book can do and will do if people put their trust and faith in it. It is the final authority in all that we do and don’t do. It is the written words of God.  It has the power to transform people from their own selfish desires to live a life obedient to the one who created all things in the first place (Genesis 1:1). The Bible has the right and power to command, enforce laws, exact obedience, determine or judge because it’s accuracy has been established and the information contained therein can be trusted (Elwell 153).  God’s word says that without faith it’s impossible to please Him (Hebrews 11:1a). It further states that all Scripture is inspired by God ( II Timothy 3:16). Old Testament prophets established the authority of the Bible when they made declarations “This is what the Lord says” (Elwell 154) I believe God doesn’t lie and His scriptures contain the truth. Titus 1:2 speaks of “God, who never lies. His words can always be trusted. The same cannot be said of other religious writings such as the Book of Mormon or the Qur’an. I believe all authority comes from God, and that the Bible is a revelation of Himself, and embodies that same authority.

            This Bible was written over 2000 years ago and contains 66 books. Parts of it were written in tents, deserts, cities, palaces and dungeons. Among those who wrote it were judges, kings, priests, prophets, prime ministers, soldiers, physicians, and fishermen. They all came from different walks of life and at different times covering 55 generations (Towns 54). The central theme of the Bible was the redemption of God.  These authors were “inspired” by God to write exactly what He intended them to write without error. There is no human explanation how all these men could write about the same thing over the course of time and distance unless they were guided by God himself. “But know this first of all, that no prophecy of Scripture is a matter of one’s own interpretation, for no prophecy was ever made by an act of human will, but men moved by the Holy Spirit spoke from God” (2 Peter 1: 20-21) God’s supernatural guidance of the writers and their situations enabled them to receive and communicate all God would have us know for his glory and our salvation ( Driscoll, 48)

            Not only do I believe God’s Word to be inspired, but I also believe it is without error inerrancy. No mistakes, no contradictions, no lies or half truths. It is perfect because God wrote it and He himself is perfect and cannot lie. 2 Samuel 7:28 reads “O Lord God, you are God, and your words are true.” The book of Numbers tells us that “God is not a man, that He should lie, Nor a son of man, that He should repent; Has He said, and will He not do it? Or has He spoken, and will He not make it good? (Number 23:19) God tells the truth period. We as humans are finite beings and God is infinite. God’s thoughts are much higher than ours (Isaiah 55:9) The Bible itself teaches its own authority and can only be justified by or grounded in inerrancy. Something that contains errors cannot be absolutely authoritative (Elwell 157).  John 10:34-35 Jesus says that the Scripture cannot be broken! Can you imagine if something in the Bible was found to be false? If the Bible claims to be the Word of God and we find that to be false, what would that say about God himself? Luther stated “But everyone, indeed, knows that at times they [the fathers] have erred as men will; therefore I am ready to trust them only when they prove their opinions from Scripture, which has never erred.” (Elwell 158) Even the church throughout history has viewed the Scriptures as inerrant. If the church throughout history has claimed the inerrancy of Scripture who am I to argue. One who starts denying the inerrancy of Scripture will soon find himself going somewhere He doesn’t want to go. Soon he will find himself giving up on other doctrinal issues. I stand behind the Word of God when it comes down to inerrancy. If the Bible affirms the truthfulness of Scripture and God doesn’t lie, that’s good enough for me and that’s the greatest argument to stand behind.

            I think the Bible is inspired and inerrant and they go hand in hand. You have the Word of God that was “God breathed”, every word, thought, instance, reason why was inspired by God. Could the Scripture contain an error if it was truly inspired?  Could something not true co-exist with something that is perfect and complete?

            God has given to me everything I need to live a life worthy of His calling. The Bible contains the authority of God because it is the Word of God. It is accurate and true without blemish like His son Jesus Christ. I should live a life worthy of His calling and the only way I can do that is by His grace and strength. Do not be conformed to this world but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect. (Romans 12:2)

Bibliography

Elwell, Walter A. Evangelical Dictionary of Theology, Grand Rapids, Michigan Baker Publishing Group 2001, Print

The Open Bible New Amercian Standard, Thomas Nelson Publishers, Nashville 1977, Print

Towns, Elmer L. Theology for Today, Cengage Learning, Mason Ohio 2008 Print

Driscoll, Mark Doctrine What Christians Should Believe, Crossway, Wheaton, Ill 2010 Print