The Doctrine of Inerrancy

The Doctrine of Inerrancy

Everything in the Bible is true?FALSE. BECAUSE THE Bible CONTAINS FALSE STATEMENTS LIKE THERE IS NO God WHICH WAS SAID BY A FOOL2

Various conceptions of Inerrancy

Absolute InerrancyIt holds that the Bible, which includes rather detailed treatment of matters both scientific and historical, is fully true.THE IMPRESSION IS CONVEYED THAT THE BIBLICAL WRITERS INTENDED TO GIVE A CONSIDERABLE AMOUNT OF EXACT SCIENTIFIC AND HISTORICAL DATA.

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Full InerrancyIt holds that the Bible is completely true. While the Bible does not primarily aim to give scientific and historical data, such scientific and historical assertions as it does make are fully true.THERE IS NO DIFFERENCE IN ABSOLUTE INERRANCY AND FULL INERRANCY IN TERMS OF THEIR VIEW OF THE RELIGIOUS, THEOLOGICAL AND SPIRITUAL MESSAGE.

THEY DIFFER IN THEIR REFERENCES. ABSOLUTE INERRANCY EMPHASIZES EXACTNESS OF DATA WHILE FULL INERRANCY FOCUSES ON PHENOMENAL, THAT THEY WERE REPORTED THE WAY THEY APPEAR TO THE HUMAN EYE. NOT NECESSARILY EXACT BUT INVOLVES GENERAL REFERENCES OR APPROXIMATIONS.5

Limited InerrancyIt holds that the Bible is inerrant and infallible in its salvific doctrinal references.IT MEANS THAT IT IS ONLY INERRANT IN TERMS OF ITS SALVATION MESSAGE.

THIS IS SO BECAUSE THE WRITERS OF THE Bible WERE SUBJECT TO THE LIMITATIONS OF THEIR TIME.

REVELATION AND INSPIRATION DID NOT RAISE THE WRITERS ABOVE ORDINARY AND God DID NOT REVEAL SCIENCE AND HISTORY TO THEM.6

Inerrancy of PurposeIt holds that the Bible inerrantly accomplishes its purpose. The purpose of the Biblical revelation is to bring people into personal fellowship with Christ and this is accomplished effectively.IT WAS NOT GIVEN TO COMMUNICATES ALL TRUTHS SO IT IS IMPROPER TO RELATE INERRANCY WITH FACTUALITY.7

Importance of InerrancyIF THE Bible SAID IT, CAN YOU BELIEVE IT? WHY?8

Theological ImportanceOur view of inspiration (that all scriptures is God-breathed) logically entails the inerrancy of the Bible. Inerrancy is corollary of the doctrine of full inspiration.IF THE Bible IS NOT FULLY TRUTHFUL, OUR VIEW OF INSPIRATION WOULD ALSO BE IN JEOPARDY.

IT MEANS THAT GodS CHARACTER (OMNISCIENT, OMNIPOTENT) WOULD BE IN QUESTION.9

Historical ImportanceThe church has historically held to the inerrancy of the Bible. It means that down through the years of the history of the church, there is a general belief in the complete dependability of the Bible.IF THE DOCTRINE OF INERRANCY IS ABANDONED, THERE WILL BE SERIOUS EFFECTS IN OTHER AREAS OF DOCTRINE WHICH ARE CONSIDERED MAJOR SUCH AS THE DEITY OF CHRIST OR THE TRINITY.10

Epistemological ImportanceHistorical and scientific propositions of the Bible must be proven true, otherwise it will affect doctrinal statements which we cannot verify. IT MEANS, IF THE Bible SHOULD PROVE TO BE IN ERROR IN THOSE REALMS WHERE ITS CLAIMS CAN BE CHECKED, ON WHAT POSSIBLE BASIS WOULD WE LOGICALLY CONTINUE TO HOLD TO ITS DEPENDABILITY IN AREAS WHERE WE CANNOT VERIFY WHAT IT SAYS?

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Inerrancy DefinedThe Bible, when correctly interpreted in light of the level to which culture and the means of communication had developed at the time it was written, and in view of the purposes for which it was given, is fully truthful in all that it affirms.MILLARD ERICKSONS DEFINITION

THIS DEFINITION REFLECTS THE POSITION OF FULL INERRANCY BUT LIES BETWEEN ABSOLUTE INERRANCY AND LIMITED INERRANCY.12

The inerrancy of the Bible means simply that the Bible tells the truth. Truth can and does include approximations, free quotations, language of appearances, and different accounts of the same event as long as those do not contradict.Charles C. Ryrie, What You Should Know About Inerrancy,13FULL INERRANCYABSOLUTE INERRANCYLIMITED INERRANCY

Inerrancy pertains to what is affirmed or asserted rather than what is merely reported.THE Bible REPORTS FALSE STATEMENTS OF UNGODLY PERSONS BUT THESE STATEMENTS THOUGH IN SCRIPTURES DOES NOT MEAN THEY ARE TRUE.

THE USAGE OF THE BOOK OF ENOCH BY JUDE DOES NOT MAKE IT CANONICAL.15

We must judge the truthfulness of Scripture in terms of what the statements meant in the cultural setting in which they were expressed.MEANING, THE Bible MUST BE JUDGED IN TERMS OF THE FORMS AND STANDARDS OF ITS OWN CULTURE.

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The Bibles assertions are fully true when judged in accordance with the purpose for which they were written.EXACTNESS WILL VARY DEPENDING ON THE PURPOSE IT WAS WRITTEN ESPECIALLY IN STATING NUMBERS LIKE IN THE BOOK OF NUMBERS 25:9 (24,000 DIED) AND 1 CORINTHIANS 10:8 (23,000 DIED). BOTH ARE APPROXIMATIONS AND THERE IS NO CONFLICT.17

Reports of historical events and scientific matters are in phenomenal rather than technical language. That is, the writer reports how things appear to the eye. 18

Difficulties in explaining the biblical text should not be prejudged as indications of error. It is better to wait for the remainder of the data to come in, with the confidence that if we had all the data, the problems could be resolved.THERE ARE NO CONTRADICTIONS IN THE Bible BUT ONLY DISCREPANCIES ON HOW IT WAS REPORTED OR WRITTEN.

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Summary of Fundamental Issues on Inerrancy20

Inerrancy allows for variety in styleThe gospel of John was written in the simple style one might expect of an unlearned fisherman; Luke was written with a more sophisticated vocabulary of an educated person; Pauls epistles reflect the logic of a philosopher. All of these variations are entirely compatible with inerrancy.21

Inerrancy allows for variety in details in explaining the same event22

Inerrancy does not demand verbatim reporting of eventsIn times of antiquity it was not the practice to give a verbatim repetition every time something was written out (E. J. Young, Thy Word Is Truth, p. 119). 23

Inerrancy allows for departure from standard forms of grammarObviously it is wrong to force English rules of grammar upon the Scriptures. 24

Inerrancy allows for problem passagesEven with so vast a work as the Holy Scriptures it is impossible to provide solutions to all the problems. 25

Inerrancy demands the account does not teach error or contradictionIn the statements of Scripture, whatever is written is in accord with things as they are. Details may vary but it may still reflect things as they are. 26

Support for Inerrancyfrom the Teachings of ChristIts entirety (Matt. 4:4; 5:17-18)Its historicity (Matt. 19:3-5; Mark 10:6-8)Its reliability (Matt. 26:54)Its sufficiency (Luke 16:31)Its indestructibility (Matt. 5:17-18)Its unity (Luke 24:27, 44)Its inerrancy (Matt. 22:29; John 17:17)Its infallibility (John 10:35)Its entirety; the whole of the Bible is inspired(2) Its historicity; He spoke of the Old Testament in terms of actual history. Adam and Eve were two human beings, created by God in the beginning, who lived and acted in certain ways (Matt. 19:3-5; Mark 10:6-8). He spoke of Jonah and his experience in the belly of the great fish as an historical event (Matt. 12:40)(3) Its reliability; because it is Gods word, the Scripture must be fulfilled(4) Its sufficiency; it is sufficient to witness to the truth of God and His salvation(5) Its indestructibility; heaven and earth will not pass away until it is all fulfilled. Nothing can stop its fulfillment(6) Its unity; the whole of the Bible speaks and witnesses to the person and work of Christ(7) Its inerrancy; men are often in error, but the Bible is not; it is truth(8) Its infallibility; the Bible cannot be broken, it always stands the test27