What Does it Mean that the Bible is Inerrant?
I hope you’d agree that the Bible is a pretty important book. Many of us have a few Bibles on our shelves. But why do we think the Bible is important? Is it simply because it is a good place to learn morality or how to fight our battles (there were a lot of battles fought in the OT)?
The Bible is important because we believe it to be the very word of God Himself. The words of the Bible are inspired by God (see 2 Timothy 3:16). Or, to say it another way, “No prophecy was ever produced by the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit” (2 Peter 1:21). This is an important fact for us to understand regarding the question of inerrancy. The Bible is God's word. And, as we learn in the Scriptures, God cannot lie (Titus 1:2).
If God cannot lie, then the book He wrote will be truthful. This is what “inerrancy” is all about. The doctrine is defined like this: “Inerrancy means the Bible is without error in the original manuscripts, perfectly truthful in all that it affirms.” The Chicago Statement on Biblical Inerrancy explains inerrancy as Scripture being "wholly and verbally God-given, [and] without error or fault in all its teaching.” The Bible is important because it is God’s word that is true. Not only is it true, but because of the nature of its author, it will not lead you to error.
“So,” you ask, “what you are saying is that the Bible that I am holding has no errors in it?” Yes, but I’ll add a caveat. The statement above says that the “original manuscripts” were without error. The original manuscripts were written by God's chosen servants, and it’s those original, inspired writings that were without error. So, to the extent that our modern, English Bibles match what was originally written, then they, too, can be considered inerrant.
Some say that modern-day English versions have differences and therefore can’t be inerrant. Most modern translations even include footnotes that show alternative readings found in certain ancient manuscripts. These so-called “errors” do not impact the overall message of Scripture in any way. Such minor differences do not constitute an error in information or doctrine, nor do they lead anyone away from the truth of the gospel being proclaimed. We can be confident that the Bible we read today is, in fact, accurate translations of the original writings.
So, with all of this in mind, I say confidently that the Bible is inerrant. Why is this such a big deal? Because we can be sure that the book that we hold in our hands, called the Bible, is God's word, and it can be trusted to lead you to truth. The Bible was not written to lead anyone to error or to sin, but the opposite. It was written so we would know God, know His plan of redemption, and know how to live once we have placed our faith in Christ. Our perfect God desires a relationship with us, so he wrote a book to guide us unto Himself. His word can be trusted.
How does all of this apply to you and me?
Be confident that what you read in your Bible is leading you to truth and righteousness, not sin and error.
Rest in the power of God that we find in the Bible. He inspired men to write His holy word, and He has ensured that it’s been preserved for all of time.
Allow this truth increase your faith in God. He will not fail you, nor will His word fail you.
Click here to read our statement of faith and the Chicago Statement on Inerrancy for a more thorough explanation of the doctrine of the inerrancy of Scripture.