Inerrancy and Inspiration
By Jake Kohl
To say the Bible has
authority means that the Bible is a proven means of having power to command and
to enforce laws, exact obedience, determine or judge (1). This authority comes
from God through inspiration; which according to Elmer Towns is the “supernatural
guidance of the writers of scripture by the Spirit of God whereby they wrote
the word of God, transcribed accurately and reliably” (2). Many arguments come in play when defending
the Bible as being the inerrant Word of God. There are many who lay claim by
stating that the Bible was written by man and therefore cannot be taken
literally. However, if the Bible cannot be taken literally, then we must reject
and toss out everything in the Bible, not just certain things. If God’s holy word is found in what we call
the Bible, then no other book can be God’s word. To differ with what the Bible
says is to differ with God, therefore separating truth from that which is
false. 2 Timothy 3:16 states: "All Scripture is inspired by God and
profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in
righteousness." These ideas are supported in 2 Peter 1: 20-21: "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." This is inspiration! The Old
Testament alone explicitly states 3,808 times that it is conveying the express
words of God. (3) As Christians, we must accept the Bible and its entirety as
inerrant; meaning that every word written is that of the very words of God
without error. It is accurate, inspired, reliable, as well as authoritative.
There is no amount of argument that could persuade the Christian from this very
truth!
However, there are four arguments to the
inerrancy of the Bible; there is first the Biblical Argument, which in short is
stating that the Bible claims inerrancy. A common objection to the Biblical
Argument is that the Bible nowhere teaches its own inerrancy (1). However,
while the term inerrancy is not mentioned in the Biblical text, or is applied
explicitly, “Biblical inerrancy is applied by or follows from a number of
things the Bible does teach explicitly” (1). The second is the Historical
Argument which states that it recognizes that inerrancy was often assumed
rather than explicitly defended. However from its earliest days, the Church’s
use of Scripture has demonstrated an underlying commitment to inerrancy. This
doctrine has been taught implicitly throughout church history, and should be
defended in the modern context explicitly. Biblical inerrancy has been the view
of the church throughout history (1). This argument is the weakest argument of
the four because it relies totally on assumption, rather than fact. Third, the
Epistemological Argument states that if it is not inerrant, we have no sure
word from God. Which is also stating that if the Bible is not inerrant then any
and all claims thereunto is not true (1)... “This example has been
characterized by some as over belief because a single error in the Bible should
not lead one to believe that there is no truth, rather it would call everything
into question” (1). Finally, the forth argument, the Slippery Slope Argument
states that anyone who denies inerrancy will end up denying other evangelical
doctrines (1). The Slippery Slope Argument is found to be the strongest
argument because it is true that once you give up the inerrancy of scripture,
you ultimately will give up other doctrines built on the foundation of Biblical
inerrancy.
The relationship between inspiration and
inerrancy is nothing short of the word of God that was beautifully orchestrated
by the Divine revelation, words of God, breathed into existence. When comparing
the two side by side, you can’t help but see the word inspired from the word
inspiration; the word inspired used as a verb, as if saying God-breathed life
and understanding into him, and as a noun, inspiration. When used, it almost
always refers to as having a cause, effect, or influence; as if saying God
Inspired (breathed) revelation into him. Inerrancy is just that – without
error. When combining the two, inspiration and inerrancy, it comes together as
a Divine understanding that when God inspires, it is without error. To claim
that the Bible is with error, one must throw out everything that is written,
including the existence of God Himself. If God inspired man to write His very
words, and thus, gave revelation to him, and throughout time, the proofs of
prophecy, the archeological discoveries, and the many manuscripts have held the
truth and accuracy, 100%, then we can claim that to date, the scripture is
without error. The relationship of both inspiration and inerrancy works
together in unity to form a divine revelation of truth.
The conclusion that can be drawn from the
authority, inspiration, and inerrancy of the Bible when it comes to the way you
should live your life is simple, yet challenging. 1 Corinthians 2:10-13 states
“But God has revealed them to us through His Spirit. For the Spirit searches
all
things, yes, the deep things of God. For what man knows the things of a man except the spirit of the man which is in him? Even so no one knows the things of God except the Spirit of God. Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might know the things that have been freely given to us by God. These things we also speak, not in words which man’s wisdom teaches but which the Holy Spirit teaches, comparing spiritual things with spiritual.” Furthermore, Old Testament writers consistently stated, “Thus says the LORD” or “The LORD said”, when they spoke or kept record of what was said; indicating they were speaking and writing God’s word and not their own. Hence, because of inspiration the Bible has dual authorship, God and humans. The passage clearly states the authority that is given by inspiration in how we as humans should live our lives. If a person who calls themselves a believer plays down the authority, inspiration, and inerrancy of the Bible, it will almost always be hard to hold on to biblical certitude and conviction. For me, these three confirm without doubt and without error that what I believe stands true and solid, and because of that I can be totally open and free when reading, studying, and living what is in God’s Word.
things, yes, the deep things of God. For what man knows the things of a man except the spirit of the man which is in him? Even so no one knows the things of God except the Spirit of God. Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might know the things that have been freely given to us by God. These things we also speak, not in words which man’s wisdom teaches but which the Holy Spirit teaches, comparing spiritual things with spiritual.” Furthermore, Old Testament writers consistently stated, “Thus says the LORD” or “The LORD said”, when they spoke or kept record of what was said; indicating they were speaking and writing God’s word and not their own. Hence, because of inspiration the Bible has dual authorship, God and humans. The passage clearly states the authority that is given by inspiration in how we as humans should live our lives. If a person who calls themselves a believer plays down the authority, inspiration, and inerrancy of the Bible, it will almost always be hard to hold on to biblical certitude and conviction. For me, these three confirm without doubt and without error that what I believe stands true and solid, and because of that I can be totally open and free when reading, studying, and living what is in God’s Word.
Bibliography
1. Elwell,
Walter. Evangelical dictionary of theology. 2nd ed. Grand Rapids, MI:
Baker Acedemic , 2001. 153-159. Print.
2. Towns,
Elmer. Theology for today. Mason, OH: Cengage Learning, 2002. 29-40.
Print.
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