Have you heard of the Doctrine of Biblical Inerrancy before? The word, “inerrancy” simply means without error. Therefore, the basic idea of biblical inerrancy says that the Bible is without error. But this definition doesn’t quite help us very much because it still can mean so many different things to so many people.
One says it means the Bible is pure. The Bible contains no impurities.
Psalm 12:6 The words of the LORD are pure words; As silver tried in a furnace on the earth, refined seven times.
Another says it means the Bible is perfect. The Bible contains no imperfection.
Proverbs 30:5 Every word of God is tested; He is a shield to those who take refuge in Him.
Yet another says it means the Bible has no mistakes. Even this can be understood in at least three different ways. If the Bible contains mistakes, then God is capable of making mistakes, and he is therefore not omniscient. If the Bible contains misinformation, then God is capable of being untruthful, and he is therefore a liar. If the Bible contains contradictions, then God is capable of being unsure, and he is a confused God. And on and on.
If you were someone familiar or slightly familiar with biblical inerrancy, how would you understand it, and how would you explain it? As for me, when I think of biblical inerrancy, I think about how the Bible contains exactly what God has purposed to reveal to us. Nothing more, nothing less. What was recorded in the Bible captures the totality of what God wants us to know for life. The person who reads the Bible does not need to worry if there is anything in it that did not come from God. Conversely, he does not need to worry if there was something more God wished to say, but it didn’t make it into the Bible—God ran out of space, so to speak. The Bible is exactly what God has prepared for you and me.
Revelation 22:18–19
I testify to everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: if anyone adds to them, God will add to him the plagues which are written in this book; and if anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God will take away his part from the tree of life and from the holy city, which are written in this book.
Because the Bible contains exactly what God has purposed to reveal to us, it is authoritative. God is the Supreme One, and the Sovereign One. Therefore, what he says in the Bible is authoritative. Many years ago, one friend asked me, “Isn’t the Bible written by humans?” Yes, it is. But the authors of the Bible did not write whatever they wished. They wrote under the authority and inspiration of the Almighty. In other words, God used everyday humans like you and me to record down his messages to us.
1 Thessalonians 2:13 For this reason we also constantly thank God that when you received the word of God which you heard from us, you accepted it not as the word of men, but for what it really is, the word of God, which also performs its work in you who believe.
Another friend said to me, “The Bible was written more than 2000 years ago. Therefore, it does not apply to us.” It is true the Bible was written to a very specific audience during a very specific time. However, even though it was not written directly to you and to me, it is still relevant. God does not change. What God had written applied to those who lived in centuries past, but it applies to us equally in the 21st century. It makes no sense that God wrote everything to help those who belonged to him in the past, but he wrote nothing to help us. God had to know that even 2000 years later, his children would still turn to the Bible for guidance, correction, and encouragement.
Matthew 24:35
Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will not pass away.