The Inerrancy of Scripture | Part 4

We have concluded that the Bible is inerrant—free from essential error in all its parts. While we do find apparent contradictions between passages and between manuscripts, these differences do not compromise the integrity of God’s Word. We believe that it is true, and we trust in it as the source of truth. Read More

The Inerrancy of Scripture | Part 3

We have every reason to believe that the original Scriptures were free from error, and no good reason to deny that our current Bible is a faithful representative of the original. We can and must believe that our Bible is trustworthy and inerrant.

But ultimately, our own attitudes determine where we come out on these issues. If we are determined to find errors in the Bible, they can be found. But if we believe the Bible is true, and are willing to entertain viable explanations, we can reasonably believe that it is inerrant. Read More

The Inerrancy of Scripture | Part 2

What we believe about the Word of God will inevitably affect what we believe about everything else and will shape how we live. Inerrancy—the belief that the Bible is entirely true in all its parts—is significant for this very reason. We cannot say we have a truthful, trustworthy God if we believe His inspired Word is anything but true and trustworthy. Read More

The Inerrancy of Scripture | Part 1

On the heels of the truthfulness and authority of Scripture comes its inerrancy. The three are closely intertwined, and especially connected are truthfulness and inerrancy. When we say Scripture is true, we positively affirm that it is correct in every area, in every way. When we call it inerrant, we deny that anything in it is incorrect or in error. Read More

The Truthfulness and Authority of Scripture | Part 2

We understand that, since God has all authority, His Word also has all authority. Having authority means having “power to influence or command thought, opinion, or behavior.”¹ Just like God does not conform to some higher truth standard but is Himself the standard, so God does not draw His authority from a higher power but is Himself the highest authority. Read More

The Truthfulness and Authority of Scripture | Part 1

Our belief in God’s own truthfulness, combined with our understanding that Scripture is from God, naturally leads us to believe that God’s Word is also true. If the Bible is God’s word, and God only tells the truth, then the Bible we have must be entirely true. Read More

Inspiration, Authority, and the Christian

If Scripture is truly inspired (and it is), if it is truly from God (and it is), then what it says is important. A perfect Word from a holy God has every right to command our lives. Inspiration means the words of the Bible aren’t just man’s words on a page; those words are divine, directly from God. Read More

The Inspiration of Scripture | Part 3

Orthodox inspiration holds that God knows what He’s talking about, even when it doesn’t fit with what we think or understand. It believes that, whether or not it seems to make sense, the Bible is always right. Whether we’re dealing with science or history, it says that, since Scripture is from God—and God does not and cannot lie—the Bible will always be right. It leaves God and His Word in authority, choosing to bow to Him. Read More

The Inspiration of Scripture | Part 2

In our discussion on the inspiration of Scripture, we now move from how God inspired the Bible to what that inspiration entails. As we discovered last time, most Christians agree that Scripture is inspired, but they often disagree when they define that inspiration. Just as they have various understandings of the process God used, they also hold various beliefs on how inspired the end product—Scripture—actually is. Read More

The Inspiration of Scripture | Part 1

The word “inspiration” brings many different thoughts to mind. In the modern sense, we sometimes think of inspiration as a motivating or energizing force. An artist may feel a flash of inspiration for his next painting, a musician may be inspired to compose a new song, or I may search for inspiration to study for and write this article.

Yet, historically and theologically, inspiration carries a different meaning. Read More