At the heart of Christian theology lies the doctrine of Biblical Inerrancy. This doctrine asserts that the Bible is true with respect to all that it teaches. It is a declaration that maintains the absolute truthfulness of the Bible—it is without error. Biblical inerrancy is more than a mere theological stance; it is a foundational doctrine vital to the Christian faith. The reliability of the Bible in all its assertions is the bedrock upon which matters of faith, doctrine, and truth rest. Simply put, the inerrant Bible is the sole infallible rule of faith for the Christian church, and as such is the only infallible source of information for the truth about God, man, sin, justification, etc. The importance of biblical inerrancy cannot be overstated.
Yet, in today’s post-modern & post-truth world, the truthfulness of the Bible comes under much criticism. How can we be sure the Bible is true when it so sharply comes against the values of our modern age? How can the Bible be true with respect to all that it teaches when science has disproven many of its claims? How can it be the sole infallible rule of faith when Christians can’t even come to agreement over what it actually says? There are several arguments against biblical inerrancy, a few of which may be summarized as follows:
While many more criticisms may position themselves against the doctrine of inerrancy, it will serve our purposes in this post to stick with these selected criticisms.
As a result of these criticisms, a crucial question arises for Bible-believing Christians who hold to this doctrine: how can we know the doctrine of inerrancy is true? This question is not just an academic question; it strikes at the heart of our faith and how we understand God’s revelation to humanity. Is our confidence in the inerrancy of Scripture rooted in tradition, reason, empirical evidence, or divine assurance? How do historical, archaeological, and textual analyses affect the reliability of Scripture? Is it possible to come to a conclusion about inerrancy without committing a logical fallacy?
As we consider these questions—and much more—we shall embark on a journey that will be both stimulating and edifying. This critical problem invites us to engage with Scripture, theology, history, and our own experiences of faith in a profound way. Our journey together is not one of skepticism but of seeking—a quest for truth that will strengthen our faith, deepen our understanding of God’s revealed Word, and enrich our walk with Christ.
In the coming blog posts, we will explore the doctrine of biblical inerrancy, address these key criticisms, and much more. My hope and prayer is that this series will strengthen your faith and confidence in God’s Word. Join us as we dive in!
