Short Essay on Inspiration and Inerrancy of the Bible
What does it mean that the Bible has authority? Who gives the Bible authority? What was the inspiration for the Bible? What does it mean to say that the Bible is inerrant? These are the questions that this essay is going to address and hopefully answer. By looking at the Bible itself and other outside sources, this paper will provide the reader with proof and insight into the answers of these often sought after questions.
Authority is defined by the American Heritage Dictionary as the right and power to command, enforce laws, exact obedience, and determine or judge.[1] The Bible commands people, judges and determines guilt or innocence, makes and enforces laws, and exacts obedience. So who gives the Bible this authority that is listed above? The simple yet complicated answer is that God gives the Bible its authority. Simple in the fact that the authority of the Bible is established by its own claims, it is the word of God.[2] John 1:1 states that “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.” When the unnamed angel was talking to the prophet Daniel he said “No one has the courage to support me against them except Michael, your prince. However, I will tell you what is recorded in the book of truth.” (Dan 10:21) There are plenty of other scriptures that show the absolute authority of the Bible but its authority is best stated as the Bible being the book of God’s truth; and such truth is, as the Westminster Catechism says, “infallible truth.” As it is wholly trustworthy regarding its truth, so must it be wholly trustworthy regarding its facts.[3] The Word of God, book of truth, or the Bible as it is called now, has stood the test of time.
Biblical inspiration is defined as a supernatural influence of the Holy Spirit upon divinely chosen agents in consequence of which their writings become trustworthy and authoritative.[4] So what does it mean to say that the Bible is inspired, and who is it inspired by? Once again, the answer is fairly simple as you look at it. The Bible is the authoritative Word of God and is inspired by God and the Holy Spirit. It is true that the Bible was written by man, but it was written by man with the help of the Holy Spirit to ensure the accuracy of God’s Word. This theory of inspiration is called plenary inspiration and the main principles of this theory are (1) God is the author of the Bible, in varied ways; (2) the focus of inspiration is the writers of the Bible – there is an author rather than text orientation (as seen in the emotions displayed in Romans 9:2 and Galatians 3:1); (3) the writers have been inspired in all that they have written, though in varied ways (revelation).[5] Inspiration is found within the scriptures themselves as seen in the OT from Moses. “Then the Lord said to me. They have spoken well. I will raise up for them a prophet like you from among their brother. I will put My words in his mouth, and he will tell them everything I command him.”(Deut. 18:17-18) Inspiration is also found within scripture as seen here in Paul’s first letter to the Church at Corinth. “We also speak these things, not in words taught by human wisdom, but in those taught by the Spirit, explaining spiritual things to spiritual people.” (1 Cor. 2:13) It is evident through scripture that the Bible is the inspired or “breathed” word of God written by man through the Holy Spirit.
Inerrancy is the view that when all the facts become known, they will demonstrate that the Bible in its original autographs and correctly interpreted is entirely true and never false in all it affirms, whether that relates to doctrine or ethics or to the social, physical or life sciences.[6] My personal view on the inerrancy of the Bible falls in line with the above definition. As a believer and follower of Christ I completely believe in the inerrancy and infallibility of the Bible. How can one be so sure that what is written is inerrant, the key in the definition is the singling out of the original text. When the Bible is in its original manuscript and it is translated properly it is the Word of God and as such is without error. Paul writes in the pastoral letters, “All Scripture is inspired by God and is profitable for teaching, for rebuking, for correcting, for training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.” (2 Tim. 3:16-17) For further proof of the inerrancy of God’s Word within the scripture see 1 Pet. 1:20, Matthew 4:4, Eph. 3:1-5, and Gal. 1:11-12.
So what is the relationship between inspiration and inerrancy? With relation to the Bible you can’t have one without the other. Inspiration and inerrancy must feed off each other in order for the inspiration and inerrancy of the Bible to have authority over a believer’s life. Inspiration comes from God therefore any of his products must be inerrant, hence the Bible is inerrant.
I close this essay by telling you, the reader that the way that I am structuring my life and the life of my family completely relies on the inspiration, authority, and inerrancy of the Bible. Without these things
making the Bible what it is, myself and many other followers of Christ would be completely lost. Whenever I
find myself addressed with questions about the Bible and its authority, inerrancy, and inspiration I remember
the following statement and equation. If God is the cause of inspiration, it (the object of Gods inspiration) will
represent or take on His characteristics, mainly His Holiness. Inspiration equals infallibility which equals
authority which equals inerrancy.
[1] McDonald, H. D. "Bible, Authority of." In Evangelical Dictionary of Theology, edited by Walter A Elwell, 153. MI, Grand Rapids: Baker Academic, 2001.
[2] (Ibid. 154)
[3] McDonald, H. D. "Bible, Authority of." In Evangelical Dictionary of Theology, edited by Walter A Elwell, 154. MI, Grand Rapids: Baker Academic, 2001.
[4] Henry, C. F. H. "Bible, Inspiration of." In Evangelical Dictionary of Theology, edited by Walter A Elwell, 160. MI, Grand Rapids: Baker Academic, 2001.
[5] Rennie, I. S. "Plenary Inspiration." In Evangelical Dictionary of Theology, edited by Walter A Elwell, 929. MI, Grand Rapids: Baker Academic, 2001.
[6] Feinberg, P.D. "Bible, Inerrancy and Infallibility of." In Evangelical Dictionary of Theology, edited by Walter A Elwell, 156. MI, Grand Rapids: Baker Academic, 2001.
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