Biblical Inerrancy Is the biblical record flawed or is it free from all error? Is the biblical record flawed or is it free from all error? If it contains mistakes, it cannot fulfill its intended purpose If it contains mistakes, it cannot fulfill its intended purpose To convey will of God in truthful and trustworthy mannerTo convey will of God in truthful and trustworthy manner A confirmed mistake in one part implies possibility of mistakes in other parts. HerodotusA confirmed mistake in one part implies possibility of mistakes in other parts. Herodotus If Bible is a mixture of truth and error, how does it differ from any other book? KoranIf Bible is a mixture of truth and error, how does it differ from any other book? Koran

I.What Does The Bible Claim For Itself? 2 Tim.3:16, God has revealed Himself in two ways: 2 Tim.3:16, God has revealed Himself in two ways: Creation: He spoke universe into existence, Ps.33:6Creation: He spoke universe into existence, Ps.33:6 Revelation: He spoke Book into existence, 2 T.3:16Revelation: He spoke Book into existence, 2 T.3:16

2 Pt.1:21, prophecies did not originate from will of private men Not from man’s own whim, or suggestion of his own spirit, but by Holy Spirit Not from man’s own whim, or suggestion of his own spirit, but by Holy Spirit Dt.18:18; 2 Pt.3:15-16Dt.18:18; 2 Pt.3:15-16 God speaks through the Bible God speaks through the Bible Mt.15:4, God saidMt.15:4, God said Mk.7:10, Moses saidMk.7:10, Moses said What God says, the Bible says What God says, the Bible says

II. The Extent Of God’s Inspiration All Scripture (all that is written) 2 T.3:16 All Scripture (all that is written) 2 T.3:16 Words of Scripture, Mt.22:43 Words of Scripture, Mt.22:43 Verb tenses of Scripture, Mt.22:32 Verb tenses of Scripture, Mt.22:32 Parts of words of Scripture, Mt.5:17-18 Parts of words of Scripture, Mt.5:17-18 ) b g d h w z x + y k

Holy Spirit would guarantee accuracy of apostles’ message Mt.10: (Cf. Ac.26) Mt.10: (Cf. Ac.26) Jn.14:25-26 Jn.14:25-26 Jn.16:13 Jn.16:13 Explains 2 Pt.3:16Explains 2 Pt.3:16

III. What Is Inerrancy? Inerrant: wholly true, w/o mistake Inerrant: wholly true, w/o mistake Writers wrote no errors; every- thing they affirmed was absolutely truthful and trustworthyWriters wrote no errors; every- thing they affirmed was absolutely truthful and trustworthy Not just moral / religious truthNot just moral / religious truth Includes statements of fact (scientific, historical, geographical)Includes statements of fact (scientific, historical, geographical) Biblical writers were preserved from errors that appear in all other books. Ramsay. JosephusBiblical writers were preserved from errors that appear in all other books. Ramsay. Josephus

“Whether its writers speak of their own or of foreign lands, they always speak with faultless accuracy, so that their angus-eyed critics for two thousand years have not been able to detect them in an error. This accuracy extends not only [to] the relative location of places, and to the points of the compass, but to the most minute details, even to the relative elevations of places mentioned in the narratives”

Jn.10:35 Cannot be “broken” – Cannot be “broken” – Explained away Be made to mean nothing Deprived of binding authority If writers made mistakes in matters of ordinary knowledge where uninspired men can check their accuracy, why believe them in other areas? If writers made mistakes in matters of ordinary knowledge where uninspired men can check their accuracy, why believe them in other areas?

Inerrancy applies to the original copies of Scripture, not to copies of scribes after their time Inerrancy applies to the original copies of Scripture, not to copies of scribes after their time We can discover original words of inspired writersWe can discover original words of inspired writers Copyists’ errors do not affect a single doctrineCopyists’ errors do not affect a single doctrine As a result, the doctrine of inerrancy also applies to the biblical text in our day, as long as the Bible is accurately translated As a result, the doctrine of inerrancy also applies to the biblical text in our day, as long as the Bible is accurately translated LXXLXX

Luther (Weimarer Ausgabe) “It is impossible that Scripture should contradict itself; it only appears so to senseless and obstinate hypocrites” (Weimarer Ausgabe) (ib.) “Everyone knows that at times they [the fathers] have erred as men will; therefore, I am ready to trust them only when they prove their opinions from Scripture, which has never erred” (ib.)

IV. Answering Misunderstandings (God can say same thing in different ways) 1. Inerrancy allows for variety in style. (God can say same thing in different ways) Ex.20: Dt.5:12-15Ex.20: Dt.5:12-15 Mt.16:16; Mk.8:29; Lk.9:20Mt.16:16; Mk.8:29; Lk.9:20 John...Luke...Paul...JamesJohn...Luke...Paul...James Variations are compatible with inerrancy Variations are compatible with inerrancy

2. Inerrancy allows for variety in details in explaining the same event Jesus sometimes spoke in (Mk.5:41)Jesus sometimes spoke in Aramaic (Mk.5:41) Writers wrote in (43) Writers wrote in Greek (43) One writer might view the event from one standpoint, another from a different standpoint, though both are accurate. E.g.: Jn.19:26-27One writer might view the event from one standpoint, another from a different standpoint, though both are accurate. E.g.: Jn.19:26-27

3. Inerrancy allows for supple- mentation and abbreviation In Scripture, whatever is written is in accord with things as they are. Details may vary, but still reflect things as they are In Scripture, whatever is written is in accord with things as they are. Details may vary, but still reflect things as they are Mt.8:5-13 – Lk.7:1-10Mt.8:5-13 – Lk.7:1-10 It appears the elders first came and spoke to Jesus; later the centurion himself It appears the elders first came and spoke to Jesus; later the centurion himself

4. Inerrancy allows use of non- biblical sources Nu.24:17,, pagan prophet Nu.24:17, Balaam, pagan prophet Nu.22:28, his Nu.22:28, his donkey Jn.11:50, of Christ Jn.11:50, enemy of Christ “All truth is God’s truth!”