Bible, without error?
Another commonly-drawn consequence of belief in inspiration is the claim that the Bible is ‘inerrant’ or ‘infallible’. If we believe that God overruled and inspired the record of those events upon which faith depends, then it is right to suppose that such an account should be reliable. Clearly an inspired Bible is a reliable Bible. But does this reliability necessarily extend to every single detail?
It is important to keep a sense of proportion here. Some might think that the discovery of one inaccuracy, however small, in any part of the Bible would cast doubt on everything else in the Bible. But this is clearly not the case. Bible truth is rich and strong; it is not fragile like a gas balloon — one prick and the whole thing crashes to the ground.
Many problems also arise through failing to appreciate the variety of writings in the Bible. Much of the Bible is poetry, proverb, challenge, warning— writings that appeal directly to the imagination, the heart, the conscience. Their impact and the way in which they are true will be very different from that of the historical writings in the Bible. And even the historical writings contain poetic and symbolic elements that are not intended to be a straightforward record of events.
So we must make sure that we are interpreting a passage correctly — treating poetry as poetry and symbol as symbol. Otherwise the error may lie with us! God’s truth is conveyed by what the Bible writers set down, in the meaning they originally intended. But our understanding of that meaning is fallible.
Interpretation
The Bible is trustworthy, then. In it we find God’s truth. So this makes it all the more important to understand it correctly. The history of sectarian movements shows that it is possible to justify almost anything from the Bible. The basic principles of interpretation are set out in the diagram Understanding the Bible. But there are some general things to say here.
The Holy Spirit who inspired the Bible also brings it alive to us as we read. Christians down the ages have testified how God has spoken to them in the pages of the Bible. Anyone who seeks to know God or to grow in knowledge of him can confidently read and find all he is looking for. There is much more in the Bible that is clear than that is problematic. And sometimes God speaks even through a passage we have not accurately understood.
But believing in the Holy Spirit does not guarantee instant understanding of everything. The Bible comes from a period of history very different from our own. We need to understand what the writers meant in their own time, and only then can we interpret that meaning for our own time. This involves hard thought and study. And the Spirit does not make such work unnecessary, but rather assures us that it will be richly worthwhile in its results.
Interpretation is not simply a matter for the individual. The individual believer is part of the whole body of Christians, and the task of biblical interpretation is carried out within this community as a whole. There is a heritage of 2,000 years of interpreting the Bible. This provides great resources for understanding, both positively in insight into the text, and negatively in showing approaches that are false and should be avoided. And also there is the ongoing work of scholars who work to understand the text in a more accurate way.
Of course they are not always successful, but more and more knowledge is becoming available through their work. The Holy Spirit uses the church’s traditions and the researches of scholars to bring the text alive and speak through it. The individual should expect and seek illumination from these sources as well as from his own private reading of the text. There are many books on the Bible, at all levels of understanding, that we can use to help us in this.
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Bible, without error?
October 15th, 2008
It doesn’t just “speed up” the process of studying with paper books, looking up relevant articles, organizing content around your specific target passage or topic, automatically collecting material, and generating reports tailored to your specific study! … Christian Books
October 17th, 2008
Infallibility and inerrancy are “hot potatoes”! Even those who are united in their affirmation of the inspiration and authority of Scripture can come to rather heavy (verbal!) blows over infallibility and inerrancy. It is imperative that all of us avoid the “we know better” attitude. We would do well to avoid undue dogmatism regarding the precise interpretation of Scripture. In our evaluation of other views, we must always remember that serious theological discussion does not permit unfair dismissal.
To write off advocates of infallibility and inerrancy as obscurantists is to treat with insufficient seriousness their very real concern to be completely faithful to their conviction that Scripture is God’s Word.
To dismiss as compromisers those who have hesitations regarding infallibility and inerrancy is to pay scant attention to their firm commitment to taking very seriously the complex character of Scripture as God’s Word.
Faithfulness to the conviction that Scripture is God’s Word and a serious involvement with the complexities of Biblical interpretation are not to be set over against each other.
Dumb silence regarding the divine character of Scripture may produce a Biblical scholarship which lacks real purpose and direction. Scant attention to the human character of Scripture tends to encourage an authoritarian theology which leaves no room for the development of fresh insights.
We must take care not to become complacently self-satisfied with our own theological understanding.
Listening to others is enormously important for both those who strongly affirm infallibility and inerrancy and those who question the value of these terms.
Perhaps, by listening to each other we might just learn from each other! We might just learn that these concepts have something valuable to say and that they should not be too hastily dismissed as irrelevant. Equally well, we might just come to the conclusion that we haven’t said all that needs to be said and that there needs to be some hard thinking about what we mean when use words like infallibility and inerrancy.
This listening to others will be especially worthwhile where there is a mutual commitment to an even more important listening – listening to the voice of Scripture itself.
Listening to the voice of Scripture involves both respecting the boundaries of Scripture and focusing special attention on the purpose of Scripture. We recognize the boundaries of Scripture when we speak where God speaks and we remain silent where God remains silent.
If we do not speak clearly where God’s Word does,our message will be “indistinct” (1 Corinthians 14:8), the Church will not be edified and the world will not be evangelized. If we speculate beyond the boundaries set by God’s Word, we are asking for trouble. A great deal of this trouble would be avoided if, in the formulation of our doctrine of Scripture, we paid closer attention to the purpose of Scripture. To speak of the “perfection” of God’s Word apart from the stated purpose of Scripture – “to instruct you for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus … that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work” (2 Timothy 3:15, 17) – is to create innumerable, unnecessary problems for ourselves.
It is most important that staunch supporters of infallibility and inerrancy understand that this emphasis on Scripture’s purpose is not put forward by “champions of errancy” to evade the issues of infallibility and inerrancy and thus suggest that Scripture is unreliable. rather, the purpose of Scripture is highlighted that we might learn to see the reliability of Scripture in the light of its God-given purpose to lead us to life in Christ and to direct us in living for Christ.
As we think about the boundaries and purpose of Scripture, we find ourselves thinking about the Christian life.
Considering the boundaries of Scripture, we are brought face-to-with the ancient boundary of Scripture. The ancient character of Scripture cautions us against evaluating its reliability according to modern standards of absolute precision. It also impresses upon us the question of how the words of Scripture become relevant for our generation. The Holy Spirit convinces us of the permanent relevance of the ancient Word of Scripture.
Seeing the vital connection between the Spirit and the Scriptures, we will seek to trace the way of the Spirit in connection with the purpose of the Scriptures. Reading Scripture according to its God-given purpose, we discover the unique reliability of Scripture which is grounded in the God of Scripture, who continually demonstrates Himself to be trustworthy as He leads us in the way of salvation.
From this perspective, we can interpret the concepts of infallibility and inerrancy creatively and constructively. G. C. Berkouwer highlights the profound truth contained in the concepts of infallibility and inerrancy: “The Holy Spirit in His witness to truth does not lead us into error but into pathways of truth (II John 4). The Spirit, with this special concern, has not failed and will not fail in the mystery of God-breathed Scripture” (Holy Scripture, pp. 265-266).
The reference to 2 John 4 – “following the truth, just as we have been commanded by the Father” – emphasizes Berkouwer’s deeply practical concern with the life of discipleship. Infallibility and inerrancy without discipleship are far removed from the purpose of the Spirit who speaks through Scripture.
The Spirit, armed with the Word as His sword, will not permit us to err from the pathway of discipleship. He will not allow us to fail. He will fulfil the saving purpose of God in our lives.
Scripture is indispensable if we are to be kept from erring or failing.
Three Biblical passages are most instructive here – Matthew 22:29, Psalm 95:10 and 1 Samuel 26:21.
(i) “You do err, not knowing neither the Scriptures nor the power of God” (Matthew 22:29).
We need both the Scriptures and the power of God if we are to be kept from erring. If we are not hearing and heeding the Scriptures through “walking in the Spirit” (Galatians 5:16, 25), we will most certainly deviate from the pathway of “following the truth” (2 John 4).
(ii) “For forty years I loathed that generation and said, ‘They are a people who err in heart, and they do not regard My ways’” (Psalm 95:10).
We need both the Scriptures and the power of God if we are to be kept from “erring in heart”, delivered from wrong attitudes to God and His Word.
(iii) “I have played the fool and erred exceedingly” (1 Samuel 26:21).
We need both the Scriptures and the power of God if we are to be kept from playing the fool and erring exceedingly, delivered from wrong actions which will make “shipwreck of our faith” (1 Timothy 1:19) and ruin our lives.
If we are to take the burning heat out of “the battle for the Bible”, it’s high time we turned our Bibles “from a battlefield into a source of spiritual strength”.
We do not deny the content of our confession – Scripture really is God’s Word. We do, however, strongly emphasize the context of this confession – our relationship with Jesus Christ.
Whatever our theological persuasion, it is important that we think seriously about the place of Scripture in the Christian life. Wherever you are, let Scripture be your “daily bread” (Luke 11:3; Matthew 4:4).
Whatever our differences of emphasis, let’s not fall out over them. rather, let us fall down together at the Lord’s feet and listen to His teaching (Luke 10:39).
August 21st, 2009
In England and had little spare time; my wife works as a nurse and was also busy running a mission for Christian single people in her country. … Christian Dating Service