Can we trust the Bible? How do we know if its words are true, especially since the biblical authors were human beings? These are important questions that every Christian should wrestle with. Let’s address them by digging into a doctrine known as the inerrancy of Scripture.
Christians believe the Bible is without error… which is actually what the word “inerrant” means. In every subject it addresses, from the world being created by God, to the importance of Christian social concern, to the certain hope of the new creation itself, the Bible is completely truthful.
Some struggle to understand how this can be true when human beings wrote down the words of Scripture. But inerrancy doesn’t negate the biblical authors’ inclusion of their own observations and emotions, unusual grammatical constructions, rounded numbers, and even varying perspectives on particular events.
What it means is that, even as we recognize the human qualities of the book, we see Scripture as trustworthy because God is trustworthy. And because He is the one who inspired the Bible’s human authors, we can be confident that Scripture really is what it seems to be: an infallible guide to salvation that is truthful in all that it affirms.
The 99 in :99 explores the big truths of the Christian faith with short, accessible videos featuring members of The Gospel Project team. Learn more at gospelproject.lifeway.com/99-essentials.
