Many today believe the Bible is composed of wise sayings, written by men with an agenda. However, there is a subset of this group who do believe the “original” autographs were written by God. However, they also believe His work, thought initially inerrant, has been subsequently corrupted over time by man. They accept God as Creator but allow for the convenient twisting of His Word to fit their own evolving moral paradigm.
This is a short article is directed to Christians who believe God divinely inspired the Bible in its original autographs but also believe that today’s text has been corrupted in some of its core theological concepts.
A Standard Approach to Biblical Inerrancy
Most Biblical scholars approach this topic by digging deep into the hundreds of remnants we currently have which, when cross-referenced, suggest a consistency that demands acceptance that what we hold today as representing 99%+ of what was contained in the original work of God. I would offer below an additional consideration in support of the inerrancy of Scripture.
A Unique Approach to Biblical Inerrancy
Put succinctly, would an omniscient, omnipotent, omnipresent, supernatural Creator of the universe write a book, dedicated as an instruction manual to all of mankind, which He knew would be corrupted over time? Would God, after offering His only Son as a grace-filled sacrifice for our sins, release the one source of perfect truth to be twisted from its original autographs? Or would He protect that writing and its fundamental commands down through the ages until His Son returns to claim the remainder of His children?
2 Tim. 3:16-17 All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.
Would God tell us His Word is “breathed out… for teaching… for training…. for righteousness” and allow it to be corrupted? Our prayers, the church we attend, the Christians from whom we take advice, and the “feelings” and love we have for God, all depend on a single source for their Christian theological underpinnings. That unique source is the inerrant Word of God. If there was one single thing God would protect, it would have to be the Bible.
The Danger of Rejecting Inerrancy
To reject inerrancy is to open the door to a Jeffersonian approach (pick and choose) to the sacred text which only leads to ignorance, dismissal of the commands of God which the human ego chooses not to accept, and deconstruction of our faith. None of that draws us closer to our Creator and could not be part of His eternal plan.
There is no question that we both translate and interpret the Bible from our own interdenominational view of the original Hebrew, Greek, and Aramaic languages. However, our human discernment of God’s Word does not impinge on a belief that what we hold today is what God intended to use to teach mankind who He is. And, we know that God does not make mistakes. 2 Tim. 3:16 is as true today as it was when it was originally written by God, and penned by Paul.
1 Peter 1:25 But the word of the Lord remains forever. And this word is the good news that was preached to you.
Matthew 5:18 For truly, I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not an iota, not a dot, will pass from the Law until all is accomplished.
When it comes to the Bible, do not throw the baby out with the bathwater. In an upcoming post, I will review the only four sources of information we have on discerning who God is and what He desires for His children. Clearly, the first three depend heavily on the fourth (the Bible) for confirmation.
Author – Jeff Hilles | BCWorldview.org
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