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Contending for the Word – October 2, 2025
The Inerrancy of Scripture, Confidence in God’s Word
Q&A, Is the Bible Without Error?
Introduction
One of the most important questions Christians face is whether the Bible is trustworthy. Can we rely on it to be true in everything it affirms? Throughout church history, the church has confessed that Scripture is not only inspired by God but also without error in its original writings. This truth is called inerrancy.
Definition
Inerrancy means that the Bible, as the Word of God, is completely true in all that it teaches. This includes matters of faith, doctrine, history, and even details about the created world as God intended them to be understood. Inerrancy does not mean the Bible is written in technical scientific language, nor does it deny the use of metaphors, poetry, or figures of speech. Rather, it means that when rightly interpreted, Scripture speaks truth without error because it is the Word of a God who cannot lie.
Biblical Basis
Psalm 12:6 says, “The words of the Lord are pure words, like silver refined in a furnace on the ground, purified seven times.”
Jesus affirms this in John 17:17, praying, “Sanctify them in the truth, your word is truth.”
If God is holy, just, and true, His Word must reflect His character. To say that Scripture contains errors would be to say God Himself is capable of error, which is a contradiction to His very nature.
Why It Matters
If the Bible were filled with mistakes, then our entire faith would rest on shaky ground. Because Scripture is without error, we can have full confidence in its promises, warnings, and instructions. Inerrancy protects us from reshaping the Bible according to cultural pressure or human skepticism. It reminds us that we do not sit in judgment over God’s Word, rather His Word stands in judgment over us.
Application
When you open the Bible, you are reading the very words of God. That means you can trust every promise He makes, every command He gives, and every truth He reveals. This should lead to humble submission, careful study, and joyful confidence in God’s Word.
In a world that questions everything, the inerrancy of Scripture anchors us in the unchanging truth of the God who never lies.
Dave Jenkins is happily married to his wife, Sarah. He is a writer, editor, and speaker living in beautiful Southern Oregon. Dave is a lover of Christ, His people, the Church, and sound theology. He serves as the Executive Director of Servants of Grace Ministries, the Executive Editor of Theology for Life Magazine, the Host and Producer of Equipping You in Grace Podcast, and is a contributor to and producer of Contending for the Word. He is the author of The Word Explored: The Problem of Biblical Illiteracy and What To Do About It (House to House, 2021), The Word Matters: Defending Biblical Authority Against the Spirit of the Age (G3 Press, 2022), and Contentment: The Journey of a Lifetime (Theology for Life, 2024). You can find him on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Youtube, or read his newsletter. Dave loves to spend time with his wife, going to movies, eating at a nice restaurant, or going out for a round of golf with a good friend. He is also a voracious reader, in particular of Reformed theology, and the Puritans. You will often find him when he’s not busy with ministry reading a pile of the latest books from a wide variety of Christian publishers. Dave received his M.A.R. and M.Div through Liberty Baptist Theological Seminary.
