16All Scripture is inspired by God and is profitable for teaching, for rebuking, for correcting, for training in righteousness, 17so that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work. 2 Tim 3:16-17 HCSB
Theologians have called the divine action by which the words of Scripture were put into the minds of human writers inspiration. Since God originated not simply the thoughts, but the very words of Scripture, the terms verbal or plenary (“full”) inspiration have been used.
The Latin roots of the English word inspiration suggest that God “breathed (his words) into” the biblical writers. This is not untrue, but it would be more in accord with biblical imagery to think of the expiration of Scripture. For example, Peter declared “God announced beforehand by the mouth of all the prophets, that His Christ should suffer” (Acts 3:18; see also 1:16; 3:21; 4:25). Using this metaphor of oral speech (in which words are “exhaled” through the mouth), 2 Timothy 3:16 states that Scripture is “breathed out by God” (through the mouth of his spokesmen). This is the meaning of the Greek word theopneustos in that passage, which the NIV translates as “God-breathed” (KJV, NKJV: “given by inspiration of God”; NASB: “inspired by God”).
The relationship between inerrancy and inspiration is that inspiration supports inerrancy. For this to be true we must have complete Faith that every word is from God in some form or fashion. Believing God takes faith (Genesis 15:6). 2 Peter 1:20 – 21 says20 above all, you must realize that no prophecy in Scripture ever came from the prophet’s own understanding, * 21 or from human initiative. No, the Holy Spirit moved those prophets, and they spoke from God. [1] We believe God is perfect and cannot lie as scripture teaches. Hebrews 6: 18 says18 So God has given both his promise and his oath. These two things are unchangeable because it is impossible for God to lie. Therefore, we who have fled to him for refuge can have great confidence as we hold to the hope that lies before us.[2]
Inerrancy is the view that, when in its original manuscript and interpreted correctly, the Bible is completely true in all subjects it speaks on and about. Actually, the Bible speaks on its own trustworthiness due to its inspired nature (from God). 2 Timothy 3:16 says All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right. [3] By believing that God and His nature are divine (perfect), we subject ourselves to the belief represented in 2 Timothy. Numbers 23:19 says God is not a man, so he does not lie. He is not human, so he does not change his mind. Has he ever spoken and failed to act? Has he ever promised and not carried it through? [4] The Bible is His Book of Promises and by God, being perfect, divinely inspiring it makes it absolute truth.
The primary arguments for inerrancy are biblical, historical, and epistemological in nature.
First, the Bible teaches its own inspiration, and this requires inerrancy. The Scriptures are the breath of God (2 Timothy 3:16), which guarantees they are without error.
Second, in Deuteronomy 13:1 – 5 and 18:20 – 22 Israel is given criteria for distinguishing God’s message and messenger from false prophecies and prophets. One mark of a divine message is total and absolute truthfulness. A valid parallel can be made between the prophet and the Bible. The prophet’s word was usually oral, although it might be recorded and included in a book; the writers of Scripture communicated God’s word in written form. Both were instruments of divine communication, and in both cases the human element was an essential ingredient.
Third, the Bible teaches its own authority, and this requires inerrancy. The two most commonly cited passages are Matthew 5:17 – 20 and John 10: 34 – 35. Both record the words of Jesus. In the former Jesus said that heaven and earth will pass away before the smallest detail of the law fails to be fulfilled. The law’s authority rests on the fact that every minute detail will be fulfilled. In John 10:34 – 35 Jesus says that Scripture cannot be broken and so is absolutely binding. While it is true that both passages emphasize the Bible’s authority, this authority can only be justified by or grounded in inerrancy. Something that contains errors cannot be absolutely authoritative.
Thoughts from Pastor Toney 