The Bible - errant or inerrant?

[childofGod31]

I was taught that the Bible was inerrant. I thought it meant: there was no mistakes.

But I came across some mistakes in facts. (number of people, children and animals and rooms are different when they are supposed to match, especially comparing Samuel and Kings).
Also, in one place it says that nobody can see the face of God and live. And in some other places it says that so and so has seen God face to face (and basically was having a good time, and lived).

So it seems that there are mistakes. So does that mean it's not really inerrant?

Also the story of resurrection is a little different in each book. And in the book of John it's quite different when compared to the other three books.

Any thoughts on this?

 

[RickardoHolmes]

It is definately "errant" and the More I have studied it and the more I have read and learned I see more and more proof of this.
That being said, I would not toss it out as totally useless. It does have some good inspiring ideas. I think the biggest problem , and I mentioned this in another post about Sola Scriptura (to which I do not subscribe) , involves quote mining and taking aspects verse by verse out of context. The book needs to be looked at as a whole, not as individual senteces. Also, One needs an understanding of Roman, Jewish and Egyptian mythology of the early times to be able to put much of it into perspective. Most people lack this, and I understand it, after all, who has time to spend at the library pouring over ancient writings and texts, especially who has tie to even find these said writings?
I think an understanding of the Bible is neccesary though regardless as so much of contemporary Christian mythology is derived from it. I encourage anyone who has an interest in rtelgions, such as myself, to read and research it even if they do not believe any of it, as it puts Christianity and especially many of our contempoary religious movements into some level of perspective.

 

[gideons300]

It is definately "errant" and the More I have studied it and the more I have read and learned I see more and more proof of this.
That being said, I would not toss it out as totally useless. It does have some good inspiring ideas. I think the biggest problem , and I mentioned this in another post about Sola Scriptura (to which I do not subscribe) , involves quote mining and taking aspects verse by verse out of context. The book needs to be looked at as a whole, not as individual senteces. Also, One needs an understanding of Roman, Jewish and Egyptian mythology of the early times to be able to put much of it into perspective. Most people lack this, and I understand it, after all, who has time to spend at the library pouring over ancient writings and texts, especially who has tie to even find these said writings?
I think an understanding of the Bible is neccesary though regardless as so much of contemporary Christian mythology is derived from it. I encourage anyone who has an interest in rtelgions, such as myself, to read and research it even if they do not believe any of it, as it puts Christianity and especially many of our contempoary religious movements into some level of perspective.

Brother I pray this does not come across in any way but love but your answer floored me. Have we drifted so far that now the Bible, God's word, is "almost" totally useless?? Are we to believe it is all mythology and historical error. May I ask a question? How in the world can any man truly believe God if he distrusts what God has given us. Faith becomes impossible and thus, pleasing God does as well, for without faith it is impossible (unless, of course, that too is not true!).

Let me be a voice crying out loudly to all here who read this. God's word does not contain some "truth". It is TRUTH. We are not to judge the word of God. It is to judge us. We are to live by every word of it, heed its warnings, be encouraged by its promises, and guard our hearts when satan comes whispering "Hath God said.....?" Jesus fought of the attacks of satan by quoting the word. Shall we be so bold as to think we do not need it. Careful, for we must not underestimate the power of satan to deceive and overestimate ourselves and our wisdom to know truth all by ourselves. God help us.

I have always said there is enough truth to be found in even the Living Bible, a poor paraphrase of the Word, that a man on a desert island, finding one washed up on the beach, would be thoroughly equipped to get saved and make Heaven His home.

The minute we allow doubts and our human logic to take precedance over God's word, God is now under the microscope and we are now God, creating the God we choose.

May God forgive us. We are to live by every word that proceeds out of His mouth. If we find an areas we do not understand, we move on and trust that at the proper time, our God will reveal His truth to our understanding.

We have entered the last time, and men are departing from the faith and giving heed to satan's lies. Paul told us the the word of God is perfectly adequate to equip us to walk in holiness if we will stop judging it and simply obey it, and let it search our hearts and judge us.

God has clearly spoken:

"All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness."

2 Timothy 3:16

Brother, we have a choice. Either we can believe God is lying here and that it is not inspired at all, or we can choose to submit ourselves to it and ask God to bless us with all it has to offer us, leading us more fully into abiding in Him.

May God open the eyes of His sheep.

Blessings,

Bruce

 

[Zaac]

Brother I pray this does not come across in any way but love but your answer floored me. Have we drifted so far that now the Bible, God's word, is "almost" totally useless?? Are we to believe it is all mythology and historical error. May I ask a question? How in the world can any man truly believe God if he distrusts what God has given us. Faith becomes impossible and thus, pleasing God does as well, for without faith it is impossible (unless, of course, that too is not true!).

Let me be a voice crying out loudly to all here who read this. God's word does not contain some "truth". It is TRUTH. We are not to judge the word of God. It is to judge us. We are to live by every word of it, heed its warnings, be encouraged by its promises, and guard our hearts when satan comes whispering "Hath God said.....?" Jesus fought of the attacks of satan by quoting the word. Shall we be so bold as to think we do not need it. Careful, for we must not underestimate the power of satan to deceive and overestimate ourselves and our wisdom to know truth all by ourselves. God help us.

I have always said there is enough truth to be found in even the Living Bible, a poor paraphrase of the Word, that a man on a desert island, finding one washed up on the beach, would be thoroughly equipped to get saved and make Heaven His home.

The minute we allow doubts and our human logic to take precedance over God's word, God is now under the microscope and we are now God, creating the God we choose.

May God forgive us. We are to live by every word that proceeds out of His mouth. If we find an areas we do not understand, we move on and trust that at the proper time, our God will reveal His truth to our understanding.

We have entered the last time, and men are departing from the faith and giving heed to satan's lies. Paul told us the the word of God is perfectly adequate to equip us to walk in holiness if we will stop judging it and simply obey it, and let it search our hearts and judge us.

God has clearly spoken:

"All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness."

2 Timothy 3:16

Brother, we have a choice. Either we can believe God is lying here and that it is not inspired at all, or we can choose to submit ourselves to it and ask God to bless us with all it has to offer us, leading us more fully into abiding in Him.

May God open the eyes of His sheep.

Blessings,

Bruce

Hallelujah!!!

I am simply perplexed every time I hear people---but not just any people---CHRISTIANS--- question the inerrancy of God's word.

And I aways find myself asking, "what word did you hear when you were saved?"

Was it inerrant then? or were you saved by hearing something that was only partially true?"

As Scripture shows in the Garden, getting people to question the truthfulness of God's word is literally "the oldest trick in the book". The devil is a deceiver and he has deceived and misled so many into believeing that God's word is not the absolute truth.

The Christian who stands firmly on God's word as the absolute truth will never have to worry about not having an answer.

It's when the door is opened for God's word to not be the absolute truth that confusion that is not born of God is authored.

 

[*Charis*]

I've heard men say the Bible is only the testimony of
ancient people who have had 'experiences' with God.
They imply that believers only need to listen to the
Spirit because of this. How, I ask, are we to test the
spirits apart from the foundation of God's Word?

When I was first born again, I had an unquenchable
hunger for the Word. I read with new understanding...
like I was never going to 'eat' again. The Word
was alive, and had power to guide my life. Can't
convince me it's 'errant'...

 

[RickardoHolmes]

Bruce I will respond to you I promise BUt I have to run to A Super Bowl party now Thanks for posting Bruse and everyone else. Thanks

 

[Walter Kovacs]

Inerrant as in every number, date, dot and tiddle is correct? No. Mistakes have been made in the 2000 years we've been copying the Bible. That's a fact. However, when compared to early copies found and to other ancient texts, it's overall cohesive-ness is astounding.

Inerrant as in very truth the Bible affirms is absolutely without error? Yes.

 

[childofGod31]

Hallelujah!!!

I am simply perplexed every time I hear people---but not just any people---CHRISTIANS--- question the inerrancy of God's word.

And I aways find myself asking, "what word did you hear when you were saved?"

Was it inerrant then? or were you saved by hearing something that was only partially true?"

As Scripture shows in the Garden, getting people to question the truthfulness of God's word is literally "the oldest trick in the book". The devil is a deceiver and he has deceived and misled so many into believeing that God's word is not the absolute truth.

The Christian who stands firmly on God's word as the absolute truth will never have to worry about not having an answer.

It's when the door is opened for God's word to not be the absolute truth that confusion that is not born of God is authored.

I did not say that it was not true. I simply said that it has errors in it. I am talking about errors in facts, not in theology. I am just saying that it looks like God permitted factual errors.... So people's belief that there was none is a little bit wrong...

 

[Zaac]

Inerrant as in every number, date, dot and tiddle is correct? No. Mistakes have been made in the 2000 years we've been copying the Bible. That's a fact.

Inerrant as in very truth the Bible affirms is absolutely without error? Yes.

What is the motive for the Body of Christ, above all others, to give an unsaved world reason to call the absolute truthfulness of God's word into question? If one of the amanuensi transposed some letters, not altering anything of the theology of what the word says, would that justify the BODY OF CHRIST saying that God's word is not inerrant?

What is to be gained for God's Kingdom by the BODY OF CHRIST calling the absolute truthfulness of the word into question?

That's the job of the devil.

 

[Walter Kovacs]

Inerrant as in very truth the Bible affirms is absolutely without error? Yes.

Did you see that part?

 

[childofGod31]

I've heard men say the Bible is only the testimony of
ancient people who have had 'experiences' with God.
They imply that believers only need to listen to the
Spirit because of this. How, I ask, are we to test the
spirits apart from the foundation of God's Word?

HOW did PAUL do it? There was no new testament when he had an experience.... How did PETER do it?

And wasn't it JOHN Himself who said: you don't have a need of anybody to teach you, the anointing that you have will teach you all things...

And did not Jesus say: do not call ANYBODY teacher EXCEPT ONLY ONE: Christ. And since we are to listen to Jesus, who is the only teacher, then what did Jesus say? He said: the Holy Spirit will teach you.

When I was first born again, I had an unquenchable
hunger for the Word. I read with new understanding...
like I was never going to 'eat' again. The Word
was alive, and had power to guide my life. Can't
convince me it's 'errant'...

Faith is quite a powerful force. One could say that faith moves mountains (figuratively speaking)...

.

 

[Zaac]

So you are saying that we should believe anything even if it's clearly wrong?

There is NOTHING in God's word that is wrong. There might be some stuff that we don't understand, but there certainly is nothing wrong.

Again, I ask, what is the motive in the BODY OF CHRIST authoring this kind of confusion? Absent the absolute truth of God's word, what basis do any of us have to witness the truth of Jesus Christ to anyone? How would we even know what He did on the Cross?

You literally have to forget salvation and the redemptive work of the cross PERIOD if it is not all the absolute truth. Once you open the door for any of it to not be the absolute truth, then there is no reason for anyone to trust any of It as the absolute truth.

And I just happen to know that Jesus has not told us to take lies to Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria and the outermost parts.

It's the Truth that is Jesus Christ that sets men free. Hearing lies will not.

 

[childofGod31]

Faith becomes impossible and thus, pleasing God does as well, for without faith it is impossible (unless, of course, that too is not true!).

Bruce

By the way, the apostoles did not have a Bible and yet faith was possible for them. Paul did not have a Bible and yet faith was possible. Abraham did not have a Bible and yet faith was possible. Moses did not have a Bible and yet faith was possible.

 

[Zaac]

Did you see that part?

Yes I did. But did you see this:

What is the motive for the Body of Christ, above all others, to give an unsaved world reason to call the absolute truthfulness of God's word into question?

Regardless of if you're talking about a dot or a tiddle, if you open the door for people to view ANYTHING of God's word as anything but inerrant, you open the door for them to view it all as errant.

So why does the BODY OF CHRIST keep trying to open this door?

It is the work of the enemy to author such confusion and to attempt to convince people that "God didn't really say that".

 

[childofGod31]

There is NOTHING in God's word that is wrong. There might be some stuff that we don't understand, but there certainly is nothing wrong.

Again, I ask, what is the motive in the BODY OF CHRIST authoring this kind of confusion? Absent the absolute truth of God's word, what basis do any of us have to witness the truth of Jesus Christ to anyone? How would we even know what He did on the Cross?

You literally have to forget salvation and the redemptive work of the cross PERIOD if it is not all the absolute truth. Once you open the door for any of it to not be the absolute truth, then there is no reason for anyone to trust any of It as the absolute truth.

And I just happen to know that Jesus has not told us to take lies to Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria and the outermost parts.

It's the Truth that is Jesus Christ that sets men free. Hearing lies will not.

Truth is also what I am talking about. Admitting the truth to yourself, that something I used to believe was that way, actually is this way.

 

[childofGod31]

What is the motive for the Body of Christ, above all others, to give an unsaved world reason to call the absolute truthfulness of God's word into question? If one of the amanuensi transposed some letters, not altering anything of the theology of what the word says, would that justify the BODY OF CHRIST saying that God's word is not inerrant?

What is to be gained for God's Kingdom by the BODY OF CHRIST calling the absolute truthfulness of the word into question?

That's the job of the devil.

Because sometimes people base the entire doctrine on some verse, which could be translated incorrectly or mistyped or something. I am just saying that being aware of human error is wise when trying to search for truth. I've heard somebody establish the truth based on CONJUGATION of a certain word. But it's so risky. The conjugation could have been different in the original language.

 

[Zaac]

By the way, the apostoles did not have a Bible and yet faith was possible for them. Paul did not have a Bible and yet faith was possible. Abraham did not have a Bible and yet faith was possible. Moses did not have a Bible and yet faith was possible.

It is POSSIBLE to believe in God without written material. Whoever wrote the material relied on experience with God. God is alive and well and is still speaking...

Because people die. The OT people did just as the NT people did. When the ones who had actually experienced these things were nearing the end of their lives, they wrote things down so that they can be passed on.

The world is full of historical acounts. Abraham was a Jew. They memorized Scripture. But very old accounts of the Torah show that they did indeed write Scripture down. Moses likewise had writtten Scripture.

Not to mention that with God telling us that all Scripture is breathed of Him, there would be no confusion about what IS His truth for those who truly believe.

 

[Zaac]

You only say that there is no mistakes because you BELIEVE that there isn't any.

Then I must assume that you say there are mistakes because you BELIEVE there are. You can list the "mistakes" that you think you see and I'm just gonna come back and tell you that you're wrong and just don't understand. But that's between you and God.

But as I asked. What is the motive for you, a professing Christian, to call into question the absolute truthfulness of God's word...the every same thing that satan did?

You didn't actually CHECK. But I've seen them. I can't deny the facts. At the moment I am talking about the mistakes in facts. Like 3 children in this verse and 5 in the other verse (supposed to be talking about the same thing). 3 rooms in one verse and 5 rooms in another. What does it prove? That the Bible was subject to human error. That's all I am trying to say. And to me that means it's errant. UNLESS, as somebody has said: inerrant is only referring to the theology rather than factual data.

what it proves is that somebody lacks understanding of the whole of Scripture. So again, what is the motive? Absent the absolute truth, you simply cannot have a witness for Christ. So its kinda a cutting off the nose to spite the face.

 

[Zaac]

Because sometimes people base the entire doctrine on some verse, which could be translated incorrectly or mistyped or something. I am just saying that being aware of human error is wise when trying to search for truth. I've heard somebody establish the truth based on CONJUGATION of a certain word. But it's so risky. The conjugation could have been different in the original language.

And I am saying to you as one Christian to another, once you open the door for people to question the absolute truthfulness of God's word, then there remains no reason for any Christian to be on this planet attempting to point anyone to Christ.

Christians learn about Christ through what He inspired others to write down. If it is questionable truth, then it all is questionable truth and there is no reason for any of us to claim the name of Christ.


I try not to get into conjugation of words. Word studies are for the purpose of getting a deeper understanding of what God says. They ARE NOT for the purpose of disproving what He says.

If folks speak and read English, then they need to deal FIRST with the English words that are on the page.

 

[Walter Kovacs]

You know there are outright numerical erros, right?

"For instance, how old was Ahaziah when he began his rule over Jerusalem. 2 Chronicles 22:2 says 42 years. 2 Kings 8:26 says that he was only 22 years old. Of course, this is the KJV. This error seems to be fixed in the NIV, but it does show that errors can exist within the translation."

It doesn't take away from the truth; it's a copyists error. Fortunately, salvation doesn't hinge on Biblical inerrancy, or at least the version you're talking about.