The doctrine of the inerrancy of Scripture is a crucial one for Christians to understand. At its core, it affirms that the Bible is entirely true and without error in all that it affirms. This extends to matters of faith, history, science and more. When referring to the inerrancy of Scripture, the emphasis is usually placed on the original manuscripts as they were first written by the biblical authors. This raises the question – does the inerrancy of the Bible only apply to the original manuscripts, or do we have an inerrant Bible today?
There are a few key considerations when examining this issue:
1. We do not possess the original manuscripts today
The original documents penned by prophets, apostles and others no longer exist. The autographs written by Moses, Paul, John and others have been lost to history. The oldest manuscripts we have are copies of copies, ranging from fragments to complete scrolls and codices. The earliest complete New Testament dates to the 4th century A.D. (the Codex Sinaiticus), while the earliest fragment is a tiny portion of John’s Gospel dating to around 125 A.D. There is almost a 300 year gap between the originals and our earliest copies.
So when we affirm biblical inerrancy, we cannot directly apply it to extant manuscripts simply because we don’t have the very first writings. We have to infer that the originals were without error based on the evidence we do possess. So inerrancy in the strict sense applies only to the lost autographs. Our doctrine of inerrancy comes first from what Scripture claims about itself rather than the reliability of transmission of the text.
2. The copies we possess faithfully reflect the originals
While we no longer have the specific pieces of parchment the original authors penned, the incredible number of ancient manuscripts we do have allow us to have great confidence that our modern translations reflect those originals with a high degree of accuracy. There are around 5,800 partial or complete ancient Greek manuscripts of the New Testament, far more than any other ancient document. When you include quotations from early church fathers and ancient translations into other languages, the total witness to the New Testament exceeds 25,000 sources!
Textual criticism studies how to examine the differences between manuscripts and determine which readings most likely reflect the original text. The level of accuracy in the transmission of New Testament manuscripts over thousands of years is remarkable. The vast number of sources, their temporal proximity to the originals and the meticulous care of scribes give us assurance that our Bibles today accurately represent the wording of the autographs. So while inerrancy technically applies only to the original manuscripts, it functionally applies to our translations as well.
3. Copyist errors do not negate inerrancy
It’s important to note that the doctrine of inerrancy extends only to the original manuscripts, not necessarily every copy. As manuscripts were reproduced by hand over centuries, scribes inevitably made some errors in copying. Humans are not infallible. These copyist errors are easily identifiable because of the abundant number of manuscripts. By comparing many different manuscripts, scholars can detect scribal mistakes in certain versions.
However, these kinds of errors do not undermine the inerrancy of Scripture, because inerrancy affirms the truthfulness of the autographs themselves, not each subsequent copy. The nature of minor copyist errors is also categorically different than if actual contradictions or falsehoods were contained in the original writings. The errors are recognized as human mistakes in transmission, not flaws in the source material.
4. Modern translations are based on the best manuscripts
Another factor assuring us of the accuracy of our modern Bible translations is that they are based on the best available manuscripts. Scholars do not haphazardly choose any manuscripts when making translations. The textual basis for modern Bibles draws from the most reliable early manuscripts. Translation committees also employ rigorous exegetical methods and peer-review to ensure fidelity to the original meaning.
So while our current Bibles may not be the original pieces of parchment, they are founded on the most accurate manuscript evidence recoverable. This allows us to have confidence that our translations today reflect the content of the inerrant autographs. The fact that varied translation approaches consistently affirm core truths also validates their reliability.
5. Only the original languages are inerrant
There is one more limitation to the doctrine of inerrancy that should be stated. Only the words as originally written in Hebrew, Aramaic and Greek can properly be deemed inerrant. Translations into other languages, no matter how accurate, do not carry the same inerrant status. All translation involves at least minor differentiation in word choice, grammar and style. So inerrancy is technically limited to the languages in which God chose to inspire the human authors.
However, faithful translations based on the best manuscripts can be said to accurately communicate the meaning of the inerrant words to new audiences. So while a specific translation cannot be called inerrant, it can still be regarded as an accurate rendering of the inerrant words given by God and recorded in the original languages.
6. Minuscule changes do not negate total inerrancy
Some critics of inerrancy point to minute textual variants between manuscripts and translations as undermining the doctrine. How can the Bible be inerrant if manuscripts contain discrepancies? In response, the differences amount to minuscule wording preferences, spelling variances or other inconsequential adjustments. No major doctrine or narrative detail hinges on the minor variants.
Additionally, the main charge of inerrancy is that the Bible is completely true and reliable in all that it affirms. This does not mean there can be no variations in copies or uncertainty about certain peripheral details. The totality of Scripture and its core teachings are unaffected by the minor manuscript differences. We can therefore still ascribe inerrancy to Scripture as a whole.
7. God’s Word Stands Forever
“Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away.” (Matthew 24:35) The eternality and permanence of Christ’s words underscore the enduring truth of Scripture. While no physical documents last forever, God’s Word will never fade even if the written manuscripts deteriorate. Though the ink may fade and pages crumble, the Holy Spirit preserves the Word eternally. So while only the original manuscripts were strictly inerrant, the eternal truth of God communicated in His Word remains steadfast.
In summary, the doctrine of biblical inerrancy technically applies only to the original autographs of Scripture which have been lost to history. However, based on manuscript evidence, scholarly examination and the reliable transmission of God’s Word, we can have great confidence that our translations today accurately reflect those inerrant autographs. Through textual criticism, archaeological discoveries and exegetical study, we continue to find affirmation that our modern Bibles reflect the actual words God inspired. So functionally, the blessings and authority of an inerrant Scripture apply to our Bibles today, though technically inerrancy applies strictly only to the original manuscripts. We can therefore trust wholly in God’s Word, even if we cannot directly access the very first manuscripts.