The doctrine of biblical infallibility affirms that the Bible is completely trustworthy and authoritative in all that it asserts. This means that the Bible speaks with absolute authority and truth on any matter that it addresses. There are several key aspects to understanding what it means for the Bible to be infallible:
The Bible is without error
A core component of biblical infallibility is that Scripture contains no errors. Some key verses that support this include:
“Every word of God proves true; he is a shield to those who take refuge in him.” (Proverbs 30:5 ESV)
“Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth.” (John 17:17 ESV)
“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.” (2 Timothy 3:16-17 ESV)
These verses affirm that God’s Word is completely true and without flaw. There are no mistakes or falsehoods in what God has revealed to us through the Bible. This attribute of Scripture flows from the character of God himself, who is perfect and cannot lie (Titus 1:2).
The Bible speaks with absolute authority on all matters
Because the Bible is God’s Word, it carries God’s authority and speaks definitively on any topic or doctrine it addresses. The Bible contains not just man’s imperfect perspective but rather the very mind and will of God himself.
Hebrews 4:12 says that “the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart.”
As the definitive revelation of Christ, who himself declared “Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away” (Matthew 24:35 ESV), the Bible speaks authoritatively as the very voice of God. We can have full confidence in the truth and authority of all biblical assertions.
Infallibility applies to the original manuscripts
While the doctrine teaches the absolute trustworthiness of Scripture, it specifically applies to the original documents penned by the biblical authors. This is because there could be minor textual variants in the thousands of manuscript copies made over the centuries. However, through rigorous textual criticism, scholars have confirmed that our modern Bible translations accurately reflect the original biblical texts, with only trivial discrepancies that do not impact doctrine.
Infallibility does not preclude the use of ordinary language
Though Scripture is divinely inspired, the human authors retained their own styles and vocabularies under the guidance of the Holy Spirit. Thus we see metaphors, symbolism, hyperbole, approximation, and other ordinary uses of language that are not intended to deceive. For example, the Bible refers to the sun “rising” even though from a scientific perspective the sun does not literally rise. Figurative language does not negate infallibility so long as it is clearly understood from the context.
Infallibility means the Bible fulfills its intended purpose
As 2 Timothy 3:16 states, Scripture is “profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness.” The Bible fulfills its purpose in providing authoritative special revelation from God to instruct us in the truths we need for salvation and the Christian life. It accomplishes this purpose without fail.
Only the original texts are infallible
While translations can be extremely accurate and reliable, only the original Hebrew, Aramaic and Greek manuscripts as penned by the biblical authors can be considered infallible. Translations will have minor discrepancies, as different languages do not have exact one-to-one equivalents. However, none of these discrepancies should impact any doctrinal assertions.
Infallibility does not mean every issue is addressed
The Bible is comprehensive in addressing matters related to our relationship with God. However, it does not claim to be an exhaustive guidebook providing direct advice on every life situation. Therefore, infallibility does not mean the Bible will specifically address every possible issue we may face. But it does provide authoritative guidance on the truths that ultimately determine how we should approach any situation.
Only applies to teachings intended as factual assertions
Not everything in the Bible is intended by the authors to be a factual doctrinal assertion. For example, Satan’s words deceiving Eve in Genesis 3 are recorded accurately, but they are not truthful. Scripture also records lies, exaggerations, and other sinful statements without affirming the content of those statements. Additionally, poetic books utilize vivid imagery that should not be taken literally or turned into doctrine. What the biblical authors intend as factual doctrinal assertions is true, while literary techniques and contextual elements should be considered.
Does not exclude scholarly work on translations/manuscripts
Since infallibility applies only to the original manuscripts, ongoing scholarship on examining textual variants in manuscript copies and working to improve Bible translations is not at odds with biblical infallibility. Scripture affirms that God’s Word stands forever (Isaiah 40:8), while no translation is perfect. Continued efforts to study available manuscripts and translate as accurately as possible are encouraged by the doctrine of infallibility, not precluded by it.
No empirical evidence against Scripture’s assertions
If any empirical or scientific evidence genuinely contradicted what Scripture clearly asserts, then the doctrine of biblical infallibility would be gravely undermined. However, there is no actual evidence that indisputably contradicts any biblical text when properly interpreted. There are disputed interpretations, but no air-tight case where Scripture is proven false on a factual claim or doctrine. Any apparent conflicts come from either misunderstanding Scripture, misinterpreting evidence, or lacking all relevant information.
Does not mean humans will interpret it correctly
While Scripture itself is without error, humans are fallible and make mistakes in interpretation. Biblical infallibility does not imply that any person or tradition will interpret Scripture perfectly. It refers only to the trustworthiness of the text itself, not how perfectly humans understand that text. False teaching and flawed interpretation of Scripture is a real possibility we must guard against.
Does not cover lost original manuscripts
There are some biblical books referred to in Scripture that were not included in the Bible canon and have been lost to history. While they may have been considered inspired Scripture by early believers, we cannot directly verify their infallibility since we do not have access to them. However, there is no indication that any of these lost works would have contradicted the books that have been preserved in the biblical canon.
Includes scientific/historical details
When Scripture makes statements pertaining to science, history, geography, and other details tangential to spiritual matters, those statements are just as trustworthy as its theological assertions. However, care must be taken not to impose modern standards of technical precision on ancient texts. Scripture achieves its purpose precisely even when utilizing the ordinary language and perspectives of the human authors’ era.
The Holy Spirit helps us interpret correctly
In addition to textual infallibility, Christians have the help of the indwelling Holy Spirit to guide us in properly interpreting and applying Scripture (1 Corinthians 2:12-16, Ephesians 1:17). With prayer and careful study, we can confidently believe God will show us the truths we need to understand in the infallible text of Scripture by the illumination of the Spirit.
Does not contradict Christ’s infallible teachings
Jesus himself taught that his words were absolutely authoritative, superseding all else (Matthew 24:35). Since Scripture thoroughly testifies to Christ and aligns with his teachings in the Gospels, there can be no ultimate contradiction between the infallible Son of God and the infallible Word of God. Apparent discrepancies come from human error, not the spiritual truth itself.
In summary, the infallibility of the Bible refers to its absolute divine authority and trustworthiness in asserting spiritual truths and serving its intended purpose. Scripture is without error in its original manuscripts in both spiritual matters and supporting factual details. However, infallibility is not at odds with literary styles, ordinary language, lost manuscripts, or textual scholarship to further refine translations from the extant biblical texts that have been faithfully preserved since the time of the original authors.
