Is The Bible Really Without Error?

Is the Bible really entirely true? Are there really no errors in this long book? Isn’t there an update needed about at least a few things? The Apostle Paul lived a long time ago. Moses lived even longer ago. Surely times have changed since their day? They didn’t know what we know now about the world, right? 

Traditionally, Christians have believed that the entire Bible is inspired by God, without error, and true in all times and places. However, in recent years, even many Christians have become less convinced [1]. 

Should Christians continue to believe in the inerrancy of Scripture (“inerrant” = without error), or should we give up on this doctrine? What are the consequences if we give up this belief?

Does the Bible have errors?

Over the years, many critics have claimed to find errors in the Bible. These alleged errors basically fall into three categories: apparent contradictions (“apparent” meaning they appear to be contradictions prior to deeper study), potential conflicts with modern science, and discrepancies over numbers. In addition to these alleged errors, there are also some passages that present theological or philosophical difficulties that some may call errors. 

While we don’t have the space here to address each of these alleged errors or difficulties, there is an amazing webpage where some great Christian scholars have provided answers to hundreds of these alleged errors. 

Is the Bible historically reliable?

The Bible is not merely a book of philosophical speculation or religious sayings. It is a book of history. The theological truth claims of the Bible are built upon a historical narrative, a story of real people, places, and events. So can we trust the history recorded in the Bible?

In order to evaluate the historical reliability of the Bible, we can apply the same criteria used to evaluate the reliability of any other historical document. These criteria include archeological corroboration, attestation from other historical documents of the events described, attestation of eyewitnesses, the nearness in time of the recording of the events to them actually taking place, the consistency between older manuscripts and later manuscripts, the number of manuscripts available, and more. 

When evaluated according to the standard criteria for historical reliability, we find that the Bible is the best attested ancient historical document we have. For an in-depth study of how the Bible measures up to criteria for historical reliability, there are many helpful articles and books available [2]. 

What would it mean if the Bible did have errors?

In John 3:12, Jesus says -  If I have told you earthly things and you do not believe, how can you believe if I tell you heavenly things?

To give up on inerrancy is to give up on the Bible. The Bible tells us about God, ourselves, metaphysical reality, and life after death. If it is wrong about physical things, how can we trust it to be right about spiritual things? 

We trust someone’s word because we trust their character, and we trust someone’s character because we trust their word. These are inseparable. One of the ways we know the Bible is without error is becauuse it comes from a God who is without error, perfect in his character. If the Bible has real errors (not just alleged errors), then this would give us reason to doubt the God of the Bible or to doubt that the Bible is a reliable source of truth about God. 

What was Jesus’ view of the Bible?

It has become popular in recent years for some to say they follow Jesus but not the Bible. There are at least two fundamental problems with this philosophy. First, the Bible is God’s Word (Jesus’ Word). How can you follow Jesus but not His Words? 

Second, this is not at all how Jesus spoke about the Bible. Throughout his ministry, Jesus quoted the Scripture (“it is written”) as God’s authoritative word in order to preach, teach, and argue with opponents like Satan and the Pharisees. Jesus said “it is easier for heaven and earth to pass away than for one dot of the Law to become void” (Luke 16:17). Jesus not only argued from the ideas of the Bible, he made arguments based upon a single word (Matthew 22:41-46) and even from the tense of a word (Matthew 22:31-32). 

Every word of the Bible is from God (2 Timothy 3.16; 1 Peter 1.20-21), and thus, God’s Word is without error.