Final Paper Assignment The Word of God

The Word of God Final Paper Assignment Arrie Elizabeth Harlan THEO 525: Systematic Theology I July 1, 2023

Table of Contents I. Introduction .................................................................................................................... 1 A. Inerrancy Defined ........................................................................................................ 1 B. Thesis Statement .......................................................................................................... 2 II. Overview of the Inerrancy of the Holy Scripture ........................................................ 3 A. Numerous Impressions ................................................................................................ 3 1. Absoluteness .................................................................................................... 3 2. Fullness ............................................................................................................ 3 3. Limitless ........................................................................................................... 3 4. Purpose ............................................................................................................. 4 5. Accommodated Revelation .............................................................................. 5 6. Nonpropositional Revelation ........................................................................... 5 B. The Chicago Statement on Biblical Inerrancy ............................................................ 6 History ................................................................................................................... 6 Purpose .................................................................................................................. 7 III. The Importance of the Doctrine of Inerrancy of Scripture ....................................... 7 A. Theological Importance .............................................................................................. 7 B. Historical Importance .................................................................................................. 8 C. Epistemological Importance ........................................................................................ 9 D. Arguments Against Inerrancy .................................................................................... 10 1. John Bartkowski .............................................................................................. 10 2. J. Terrance Forestell ........................................................................................ 11 3. Richard Coleman ............................................................................................. 11 4. John Weisengoff .............................................................................................. 12 IV. Consequences of Denial ............................................................................................... 13 A. Being Over Scripture ................................................................................................ 13 B. Lack of Respect ......................................................................................................... 14 ii

V. Conclusion .................................................................................................................... 14 A. Believers in Christ ...................................................................................................... 14 B. Diversity in Scriptural Translations ............................................................................ 15 C. Biblical Worldview ..................................................................................................... 15 D. Applications ............................................................................................................... 16 VI. Bibliography .................................................................................................................. 18 iii

1 I. Introduction A. Inerrancy Defined Biblical inerrancy means that the original manuscripts of the Bible do not verify anything different from the truth. The refutation of the doctrine of biblical inerrancy is the most important cause of a flawed worldview. Christians must believe that the Bible is perfect, recognizing that every passage of Scripture has full authority from God and is in complete agreement with the rest of the canon of Scripture. This foundational truth forms a biblical worldview and should be highly regarded to participate in biblical exegesis accurately. One can expect that there is nothing wrong with objecting to the Bible, but followers of Jesus Christ can expect severe penalties for such disbelief. 1 "All Scripture is given by the inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete." 2 (2 Tim 3:16). This verse is perhaps the most often quoted biblical passage that teaches explicitly that the Bible was God's inspiration to various persons who put the words down as they received inspiration from God. In his book, God's Word Alone . . ., Barrett states, "In the most basic sense, inerrancy means that Scripture, in its original manuscripts, does not err in all that the biblical authors assert." 3 1 Heidegger's Bible Handbook: Old Testament in General: Outline of the Wisdom and Poetic Books. https://www.fromreformationtoreformation.com/post/heidegger-s-bible-handbook-old- testament-in-general-outline-of-the-wisdom-and-poetic-books . 2 Unless otherwise noted, all scriptural passages referenced are from the New King James Version. 3 Matthew Barrett, God's Word Alone – The Authority of Scripture: What the Reformers Taught. . .and Why It Still Matters. The Five Solas Series. (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Academic, 2016. 266.

2 We can be confident that God made certain the Bible got recorded just as he wanted it to be, and believing that God is always true is the heart of the Christian faith. There are 394 instances in the Old Testament where the Bible refers to itself as the "Word of God." When the New Testament authors used the Old Testament, they referred to the Bible as the "Word of God." There are numerous examples in the Bible that reveal how it must be true because he is the one true God. Numbers 23:19 says, "God is not a man that he should lie." God has always done everything just as he said he would and he keeps every promise he made. More than 40 biblical authors tell the same stories about his plan for our salvation. ". . . the strength of Israel will not lie. . .." (1 Samuel 15:29) Each book of the Bible reveals God's true character. 4 B. Thesis Statement This paper aims to offer evidence for the validity of the doctrine of the inerrancy of Scripture, explaining why the doctrine is such a vital part in the lives of believers, what penalties might exist by denial, as well as evidence that both supports the validity of the Scriptures, its sovereign author, and the essential role it plays in the believer’s life. II. Overview of the Inerrancy of Scripture A. Numerous impressions 1. Absoluteness. The belief that the Bible is fully true and exact in every way is absolute inerrancy, including relationships and doctrine, as well as historically, scientifically, and geographically. “Inerrancy simply means that the Bible is without error. It is a belief in the “total 4 Arrie Harlan, “The Inerrancy of Scripture,” “The Sufficiency of Scripture,” “The Authority of Scripture,” and “Jesus and the Scriptures” (class papers submitted in BIBL 360 at Liberty University, Lynchburg, VA, Winter 2021).