Rev. David Holwick
First Baptist Church
Ledgewood, New Jersey (Bible study)
February 9, 1997
MISTAKES IN THE BIBLE
I. Inerrancy.
A. Meaning of terms.
1) "Inerrancy" - the Bible does not contain errors.
2) "Infallibility" is even stronger - it cannot contain errors.
a) (Some use infallibility in a lesser sense)
B. Inerrancy is related to doctrine of inspiration, in that a book
from a perfect God would not contain errors.
C. Different forms of inspiration are held.
1) Dictation. Authors heard words, wrote them down.
[fundamentalism]
2) Plenary*. Authors wrote as they felt moved by Spirit,
but reflected their own cultures. Also
called verbal inspiration. [evangelicalism]
3) Partial. Some is inspired (theology, morality) some may
not be (history, science). [CS Lewis]
4) Illumination. A completely human process where they gave
their best ideas about God. [liberalism]
II. Historical review.
A. The Bible presents itself as true and trustworthy.
1) Psalm 119:138,144,160 God's Law is trustworthy and right.
2) Luke 1:20 Predictive prophecy comes true.
3) Romans 3:4 God is true, people are liars.
4) 1 Thess. 2:13 The apostles' word was God's Word.
5) 2 Peter 1:20-21 Scripture is from God, not humans.
6) Revelation 21:5 The angel's message is true.
B. Jesus used the Bible as his final authority.
1) It is greater than human tradition. Mark 7:6-13
2) No part of the Law can be set aside as useless. Luke 16:17
3) Everything in the Bible will be accomplished. Matt. 5:17-19
4) It cannot be broken. John 10:35
5) What the Bible says, God says. Matt 15:4; 22:31
6) Arguments can be decided on the basis of one word. Matt 22:45
C. The early Church Fathers, the Reformers (Luther, Calvin, etc),
Evangelical Protestants, Roman Catholics and Orthodox churches
all believe the Bible is without error.
D. Liberal Christians deny it. But note comment by liberal scholar
Kirsopp Lake: "How many were there, for instance, in Christian
churches in the 18th century who doubted the infallible inspira-
tion of the Bible? A few, perhaps, but very few....It is we
[liberals] who have departed from the tradition. The Bible is
on the fundamentalist side."
III. Problems with inerrancy.
A. Discrepancies within Scripture.
1) Parallel Bible passages sometimes give conflicting accounts of
the same event. (Scholars have known this for thousands of
years)
a) The census of Israel.
1> Instigated by Satan. 1 Chronicles 21:1
2> Instigated by God. 2 Samuel 24:1
b) Healing of blind man(men) by Jesus outside Jericho.
1> Jesus leaving Jericho, meets two blind men. Matt 20:29
2> Jesus leaving Jericho, one blind man jumps up. Mark 10:46
3> Jesus entering Jericho, one blind man carried. Luke 18:35
c) The death of Judas.
1> Hanging. Matt 27:5
2> Fall and split open. Acts 1:18
2) Wording of conversations can differ.
a) Variations between 1&2 Kings and 1&2 Chronicles.
b) Compare what God tells Cornelius in Acts 10:4 and what
Cornelius says God said in Acts 10:31.
c) Note differences in gospels concerning Jesus' sermons.
B. Scientific disagreement.
1) Scientific mistakes.
a) Rabbits do NOT chew their cud. Leviticus 11:6
b) Slugs don't melt. Psalm 58:8
c) Mustard seed is NOT smallest in world. Mark 4:31
d) The earth does not have four corners. Ezekiel 7:2; Revelation 7:1
1> But note the "circle of the earth." Isaiah 40:22
2) Miracles.
a) Talking donkey. Numbers 22:28
b) Creation in six days. Genesis 1 & 2
c) The sun stands still. Joshua 10:13
3) History.
a) Archaeologist Kathleen Kenyon said Jericho was uninhabited
at the time Joshua arrived to capture it.
(A recent archaeologist believes she was wrong; even the
walls show evidence of falling down.)
b) Archaeologists find no evidence King Darius ruled in
Babylon, or even existed. Daniel 5:31, 9:1
IV. Answers to problems.
A. God can perform any miracle he wants. It may not seem "scientific"
to us, but it could still be real.
B. Discrepancies in many passages can be harmonized.
1) Judas may have hung himself, the rope broke, and he fell
on the ground.
2) Jericho had an old city and a new city in Jesus' day.
3) Ancient historical records (King Darius) are incomplete.
C. Questions about specific problems will always occur. The Bible
does not have to be "proved" to be accepted as trustworthy.
V. Importance of inerrancy.
A. If some of Bible can be false, all can be false.
1) A Bible that is not trusted will not be obeyed.
B. Denominations that have departed from belief in an inerrant Bible
have withered.
1) Methodists, Presbyterians, Episcopalians - American Baptists too?
C. Jesus Christ believed the Bible was fully trustworthy.
1) Denying inerrancy denies Jesus' lordship over us.
2) Is Jesus your Lord?
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Main source: "Why I Still Believe the Bible is True," by Kenneth Kantzer,
Christianity Today, Oct 7, 1988, p. 22.
