INSPIRATION AND INERRANCY OF SCRIPTURES, PART 3.

According to Erickson, “the inerrancy of Scripture is the doctrine that the Bible is fully truthful in all of its teachings.”1 The view I stand for is ‘limited inerrancy’ which regards the Bible as inerrant and infallible in its salvific doctrinal references. In this position the Bible’s scientific and historical references reflect the understanding current at the time it was written and the Biblical writers were limited by the limitations of their time. And scientific data was expressed more in phenomenal revelations of the time! I believe that there can be certain discrepancies without altering the complete truthfulness of the Word. The following Scripture shows a small scientific data discrepancy but I do not believe this alters the truthfulness of the Word: it is 2 Chronicles 4:2, which in its description of the molten sea , it says its diameter is 10 cubits and circumference 30 cubits. From geometry the circumference of a circle is πd where π= 3.14; so the circumference would be 10 x 3.14 which equals 31.4, so this is a little bit greater than 30! Another example, is the writings in Genesis 1, which express the creation as taking place in one day times! There is much discussion between those who believe a day is a 24-hour event while there are those who believe one day means an epoch of time. After taking the Genesis and Creation classes taught by Dr. Hugh Ross’s staff, I came to the conclusion, with all the increase of scientific knowledge, that the epoch view makes more sense! Still, this does not change the truthfulness of the Bible or the influence of the Holy Spirit upon the writer of this Book, which is believed to have been Moses many years later from the event.
I completely agree with what Hayford who says: “The Holy Spirit ‘gave’ us the Scriptures by revelation, and both history and personal experience attest to Their life-giving power. We embrace the Bible, therefore, not as if It were some good-luck charm, and certainly not as an idol, but recognizing It for what It is: the only historically verified, categorically authoritative textbook on the ultimate issues of life—the only sure foundation on which to build our lives.”2 So, the Scriptures are ‘God-breathed’, a product of the Creator with the Spirit’s work, and to be viewed as the teaching and preaching of God Himself through human vessels. And we can attest to this when we have a born-again experience as we receive salvation through JesusChrist.

NOTES
1Millard J. Erickson, Christian Theology,(Grand Rapids: Baker Academic, 2006),247.
2Jack W. Hayford, Grounds for Living, (Tonbridge: Sovereign World, 2001), 13.