Inerrancy and Infallibility

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Exegete

Guest
#1
I am studying for a Masters in Theology and currently working on a paper on inerrancy and infallibility. I would like to get feedback from various Christians - such as yourselves - on what those two words mean to you and how you apply them to Scripture. I'm not looking for textbook definitions (I have plenty of those) - just your honest, straight from the gut thoughts and opinions. Please leave the theology books and dictionaries on the shelf.

Please note: This is not a space for you to argue or debate with each other if someone says something with which you disagree. This is merely an "academic feedback" page for me.

If all goes well I'll post the paper as a blog in the future.

Thanks for the help and God bless.
 

crossnote

Senior Member
Nov 24, 2012
30,704
3,649
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#2
God's Word is without error in all that it states. If it wasn't then a floodgate of doubt opens up, because if it is unreliable at one point then how do we know other, even major points are unreliable?
 

Blain

The Word Weaver
Aug 28, 2012
19,177
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#3
Well lets think of it this way, first we have to ask ourselves do we believe God is perfect and without error? if we believe this then would his words not also be perfect and without error? And we believe that the bible truly is the word of God and holy spirit filled then to say it is in error or flawed would be to say God himself is.

If you ask me I think it is man kinds lack of understanding and interpretation that makes the bible appear to be in error or flawed, after all his thoughts are not our thoughts and his ways are not our ways and it isn't like we humans in our human thinking can truly understand his. The bible is like an onion or the earths crust it has many many layers and only God can give one the ability to be able to see and understand each layer as we delve into his word. However that requires one to learn how to see through his eyes not our own and that is something that can only be learned the closer we become to him. The closer we become to him the more we see as he sees and the more of his heart replaces our own.

The deeper our bond and our love with him becomes the deeper we are able to see into the deeper layers of his word and the amazing thing is we can read and study it for a thousand years and yet still find hidden treasures in it.
 
Sep 4, 2012
14,424
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#4
IMO no one who has studied the matter can honestly say that what we now have matches the originals 100%. It's very close, but not without some errors.
 

BenFTW

Senior Member
Oct 7, 2012
4,834
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#5
If God's word is the standard of truth that we live by and know right from wrong, then it must be objective (not subjective). This means it is inerrant and infallible, otherwise we have no authority upon which to determine truth, nor remain in truth. We would be tossed to and fro by every wind of doctrine.

If it isn't absolute, then it is an opinion. If it is an opinion, then who's opinion matters? We must go back to God being the authority, and if it be His word, then God's "opinion" isn't really subjective, considering He is the truth. He is not a liar. God's word then is the measuring stick upon which we compare what we hear. Is it truth? Let us see what the Lord says.
 

maxwel

Senior Member
Apr 18, 2013
9,261
2,386
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#6
I am studying for a Masters in Theology and currently working on a paper on inerrancy and infallibility. I would like to get feedback from various Christians - such as yourselves - on what those two words mean to you and how you apply them to Scripture. I'm not looking for textbook definitions (I have plenty of those) - just your honest, straight from the gut thoughts and opinions. Please leave the theology books and dictionaries on the shelf.

Please note: This is not a space for you to argue or debate with each other if someone says something with which you disagree. This is merely an "academic feedback" page for me.

If all goes well I'll post the paper as a blog in the future.

Thanks for the help and God bless.

What kind of paper are you writing that requires a survey of people's random opinions?







 
N

NoNameMcgee

Guest
#7
I am studying for a Masters in Theology and currently working on a paper on inerrancy and infallibility. I would like to get feedback from various Christians - such as yourselves - on what those two words mean to you and how you apply them to Scripture. I'm not looking for textbook definitions (I have plenty of those) - just your honest, straight from the gut thoughts and opinions. Please leave the theology books and dictionaries on the shelf.

Please note: This is not a space for you to argue or debate with each other if someone says something with which you disagree. This is merely an "academic feedback" page for me.

If all goes well I'll post the paper as a blog in the future.

Thanks for the help and God bless.
welp

typically i dont use either lf those words daily


i would usually call God and His word perfect and without error in conversation

if youre looking for my opinion on what "Inerrancy and Infallibility" mean

i could apply perfect or without error



if youre talking about how i apply the fact God is perfect and without error to my study and walk with Him throughtout life



its to say i can be wrong (even with how i understand His word)
and every single man/woman alive can be wrong

so if through His inspired word
something is revealed that goes against my current understanding
or the understanding and studies of any other person alive (them having error and not being perfect)

then i know to let go of my understanding and not be decieved by mankind if either go against God or His inspired written word


so what i do is i study often
i pray
and look for truth


the scriptures flow in PERFECT harmony when you believe truth

but if you have error in your understanding
there may seem to be contradictions in the scriptures....



this is why context is so important

i have seen many deny His written word was perfect because their understanding is lacking
and even though they believe they understand what they are reading

and they claim to have found a contradiction

it is actually error in them
not the scriptures


the same can be said of everyone who preaches a false gospel

using a real bible
 

slave

Senior Member
Mar 20, 2015
6,307
1,097
113
#8
The issue of infallibility has a two front consideration. One is authority, and one is faith. In the whole universe only God is authority. All other authorities are appointed by God. Nothing is greater than authority in the universe; nothing can surpass it. For this reason, if we want to serve God, we must know God’s authority, to know it we have His Word and the Holy Spirit. Thus, the infallibility of His Word becomes critical in our understanding of Wisdom. Yet the Word itself tells us without the Spirit of God we cannot know the wisdom of God as it transforms our minds and hearts. Infallibility in the Word then has to do ultimately with faith as to the authority of God. The Almighty God whom has no equal and has willed His Word to be infallible.

When we doubt the authority of God in His Word We ask ourselves, "Can God truly come thru for us?" We doubt God Himself. God starts out knowing of His Worth and says to us, "Will you have faith in My worth and authority? Will you trust Me to be able to make the Bible alive and active? Or will you doubt me by looking inward to your reasoning on authority and worth even by way of satan's influence?"
 
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Nehemiah6

Senior Member
Jul 18, 2017
24,167
12,764
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#10
I would like to get feedback from various Christians - such as yourselves - on what those two words mean to you and how you apply them to Scripture.
SHORT ANSWER:

INERRANCY = NO ERROR OF FACT

INFALLIBILITY = NO ERROR OF DOCTRINE
 

trofimus

Senior Member
Aug 17, 2015
10,684
794
113
#11
I am studying for a Masters in Theology and currently working on a paper on inerrancy and infallibility. I would like to get feedback from various Christians - such as yourselves - on what those two words mean to you and how you apply them to Scripture. I'm not looking for textbook definitions (I have plenty of those) - just your honest, straight from the gut thoughts and opinions. Please leave the theology books and dictionaries on the shelf.

Please note: This is not a space for you to argue or debate with each other if someone says something with which you disagree. This is merely an "academic feedback" page for me.

If all goes well I'll post the paper as a blog in the future.

Thanks for the help and God bless.
It is. This is a discussion forum, so we can debate as much as we want.

But I got what you are trying to say. You are looking for some ideas that can inspire you about what opinions can exist.

Well, obviously, there are various views, from the most extreme on one side (every letter is perfect) to the most extreme on another side (Bible is just a human book with quite good stories and figures).
 

Yahshua

Senior Member
Sep 22, 2013
2,703
684
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#12
Inerrant means no errors and infallible means always right. To me together they mean "a seamless (or harmony of) truth from beginning to end", which can only be achieve with the help of the Holy Spirit.

The Word is inerrant, but The Scriptures have errors.

The Word is infallible, but The Scriptures are fallible.

This is why not just anyone can pick up a bible and start reading to get clear understanding. They first must be led by the Spirit to avoid the many pitfalls due to the inherent weakness of the written letter.

I believe it's also why Christ spoke in parables; "to those who have, more will be given and they will have abundance. But to those who have not, even what they have will be taken from them."
 

maxwel

Senior Member
Apr 18, 2013
9,261
2,386
113
#13
You couldn’t just answer the question


Asking questions is some kind of sin?



Do YOU do everything people ask without question?




If so, I'll be sure to let your wife and children know.



: )
 
C

CandieM

Guest
#14
I am studying for a Masters in Theology and currently working on a paper on inerrancy and infallibility. I would like to get feedback from various Christians - such as yourselves - on what those two words mean to you and how you apply them to Scripture. I'm not looking for textbook definitions (I have plenty of those) - just your honest, straight from the gut thoughts and opinions. Please leave the theology books and dictionaries on the shelf.

Please note: This is not a space for you to argue or debate with each other if someone says something with which you disagree. This is merely an "academic feedback" page for me.

If all goes well I'll post the paper as a blog in the future.

Thanks for the help and God bless.
I know this is off-topic, but your avatar is gorgeous. I love rainbows. :eek:
 

tourist

Senior Member
Mar 13, 2014
41,243
16,252
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Tennessee
#16
Please note: This is not a space for you to argue or debate with each other if someone says something with which you disagree. This is merely an "academic feedback" page for me.
It's the nature of the Bible Discussion Forum to argue and debate.
 
Feb 28, 2016
11,311
2,972
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#19
God's Word is without error in all that it states. If it wasn't then a floodgate of doubt opens up, because if it is unreliable at one point then how do we know other, even major points are unreliable?
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we have 'always' loved your dedication to our Holy Saviour, but you must know that God's Word
is infallible, but 'man's translations are fallible'...it's the 'natures of God and Man...