The authority and inerrancy of the scriptures (Essential Doctrines series)

The Inerrancy of Scripture
Kevin Vanhoozer

Whereas inspiration concerns the origin of the Bible's authority,
inerrancy describes its nature. By inerrancy we refer not only to the
Bible's being 'without error' but also to its inability to err (we
might helpfully illustrate this point by comparing it to the
distinction between Jesus' sinlessness or being without sin, on the one
hand, and his impeccability or inability to sin on the other).
Inerrancy, positively defined, refers to a central and crucial property
of the Bible, namely, its utter truthfulness.

The basis for the doctrine of biblical inerrancy is located both in
the nature of God and in the Bible's teaching about itself. First, if
God is perfect - all-knowing, all-wise, all-good - it follows that God
speaks the truth. God does not tell lies; God is not ignorant. God's
Word is thus free from all error arising either from conscious deceit
or unconscious ignorance. Such is the unanimous confession of the
Psalmist, the prophets, the Lord Jesus and the apostles. Second, the
Bible presents itself as the Word of God written.

Thus, in addition to its humanity (which is never denied), the Bible
also enjoys the privileges and prerogatives of its status as God's
Word. God's Word is thus wholly reliable, a trustworthy guide to
reality, a light unto our path.

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