Is it important to believe that the Bible is without error?

Is the debate about whether or not the Bible can be trusted merely a theological quibble? Certainly not! The question of ultimate authority is of tremendous importance for the Christian. If the Scripture is unreliable, can we offer the world a reliable gospel? How can we be sure of truth on any issue if we are suspicious of errors anywhere in the Bible? A pilot will ground his aircraft even on suspicion of the most minor fault, because he is aware that one fault destroys confidence in the complete machine. If the history contained in the Bible is wrong, how can we be sure the doctrine or moral teaching is correct?

The heart of the Christian message is history. God becoming a man through the Virgin Birth of Christ. The life of Jesus and who He claimed to be. His death on the cross, His resurrection and ascension. If these recorded events are not true, how do we know the theology behind them is true?

We cannot have a reliable Savior without a reliable Scripture. If, as many suggest, the stories in the Gospels are not historically true and the recorded words of Christ are only occasionally His, how do we know what we can trust about Christ? Who would trust an unreliable Savior for their eternal salvation?

If we believe the Bible contains errors, then we will be quick to accept scientific theories and listen to secular historians that appear to prove the Bible wrong. In other words, we will allow the conclusions of science and secular history to dictate the accuracy of the Word of God. When we doubt the Bible’s inerrancy, we have to invent new principles for interpreting Scripture that for convenience turn history into poetry and facts into myths.

Thankfully, God has given us His inspired, inerrant and infallible Word. His people can speak with authority and boldness and we can be confident we have His instructions for our lives.

See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depend on human tradition and the basic principles of this world rather than on Christ.

Colossians 1:8