Is the Bible inerrant? Does it contradict itself?

[Prime Number]

  I was recently debating with some friends about Bible inerrancy. I was wondering what your opinions are............

Prime#

[joed86]

Hi Prime, as far as I am concerned the Bible is the undisputable, infallible and inerrant Word of God.

I think all the confusion comes from all the different understandings we each take away from it. It seems each passage touches people in so many different ways. Sometimes I read things in the Bible that are pretty hard to comprehend, for example, Jonah living in the belly of a whale. But then I say to myself, is that any more difficult to believe than someone rising from the dead? It's then that I simply reaffirm my lack of wisdom and simply praise God.

[rwboyd58]

Hey Prime,

I too believe the the Bible is the inerrant word of God. The controversey about contradictions in the Bible have gone on for years and years and years. In my opion these debates over the word being  contradicting is just another ploy of the devil to try and trip us up and cause doubt. The Bible has been proven in every way possible and still people doubt. I just trust in and rely on my Lord and Saviour and stand on His word and promises and let the other stuff slide.

RW

[WISDOM]

Good questions, and some that every Christian should always be ready to give an answer to, regardless of whether or not one is speaking to a saved or unsaved individual.

Our FATHER never asks us to believe, without giving sufficient evidence upon which to base our faith.  HIS existence, HIS character, and most importantly the truthfulness of HIS Word, the Bible, are all established by testimony that appeals to our reason; and this testimony is ABUNDANT.  

Yet our loving FATHER has never removed the possibility of doubt.  Our faith MUST rest upon evidence...not demonstration.  Those who wish to doubt will have opportunity; while those who really desire to know the truth, will find plenty of evidence on which to rest their faith.  It is impossible for finite minds fully to comprehend the character or works of the INFINITE ONE when they doubt any portion of the Word concerning HIMSELF which HE has left with us.  There are no errors in GOD's Word for the spiritual mind truly seeking HIM.  The natural mind can never come to know HIM because all reasoning will be based on human wisdom/knowledge.  For the latter reason Prime I personally believe that to the keenest intellect, the most highly educated mind who doubts the truth and accuracy of the Bible GOD must forever remain clothed in mystery.  I love the Word because like YOU I know its AUTHOR personally.  However, unlike us there are many people who don't agree, and they continuously try to prove (without success) that the Word is flawed.  What I've heard more than anything else in times past is that it simply is the work of man.  However, the truth of the matter is there is an overwhelming amount of evidence in its favor.

I've found that many will question the Bible's truthfulness because it is the only "religion" that presents an honest view on the status of man's need for a SAVIOUR, not the humanistic view that many of the "other religions" follow.  People dislike being told this.  The Bible offers man salvation through CHRIST, which is not a salvation by works, but by grace through faith (Ephesians 2:8-9).  This makes the Bible not just a book....it is the book.  If it had been written by one person at one time, one could understand how it would be unified in general thoughts and specific details.  But it is very diverse in its origins.  Think about it...it was written by 40 different human authors (inspired by the HOLY SPIRIT) over a period of 1600 years, and written in three languages (Hebrew, Greek, and Aramaic).

It was written on three continents (Asia, Africa, and Europe) with a gap of more than 400 years separating the writing of the Old Testament from the New Testament.  The writers ALL came from different walks of life, yet in spite of this wide diversity, the Bible is ONE BOOK!  It agrees in doctrine, details of prophecy, what it says about our LORD/SAVIOUR JESUS CHRIST, and its offer of rescue to mankind....a unified book made up of MANY (66) books.  And regardless of the non-belivers questioning of its validity and inerrancy it will never be disproven or eradicated (Isaiah 40:8).  Now, are there some contrasts in the Bible?  You bet there are, but you and I as Christians are suppose to seek the wisdom from on high which is already in HIS Word.  A study in contrasts looks at an alleged discrepancy in the Bible and shows that the problem may be nothing more than two sides of the same truth.  The solution, in turn, is to see that each side has its appropriate, GOD-given time and place.  This sense of balance is important because the question of whether the Bible contradicts itself goes BEYOND the issue of the Bible's credibility.  Once that is established, we can gain a more mature understanding of the Bible's message by seeing the BIGGER and BROADER perspective on many, many issues.

Prime, as Christians I believe we can understand as much of HIS Word and purposes as it is for our good to know; and beyond this we must still trust the hand that is Omnipotent.  But within it I see no errors/contradictions which cannot be explained other than the "mysteries" of HIS providence.  We'll learn those once we arrive "Home".

[Prime Number]

  The way I see it, it's a double edge sword. If you say it's has contradictions how can it be the word of God? If you say it's inerrant, then how do you account for the known contradictions? Or does it just come down to faith in the end?

Prime#

[WISDOM]

Prime:

it comes down to prayerfully giving the AUTHOR of the Book the opportunity and privilege to answer your questions (James 1:5....2 Timothy 2:15).  You remind me of myself years ago.

I found that HE will give you the answers when you dilligently seek them from HIM!

[Prime Number]

  But the author's were men, not God. That is forgone conclusion. No man is perfect. Also, the Bible is made up of 66 Books but the church had over 100 to choose from. What about the other books.

  The contradictions I've heard are contradictions between the different authors, usually telling the same story. But the question still remains, is it only a matter of faith?

Prime#

[WISDOM]

I ask you again....have you gone to the AUTHOR of the Book and prayerfully asked HIM (patiently) to give you your answers?  Is YOUR spiritual eye on HIM or man?

[boblandis]

The Bible is the inerrent word of God. It is authored by God not by man. God would not permit human error to foul up His book. You are talking about a Being with more intellect then we can even fathom. Why, being more intelligent then us and able to do anything He desires, would he let someone mess up His instruction manual on life?

[Prime Number]

  Why indeed?

Prime#