A Brief Book Notice from Books At a Glance
An excellent collection of writings on the doctrine of the inspiration and inerrancy of Scripture. Each selection makes important contribution to a study that is foundationally necessary for every minister of the Word of God.
An outstanding resource.
Table of Contents
Introduction – John MacArthur
1 An Historian Looks at Inerrancy – Harold Lindsell
2 Apeitheo: Current Resistance to Biblical Inerrancy – J. Barton Payne
3 The Attestation of Scripture – John Murray
4 Scripture – J.I. Packer
5 Scripture Speaks for Itself – John Frame
6 The Biblical Idea of Inspiration – B.B. Warfield
7 Some Reflections upon Inspiration – Edward J. Young
8 Verbal Inspiration in Church History – R. Laird Harris
9 The Witness of Scripture to Its Inspiration – Alan Stibbs
10 Notes on the Inerrancy of Scripture – Robert Preus
11 Inerrancy and Inspiration – Rene Pache
12 The Meaning of Inerrancy – Paul Feinberg
13 The Nature of Inerrancy – Roger Nicole
14 What Does Biblical Infallibilty Mean? – Gordon Lewis
From the Foreword by John MacArthur
One thing is certain: none of the troubles that currently threaten the strength and solidarity of historic evangelicalism can be dealt with apart from a return to the movement’s historic conviction that Scripture is the infallible Word of God—verbally inspired, totally inerrant, fully sufficient, and absolutely authoritative. We must recover our spiritual forefathers’ confidence in the Bible, as well as their unshakable belief that the Bible is the final test of every truth claim. God’s Word is not subject to human revision. It needs no amendment to suit anyone’s cultural preferences. It has one true interpretation, and because it proclaims its truth with the full authority of God, the Bible also emphatically declares that all alternative opinions are wrong.
Scripture is therefore not to be handled carelessly, studied halfheartedly, listened to apathetically, or read flippantly. Earlier, we saw that Paul exhorted Timothy to “be diligent to present yourself approved to God as a workman who does not need to be ashamed, accurately handling the word of truth” (2 Tim. 2:15). That, of course, is the solemn and particular duty of every pastor and teacher (James 3:1). But every believer is likewise obliged to study Scripture with the utmost care and diligence.
It is simply not possible to handle Scripture faithfully apart from the unshakable conviction that it is true. How can anyone claim to believe the Bible is the inspired Word of God yet assert that it might contain factual or historical inaccuracies—or regard any other source as more reliable or more authoritative? To suggest that Scripture is God’s Word yet possibly in error is to cast doubt on the omniscience, truthfulness, or wisdom of God. The suggestion is filled with mischief, and all who have ever pursued that course to its inevitable end have “suffered shipwreck in regard to their faith” (1 Tim. 1:19).
With the aim of explaining and defending these principles, we have collected this anthology of articles, chosen for their clarity, readability, and relevance to the current discussion. Most of these essays were written and first published a quarter century ago or more. The fact that the same arguments answered in these chapters have resurfaced and need to be answered again today reflects the tenacity of anti-scriptural skepticism. Sadly, it also reveals the failure of evangelicals to learn from their own history and hold tightly to their core convictions. These answers are timeless.
May you understand that Scripture is the very Word of God; may that conviction be strengthened; and may you be equipped to “contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all handed down to the saints” (Jude 3).
Selected Quotes
- We have now presented in positive outline the biblical approach to Scripture. Its text is word for word God-given; its message is an organic unity, the infallible Word of an infallible God, a web of revealed truths centred upon Christ; it must be interpreted in its natural sense, on the assumption of its inner harmony; and its meaning can be grasped only by those who humbly seek and gladly receive the help of the Holy Spirit. (112)
- “Inspiration is, therefore, usually defined as a supernatural influence exerted on the sacred writers by the Spirit of God, by virtue of which their writings are given divine trustworthiness.” (140)
- If God has spoken falsely in his Word, he is not the God of truth, and consequently, the Christian religion is a false religion. This conclusion cannot be evaded. (172)
- “It is safe to say that there is no doctrine, except those of the Trinity and the deity of Christ, which has been so widely held through the ages of church history as that of verbal inspiration.” (193)
- The full significance of the divine inspiration of Scripture can, therefore, be seen in its proper context only if it is seen as an essential part of the redeeming activity of God for the salvation of mankind. (216)
- “Inerrancy means that when all facts are known, the Scriptures in their original autographs and properly interpreted will be shown to be wholly true in everything that they affirm, whether that has to do with doctrine or morality or with the social, physical, or life sciences.” (283-284)
- “The same formula which we used in relation to textual variants may apply here as well: Any translation is entitled to acceptance as the Word of God to the extent that it corresponds to the original.” (300)
- The confession of biblical inerrancy, in the biblical sense of that concept, is simply one emphatic way to assert that what Scripture says, God says. To him be the glory and the authority. Amen. (311)
Buy the books
THE SCRIPTURE CANNOT BE BROKEN: TWENTIETH CENTURY WRITINGS ON THE DOCTRINE OF INERRANCY, edited by John MacArthur