Last time we presented four of eight common misunderstandings of inerrancy. The last four follow: [1]

5. Inerrancy does not require exact quotations of the OT in the NT. Though NT citations of OT scriptures are not always exact, they do not change the meaning; they are often based on translations of the OT that were available to NT writers; and they are inspired by the same Holy Spirit who inspired the OT writers.

6. Inerrancy does not demand that the exact words of Jesus be contained in the Bible. Jesus likely spoke in Aramaic; the NT was written in Greek. Therefore, the original manuscripts were translations in the first place.

7. Inerrancy does not guarantee that every incident is completely recorded. The synoptic gospels give different perspectives on the same events, and not every aspect of everything recorded in the Bible is exhaustive.

8. Inerrancy does not guarantee the accuracy of sources cited by biblical authors. Inerrancy only guarantees that the writers are accurately cited. The sources cited may have been in error. For example, Paul cites an extra-biblical source who said “all Cretans are liars” (Titus 1:12). Paul correctly cited the source, but that does not mean that the source was correct that all Cretans actually are liars.

Why is the doctrine of revelation so important? What we know about God is limited to His revelation of Himself. If we are wrong regarding the revelation, we will be wrong about God!

Nest time: Hermeneutics

Note:
[1] This section is based on Charles Feinberg’s, “The Meaning of Inerrancy,” in Inerrancy (edited by Norman Geisler).