Is Inerrancy Biblical?

by   Rev. Ashton C Smith                                                                                                                                  Vol. V, No. 2, April 1992

A statement frequently heard among liberal Southern Baptists is, "Inerrancy is not biblical. The word is not even found in the Bible." And it is true; the word "inerrancy" is not in the Bible. Furthermore, it is in a sense a negative word meaning "not containing error."

 When Jesus discussed the veracity of the Scriptures, He used a positive synonym: truth. In Christ's high priestly prayer He said, "Thy Word is truth" (John 17:17). Among the meanings that Webster's assigns to truth is "the body of real things, events, and facts." This does not limit truth to "spiritual" happenings. It includes history, science, doctrine, and any other area where Scripture speaks.

The next time someone speaks against inerrancy remember that he or she is disagreeing with what our blessed Lord said.

[A. C. Smith is pastor of Bethel Baptist Church, Falmouth.]