Biblical infallibility is the belief that what the Bible says regarding matters of faith and Christian practice is wholly useful and true. It is the "belief that the Bible is completely trustworthy as a guide to salvation and the life of faith and will not fail to accomplish its purpose."[1]
Historically, Jewish and Christian interpreters of the Bible have seen it as reliable and trustworthy, but such views do not imply in equating veracity to historicity, scientificity or even facticity.[2] The idea of biblical infallibility gained ground in Protestant churches as a fundamentalist reaction against a general movement towards modernism within mainstream Christian denominations in the 19th and early 20th centuries.[3]
In the Catholic church, the reaction produced the concept of papal infallibility whereas, in the evangelical churches, the infallibility of the Bible was asserted.[4] "Both movements represent a synthesis of a theological position and an ideological-political stance against the erosion of traditional authorities. Both are antimoderne and literalist."[5]
No matter how little common ground was apparent at the time between Roman Catholicism and the Evangelical Right, these two reformulations of scriptural and papal supremacy represented a defiant assertiveness in reaction against the crisis of religious authority that was engulfing Western religion.[6]
You are contentious, brethren, and zealous for the things which lead to salvation. You have studied the Holy Scriptures, which are true, and given by the Holy Spirit. You know that nothing unjust or counterfeit is written in them. You will not find that the righteous have been cast out by holy men. The righteous were persecuted, but it was by the wicked. They were put in prison; but it was by the unholy. They were stoned by law-breakers, they were killed by men who had conceived foul and unrighteous envy. These things they suffered, and gained glory by their endurance.[7]
Denominational positions
Catholicism
The Catholic Church speaks not about infallibility of scripture but about its freedom from error, holding "the doctrine of the inerrancy of Scripture".[8] The Second Vatican Council, citing earlier declarations, stated: "Since everything asserted by the inspired authors or sacred writers must be held to be asserted by the Holy Spirit, it follows that the books of Scripture must be acknowledged as teaching solidly, faithfully and without error that truth which God wanted put into sacred writings for the sake of salvation."[9] It added: "Since God speaks in Sacred Scripture through men in human fashion, the interpreter of Sacred Scripture, in order to see clearly what God wanted to communicate to us, should carefully investigate what meaning the sacred writers really intended, and what God wanted to manifest by means of their words."[10]
Methodism
The Methodist theologian Thomas A. Lambrecht notes that John Wesley, the founder of Methodism,
...used the word "infallible" to describe the Scriptures. In his sermon on "The Means of Grace," Wesley says, "The same truth (namely, that this is the great means God has ordained for conveying his manifold grace to man) is delivered, in the fullest manner that can be conceived, in the words which immediately follow: 'All Scripture is given by inspiration of God;' consequently, all Scripture is infallibly true; 'and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness;' to the end 'that the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works' (2 Tim. 3:16, 17)" (emphasis added).[11]
As such, Lambrecht notes that "orthodox, evangelical, and traditionalist United Methodists believe in the 'infallibility' of Scripture."[11] "Article V—Of the Sufficiency of the Holy Scriptures for Salvation" in the Articles of Religion states that:
The Holy Scripture containeth all things necessary to salvation; so that whatsoever is not read therein, nor may be proved thereby, is not to be required of any man that it should be believed as an article of faith, or be thought requisite or necessary to salvation. In the name of the Holy Scripture we do understand those canonical books of the Old and New Testament of whose authority was never any doubt in the Church.[12]
Lambrecht, therefore, writes that:
The Bible is not God, and those who believe in its infallibility do not worship the Bible. But the Bible is God's most objective and detailed way of communicating with us, God's people. Its infallibility means we can trust the Bible to truly communicate to us what God wants us to believe and how God wants us to live. To ignore or disobey the teachings of Scripture is to contradict its infallibility, which puts us on a completely different theological path altogether.[11]
Evangelicalism
While the doctrines of inerrancy and infallibility are cornerstone doctrines for many quarters of the US Evangelicalism, it is not so for many Evangelicals around the world, for whom God only is inerrant and infallible.[13][14]
For many British evangelicals, inerrancy was American in origin, exotic in its implications, and was associated with various obscurantist attitudes and beliefs for which British evangelicals had no enthusiasm.[15]
Neighboring concepts
Infallibility and inerrancy
Some theologians and denominations equate "inerrancy" and "infallibility"; others do not.[16] For example, Davis suggests: "The Bible is inerrant if and only if it makes no false or misleading statements on any topic whatsoever. The Bible is infallible if and only if it makes no false or misleading statements on any matter of faith and practice."[17] In this sense it is seen as distinct from biblical inerrancy.
There is a widespread confusion among Evangelical and Christian fundamentalist circles that biblical infallibility means that the Bible cannot contain errors while inerrancy implies that the Bible contains no errors. However, the concept of infallibility has no relation to errors, but the impossibility of failure.
The confusion between the terms is consistent. Old Testament scholar John Walton uses the term inerrancy in the sense that the "Scripture is not to be understood as making scientific affirmations, particularly in the realms of cosmology, anatomy, and physiology";[18] however, this definition actually refers to infallibility rather than inerrancy. Using non-theological dictionary definitions, Frame (2002) insists that infallibility is a stronger term than inerrancy. "'Inerrant' means there are no errors; 'infallible' means there can be no errors." Yet he agrees that "modern theologians insist on redefining that word also, so that it actually says less than 'inerrancy.'"[19]
Some denominations that teach infallibility hold that the historical or scientific details, which may be irrelevant to matters of faith and Christian practice, may contain errors.[20] This contrasts with the doctrine of biblical inerrancy, which holds that the scientific, geographic, and historic details of the scriptural texts in their original manuscripts are completely true and without error, though the scientific claims of scripture must be interpreted in the light of the phenomenological nature of the biblical narratives.[20] The Chicago Statement on Biblical Inerrancy uses the term in this sense, saying, "Infallibility and inerrancy may be distinguished but not separated."[21] And "We deny that Biblical infallibility and inerrancy are limited to spiritual, religious, or Redemptive themes, exclusive of assertions in the fields of history and science. We further deny that scientific hypotheses about earth history may properly be used to overturn the teaching of Scripture on Creation and the Flood."[22]
^‘The development of the ideas of ‘biblical infallibility’ or ‘inerrancy’ within Protestantism can be traced to the US in the middle of the 19th Century.’ McGrath, Alister. Christian theology: an introduction. Fifth edition. Wiley-Blackwell, 2011, p.136
^Ruthven, M., Fundamentalism: A Very Short Introduction, Oxford University Press, 2007, p.47.
^Kaplan, L., Fundamentalism in Comparative Perspective, Univ of Massachusetts Press, 1992, p. 84.
^Warner, R., Secularization and Its Discontents, A&C Black, 2010, p.19.
biblical, infallibility, confused, with, biblical, inerrancy, belief, that, what, bible, says, regarding, matters, faith, christian, practice, wholly, useful, true, belief, that, bible, completely, trustworthy, guide, salvation, life, faith, will, fail, accomp. Not to be confused with Biblical inerrancy Biblical infallibility is the belief that what the Bible says regarding matters of faith and Christian practice is wholly useful and true It is the belief that the Bible is completely trustworthy as a guide to salvation and the life of faith and will not fail to accomplish its purpose 1 Contents 1 Background 2 Patristic 3 Denominational positions 3 1 Catholicism 3 2 Methodism 3 3 Evangelicalism 4 Neighboring concepts 4 1 Infallibility and inerrancy 5 See also 6 ReferencesBackground EditHistorically Jewish and Christian interpreters of the Bible have seen it as reliable and trustworthy but such views do not imply in equating veracity to historicity scientificity or even facticity 2 The idea of biblical infallibility gained ground in Protestant churches as a fundamentalist reaction against a general movement towards modernism within mainstream Christian denominations in the 19th and early 20th centuries 3 In the Catholic church the reaction produced the concept of papal infallibility whereas in the evangelical churches the infallibility of the Bible was asserted 4 Both movements represent a synthesis of a theological position and an ideological political stance against the erosion of traditional authorities Both are antimoderne and literalist 5 No matter how little common ground was apparent at the time between Roman Catholicism and the Evangelical Right these two reformulations of scriptural and papal supremacy represented a defiant assertiveness in reaction against the crisis of religious authority that was engulfing Western religion 6 Patristic EditClement of Rome in his Letter to the Corinthians AD 90 says 1Clem 45 1 5 You are contentious brethren and zealous for the things which lead to salvation You have studied the Holy Scriptures which are true and given by the Holy Spirit You know that nothing unjust or counterfeit is written in them You will not find that the righteous have been cast out by holy men The righteous were persecuted but it was by the wicked They were put in prison but it was by the unholy They were stoned by law breakers they were killed by men who had conceived foul and unrighteous envy These things they suffered and gained glory by their endurance 7 Denominational positions EditCatholicism Edit The Catholic Church speaks not about infallibility of scripture but about its freedom from error holding the doctrine of the inerrancy of Scripture 8 The Second Vatican Council citing earlier declarations stated Since everything asserted by the inspired authors or sacred writers must be held to be asserted by the Holy Spirit it follows that the books of Scripture must be acknowledged as teaching solidly faithfully and without error that truth which God wanted put into sacred writings for the sake of salvation 9 It added Since God speaks in Sacred Scripture through men in human fashion the interpreter of Sacred Scripture in order to see clearly what God wanted to communicate to us should carefully investigate what meaning the sacred writers really intended and what God wanted to manifest by means of their words 10 Methodism Edit The Methodist theologian Thomas A Lambrecht notes that John Wesley the founder of Methodism used the word infallible to describe the Scriptures In his sermon on The Means of Grace Wesley says The same truth namely that this is the great means God has ordained for conveying his manifold grace to man is delivered in the fullest manner that can be conceived in the words which immediately follow All Scripture is given by inspiration of God consequently all Scripture is infallibly true and is profitable for doctrine for reproof for correction for instruction in righteousness to the end that the man of God may be perfect thoroughly furnished unto all good works 2 Tim 3 16 17 emphasis added 11 As such Lambrecht notes that orthodox evangelical and traditionalist United Methodists believe in the infallibility of Scripture 11 Article V Of the Sufficiency of the Holy Scriptures for Salvation in the Articles of Religion states that The Holy Scripture containeth all things necessary to salvation so that whatsoever is not read therein nor may be proved thereby is not to be required of any man that it should be believed as an article of faith or be thought requisite or necessary to salvation In the name of the Holy Scripture we do understand those canonical books of the Old and New Testament of whose authority was never any doubt in the Church 12 Lambrecht therefore writes that The Bible is not God and those who believe in its infallibility do not worship the Bible But the Bible is God s most objective and detailed way of communicating with us God s people Its infallibility means we can trust the Bible to truly communicate to us what God wants us to believe and how God wants us to live To ignore or disobey the teachings of Scripture is to contradict its infallibility which puts us on a completely different theological path altogether 11 Evangelicalism Edit While the doctrines of inerrancy and infallibility are cornerstone doctrines for many quarters of the US Evangelicalism it is not so for many Evangelicals around the world for whom God only is inerrant and infallible 13 14 For many British evangelicals inerrancy was American in origin exotic in its implications and was associated with various obscurantist attitudes and beliefs for which British evangelicals had no enthusiasm 15 Neighboring concepts EditInfallibility and inerrancy Edit Some theologians and denominations equate inerrancy and infallibility others do not 16 For example Davis suggests The Bible is inerrant if and only if it makes no false or misleading statements on any topic whatsoever The Bible is infallible if and only if it makes no false or misleading statements on any matter of faith and practice 17 In this sense it is seen as distinct from biblical inerrancy There is a widespread confusion among Evangelical and Christian fundamentalist circles that biblical infallibility means that the Bible cannot contain errors while inerrancy implies that the Bible contains no errors However the concept of infallibility has no relation to errors but the impossibility of failure The confusion between the terms is consistent Old Testament scholar John Walton uses the term inerrancy in the sense that the Scripture is not to be understood as making scientific affirmations particularly in the realms of cosmology anatomy and physiology 18 however this definition actually refers to infallibility rather than inerrancy Using non theological dictionary definitions Frame 2002 insists that infallibility is a stronger term than inerrancy Inerrant means there are no errors infallible means there can be no errors Yet he agrees that modern theologians insist on redefining that word also so that it actually says less than inerrancy 19 Some denominations that teach infallibility hold that the historical or scientific details which may be irrelevant to matters of faith and Christian practice may contain errors 20 This contrasts with the doctrine of biblical inerrancy which holds that the scientific geographic and historic details of the scriptural texts in their original manuscripts are completely true and without error though the scientific claims of scripture must be interpreted in the light of the phenomenological nature of the biblical narratives 20 The Chicago Statement on Biblical Inerrancy uses the term in this sense saying Infallibility and inerrancy may be distinguished but not separated 21 And We deny that Biblical infallibility and inerrancy are limited to spiritual religious or Redemptive themes exclusive of assertions in the fields of history and science We further deny that scientific hypotheses about earth history may properly be used to overturn the teaching of Scripture on Creation and the Flood 22 See also Edit Christianity portalBiblical literalism Christian fundamentalism Mammotrectus super Bibliam Scriptural fallibility in IslamReferences Edit McKim DK Westminster Dictionary of Theological Terms John Knox Press 1996 Brettler Marc Zvi 2013 Biblical Authority A Jewish Pluralistic View TheTorah com https thetorah com article biblical authority a jewish pluralistic view The development of the ideas of biblical infallibility or inerrancy within Protestantism can be traced to the US in the middle of the 19th Century McGrath Alister Christian theology an introduction Fifth edition Wiley Blackwell 2011 p 136 Ruthven M Fundamentalism A Very Short Introduction Oxford University Press 2007 p 47 Kaplan L Fundamentalism in Comparative Perspective Univ of Massachusetts Press 1992 p 84 Warner R Secularization and Its Discontents A amp C Black 2010 p 19 1Clem45 1 5 Lexundria Cardinal Augustin Bea Vatican II and the Truth of Sacred Scripture Archived 2012 05 08 at the Wayback Machine Second Vatican Council Dei Verbum Dogmatic Constitution on Divine Revelation 11 Archived May 31 2014 at the Wayback Machine Dei Verbum 12 a b c Lambrecht Tom 27 May 2014 What Is Meant by Infallible Good News Leading United Methodists to a Faithful Future Retrieved 28 May 2014 The Articles of Religion of the Methodist Church V VIII The United Methodist Church 2004 Archived from the original on 10 July 2012 Retrieved 28 May 2014 Matthew Quartey 2019 God is inerrant and infallible the Bible neither https spectrummagazine org views 2019 god inerrant and infallible bible neither Holmes Stephen R Evangelical doctrines of Scripture in transatlantic perspective Evangelical Quarterly 81 1 2009 McGrath Alister 1997 A Peacemaker in the Battle for the Bible https www booksandculture com articles 1997 novdec 7b6022 html McKim DK Westminster dictionary of theological terms Westminster John Knox Press 1996 Stephen T Davis The Debate about the Bible Inerrancy versus Infallibility Westminster Press 1977 p 23 Walton John 2015 The Lost World of Adam and Eve Downer s Grove IL InterVarsity Press 2015 p 20 Frame John M Is the Bible Inerrant IIIM Magazine Online Volume 4 Number 19 May 13 to May 20 2002 1 a b Geisler amp Nix 1986 A General Introduction to the Bible Moody Press Chicago ISBN 0 8024 2916 5 Chicago Statement on Biblical Inerrancy Article XI Chicago Statement on Biblical Inerrancy Article XII Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Biblical infallibility amp oldid 1158101521, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
