What Do Christians Believe About The Bible?
What Do Christians Believe About the Scriptures?
There are many books in the world. Of all different kinds. All of them have been inspired by men and written down by men. All but one.
So, what do Christians believe about the Bible? The Bible is the inspired, inerrant, and authoritative Word of God. It contains 66 books written by at least 40 different human authors who were all inspired by the Holy Spirit. All of them support and bear witness to the same united message: That God created the world. That man sinned and continues to sin against God. That God in His love sent Jesus Christ, His Son, to make a way for sinful man to be reconciled to God. The Bible contains in its pages everything humanity needs to know about who God is, how to be saved, how to live a life pleasing to God, and how to govern His people in His church.
With such important information it is important to understand more about why Christians believe these things. Let’s look at the foundation and message of the Bible. Then, let’s consider how we should respond to God’s Word.
The Word of God: The Foundation
There are two main texts within Scripture itself that describe the inspiration of God’s Word.
All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work. (2 Timothy 3:16-17, bold added)
The Apostle Paul states that all Scripture is God-breathed. That is, the words of the Bible flow out from God, who is the primary source.
The Apostle Peter adds to this understanding.
But know this first of all, that no prophecy of Scripture is a matter of one’s own interpretation, for no prophecy was ever made by an act of human will, but men moved by the Holy Spirit spoke from God. (2 Peter 1:20-21, bold added)
God did not write Scripture mechanically or without the instrumentality of human beings. Peter tells us that men moved by the Holy Spirit spoke from God. The source of the message is God Himself. The instrumentality is the writings of men. These writings are sourced and inspired by God Himself.
Scripture is inspired. The Holy Spirit inspired the writings of men in such a way that men wrote an accurate record of the revelation of God. Thus, the writings in the Scriptures are of divine origin. They are considered the very words of God.
An Inerrant & Infallible Word
The truth of the inspiration of Scripture is affirmed in the Bible’s inerrancy and its infallibility. Inerrancy means that the Bible is fully and always true in all of its teachings. It contains no errors in what it affirms. Infallibility relates to the fact that the Bible can never fail. It is incapable of leading God’s people into error in faith and/or practice. People may not always understand God’s Word and what it teaches. However, the content itself, when rightly understood, is always true and faithful.
Inerrancy and infallibility are both believed by Christians about the Bible. Not only are the Scriptures without error. The Scriptures are also not capable of error. This is not to be confused with the transliteration and/or translation of Scripture. The Bible is inerrant and infallible in its original manuscripts.
The Bible itself is inerrant and infallible. Humans are not. People can, and do, make mistakes in their understanding, translation, and application of God’s Word. In fact, the Bible teaches that people will distort the truth of God’s word to their own destruction (2 Peter 3:16). When someone says they’ve found an error in God’s Word, it is always the result of either misunderstanding or distorting the teaching of Scripture from its original context.
Inerrancy and infallibility necessarily result because God of the character of God. He is perfect and always truthful. Therefore, so is His Word.
This God—His way is perfect; the Word of the LORD proves true; He is a shield for all those who take refuge in Him. (Psalm 18:30)
Since the Bible is inspired, inerrant, and infallible then it is also authoritative. God is the Creator and Sustainer of everything. As the Creator and Sustainer of everything, God has a claim on all things. Not only is He the Creator of everything but He is Lord of everything. The following Scriptures all affirm this truth.
In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. (Genesis 1:1)
He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together. (Colossians 1:17)
The earth is the LORD’s and the fullness thereof, the world and those who dwell therein. (Psalm 24:1)
Yours, O LORD, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the victory and the majesty, for all that is in the heavens and in the earth is Yours. Yours is the kingdom, O LORD, and You are exalted as head above all. (1 Chronicles 29:11)
This means that God is able to define what His creation is to believe and how His creation is to live. Not only does God define the actions of His subjects but He also judges the actions of His subjects. The Bible as the Word of God is the highest authority man has received.
To understand more of God as Creator and His claim on man, see our article: Worship God The Eternal Creator.
The Word Of God: The Message
Now I would remind you, brothers, of the gospel I preached to you, which you received, in which you stand, and by which you are being saved, if you hold fast to the word I preached to you—unless you believed in vain. For I delivered to you of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, that He was buried, that He was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures. (1 Corinthians 15:1-4, bold added)
The message contained in the Bible is unified. All 66 books written by at least 40 different authors over the period of approximately 1,500 years all point to the gospel of Jesus Christ.
This truth that created man sinned against their Creator and Lord. That God did not bring judgement upon us immediately as He rightly could have. Instead, God is patient. In His love He sent His Son into the world, to save the world by offering Himself up as a payment for the sin of the world. The evidence that the payment was accepted is in the resurrection of Jesus. This same Jesus who is now exalted at God’s right hand, Lord over everything.
In His lovingkindness and patience towards man, God waits to judge the world in righteousness. Allowing for men to have time to come to repentance and faith in Christ Jesus. But this kindness and patience will not last forever. Jesus will return to judge the deeds of men. When He comes every knee will bow in acknowledgment that He is Lord. Those who believed in Christ in this life will be brought into His glorious presence forever. Those who reject Christ will bow in acknowledgment of His rightful claim over them. Then they will be cast into hell where there is weeping and gnashing of teeth for all of eternity. In love, Christians declare to an unbelieving world: Be reconciled to God through Christ today!
For more on the important message of the Scriptures, see our articles:
The Word Of God: Man’s Response
There are several right responses to the Word of God.
Revere. This means to have a deep respect for and adoration of. In this case, revere the Word of God. The Word of God is not to be worshiped. However, it does reveal and point to the One who is to be worshiped. The only true God and Jesus Christ whom He has sent. Reverence does not ignore. It hangs on every word. If one truly reveres the Bible, one will live a life of continual repentance.
Repent. This means to change ones mind. To stop believing wrongly and start believing rightly. Belief is always associated with works. If one truly believes something, their actions will follow suit. Thus, true repentance is not just an intellectual change of beliefs. It is a change of belief associated with the action that reflects such beliefs. It will be evident in walking in newness of life. Not more of the same.
Respond. This means to react. The correct reaction to the Word of God is obedience. When God says repent and believe, man must repent and believe or pay the consequences of disobedience. When God gives man commands for life, for the family, for the church, these commands must be obeyed right away! Not to earn salvation but in response to having received salvation as the free gift of God by faith in Jesus Christ.
The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel. (Mark 1:15)
The time is now.
Jesus said, “If you love Me, You will keep My commandments.” (John 14:15)
Obedience flow from love for God.
Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life; whoever does not obey the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God remains on Him. (John 3:36)
Eternal life is a present tense possession. The wrath of God currently abides on all who are not found in Christ. This is the message of Scripture. This testimony has great implications for every aspect of our lives.
Get equipped. Obey your King. Glorify your God.
Related Questions
Is the Bible real? The Bible is not fiction. It is a real book, full of real historical events that actually happened. The Bible is historically accurate and is used by scholars as an authoritative historical book. It is not only an accurate historical book but it is the revelation of who God is and a record of His interaction with the created world.
Who wrote the Bible? The Bible contains 66 books written by 40 different authors over a period of 1,500 years. Although, the Bible was written by humans it was fully and completely inspired by the Holy Spirit. Leaving us with the Word of God which is without error, incapable of error, and fully authoritative in every area of life.