THE DIVINE NATURE OF THE BIBLE
Since the Bible is divine in origin (see chapter 13), it is understandable that it manifests some divine characteristics. These earmarks of the divine set the Bible apart from all purely human books.
THE SANCTITY OF THE BIBLE
The Hebrew (godesh) and Greek (hagios) words for holy or sacred mean “to be set apart.” As an attribute of God, holiness means to be totally and utterly set apart from all creation and from evil.
The Holiness of God
As applied to God, holiness is associated with His jealousy (Josh. 24:19), His exaltation (Ps. 99:9), His righteousness (Isa. 5:16), His almightiness (Rev. 4:8), His absolute uniqueness (Ex. 15:11), His moral purity (2 Cor. 7:1), His being vexed by evil (Ps. 78:41), and that which should inspire a deep sense of awe (Isa. 29:23) and perpetual worship in His creatures (1 Chron. 16:29; Rev. 4:8).
Consider what the Bible says of God: “Who among the gods is like you, O Lord? Who is like you—majestic in holiness, awesome in glory, working wonders?” (Ex. 15:11); “I am the Lord your God; consecrate yourselves and be holy, because I am holy. Do not make yourselves unclean by any creature that moves about on the ground” (Lev. 11:44); “Joshua said to the people, ‘You are not able to serve the Lord. He is a holy God; He is a jealous God. He will not forgive your rebellion and your sins’ ” (Josh. 24:19); “There is no one holy like the Lord; there is no one besides you; there is no Rock like our God” (1 Sam. 2:2); “Who can stand in the presence of the Lord, this holy God? To whom will the ark go up from here?” (1 Sam. 6:20); “Ascribe to the Lord the glory due to his name. Bring an offering and come before him; worship the Lord in the splendor of his holiness” (1 Chron. 16:29); “Again and again they put God to the test; they vexed the Holy One of Israel” (Ps. 78:41); “Exalt the Lord our God and worship at his footstool; he is holy” (Ps. 99:5); “Exalt the Lord our God and worship at his holy mountain, for the Lord our God is holy” (Ps. 99:9); “But the Lord Almighty will be exalted by his justice, and the holy God will show himself holy by his righteousness” (Isa. 5:16); “When they see among them their children, the work of my hands, they will keep my name holy; they will acknowledge the holiness of the Holy One of Jacob, and will stand in awe of the God of Israel” (Isa. 29:23); “For I am the Lord, your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior” (Isa. 43:3; cf. “Holy One” in Ps. 71:22; 78:41; Isa. 5:19; 29:23; 48:17; 54:5; 55:5; 60:9; Jer. 51:5; Hos. 11:9, 12; Hab. 1:12; 3:3; Mark 1:24; Luke 1:35; 4:34; John 6:69); “Since we have these promises, dear friends, let us purify ourselves from everything that contaminates body and spirit, perfecting holiness out of reverence for God” (2 Cor. 7:1); “Each of the four living creatures had six wings and was covered with eyes all around, even under his wings. Day and night they never stop saying: ‘Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty, who was, and is, and is to come’” (Rev. 4:8).
The Holiness of God’s Word
Holiness is used of God’s Word similarly to the way it is used of God, namely, to be set apart from other things, to be sacred, to be exalted. Paul told Timothy, “From infancy you have known the holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus” (2 Tim. 3:15).
From the very beginning the Scriptures were considered sacred. When Moses wrote, his words were placed alongside the ark of the covenant in the most holy and sacred place in ancient Israel (Deut. 31:24–26).
God’s Word is not only holy itself, but it is able to make us holy. Jesus prayed, “Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth” (John 17:17). Timothy was told the Holy Scriptures were “able to make you wise for salvation” (2 Tim. 3:15). The Bible is set apart above all other books in the world, since it alone is able to save (Rom. 1:16; 1 Peter 1:23) and sanctify. Paul spoke of Christ’s desire to “make her [the church] holy, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word, and to present her to himself as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless” (Eph. 5:26–27).
The Divine Authority of the Bible
As the Word of God, the Bible has divine authority. This is manifested in several ways. First, it is the final authority for faith and practice (2 Tim. 3:16–17).
Second, Jesus said God’s Word is exalted above all human teaching (Matt. 15:3–6).
Third, because the Bible is the Word of God it speaks with the authority of God. Jesus described it in these words: “Is it not written in your Law, ‘I have said you are gods’? If he called them ‘gods,’ to whom the word of God came—and the Scripture cannot be broken …” (John 10:34–35). In these two verses “Scripture” is called three things:
(1) the Torah (law) of God,
(2) the Word of God, and
(3) unbreakable.
Fourth, remember that “Scripture” is sometimes used interchangeably with God Himself, which reveals that it speaks with His authority (see chapter 13).
Fifth, Jesus spoke of the Bible as coming from God’s mouth (Matt. 4:4).
Sixth, we have seen that Jesus declared, “I tell you the truth, until heaven and earth disappear, not the smallest letter, not the least stroke of a pen, will by any means disappear from the Law until everything is accomplished” (Matt. 5:18). This can be said only of that which has divine authority, such as the Bible does.
THE INFALLIBILITY OF THE BIBLE
The word infallible is not used in Scripture of itself; however, other statements are used of the Bible that imply its infallibility (unfailingness). Jesus said, “The Scripture cannot be broken” (John 10:35). Matthew 5:17–18 also reveals that the Bible is imperishable (see above). Further, God affirmed through Isaiah, “My word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it” (Isa. 55:11; cf. Matt. 15:3–6; Matt. 4:4, 7, 10). Indeed, Paul speaks of God’s Word as “the oracles of God” (Rom. 3:2 nkjv).
THE INDESTRUCTIBILITY OF THE BIBLE
As we have seen, Jesus declared that the Bible is indestructible, saying,
Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them. I tell you the truth, until heaven and earth disappear, not the smallest letter, not the least stroke of a pen, will by any means disappear from the Law until everything is accomplished. (Matt. 5:17–18)
Isaiah confirmed the same when he wrote, “The grass withers and the flowers fall, but the word of our God stands forever” (Isa. 40:8). The psalmist added, “Your word, O Lord, is eternal; it stands firm in the heavens” (Ps. 119:89).
History is a testimony to the Bible’s durability. It has been banned, burned, and banished, but in spite of it all, it stands as the world’s all-time bestseller.
THE INDEFATIGABILITY OF THE BIBLE
What is more, the Bible has indefatigable power—it cannot be worn out; it is tireless and inexhaustible. Hebrews declares that “the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart” (4:12). God asked Jeremiah, “Is not my word like fire … and like a hammer that breaks a rock in pieces?” (Jer. 23:29). Paul said, “The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds” (2 Cor. 10:4). One such weapon is the “sword of the Spirit which is the word of God” (Eph. 6:17).
This tireless power of Scripture comes from the infinite God whose inexhaustible power is manifest in his infallible Word. Paul reminded the Thessalonians: “When you received the word of God, which you heard from us, you accepted it not as the word of men, but as it actually is, the word of God, which is at work in you who believe” (1 Thess. 2:13). Indeed, Peter affirmed, “For you have been born again, not of perishable seed, but of imperishable, through the living and enduring word of God” (1 Peter 1:23).
THE INDEFEASIBILITY OF THE BIBLE
In addition, the Bible has the quality of being indefeasible; that is, it cannot be overcome, made void or ineffective—it always accomplishes its purpose. Recall that God announced through Isaiah, “So is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it” (Isa. 55:11). This is true of those who receive its message as well as those who reject it. As Paul, who preached it, said, “For we are to God the aroma of Christ among those who are being saved and those who are perishing” (2 Cor. 2:15–16). Those who accept it magnify God’s mercy, and those who reject it manifest His wrath (cf. Rom. 9:21–22). But it always accomplishes God’s purpose.
THE INERRANCY OF THE BIBLE
As the Bible is firmly rooted in the God whose Word it is, each member of the Trinity is involved in its inerrancy. Thus, three arguments can be stated, one in terms of each member of the Godhead. That the Bible is without error is clear from these three arguments.
The Argument From God the Father
The logic is simple and irrefutable:
(1) God cannot err.
(2) The Bible is the Word of God.
(3) Hence, the Bible cannot err.
Since chapter 13 has demonstrated the second premise, only the first needs support here.
Hebrews declares emphatically: “God did this so that, by two unchangeable things in which it is impossible for God to lie, we who have fled to take hold of the hope offered to us may be greatly encouraged” (Heb. 6:18). Paul spoke of “a faith and knowledge resting on the hope of eternal life, which God, who does not lie, promised before the beginning of time” (Titus 1:2). Romans asserts: “Let God be true, and every man a liar” (3:4). Jesus said to the Father, “Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth” (John 17:17). And the psalmist declared to God: “All your words are true” (Ps. 119:160).
If God cannot err and the Bible is the Word of God, then it follows necessarily that the Bible cannot err.
The Argument From God the Son
The argument from the divine authority of Christ is powerful. Basically, it is this: If Jesus is the Son of God, then the Bible is the Word of God (which cannot err). Hence, to deny the Bible is the Word of God is to deny that Jesus is the Son of God (see chapter 16). The Scriptures teach that Jesus is the Son of God (Matt. 16:16–17; Mark 14:61–62; John 1:1; 8:58; Col. 2:9; Heb. 1:8). Therefore, the Bible is the Word of God, which cannot err.
The Argument From God the Holy Spirit
The third person of the Trinity is called “the Spirit of truth” (John 16:13), who cannot err (cf. 1 John 4:6).
(1) He who is the Source of truth cannot be in error.
(2) The Bible is an utterance of the Spirit of truth.
(3) Therefore, the Bible cannot be in error.
The authors of Scripture were moved by the Holy Spirit (2 Peter 1:20–21), and they uttered God-breathed writings (2 Tim. 3:16) that are said to have come “from the mouth of God” (Matt. 4:4). Remember what David said: “The Spirit of the Lord spoke through me; his word was on my tongue” (2 Sam. 23:2). But if this is the case, then the Bible can no more utter an untruth than can the Spirit of truth Himself.
THE OBJECTION FROM THE HUMAN NATURE OF THE BIBLE1
Some critics have offered a rebuttal to the above logic by noting:
(1) The Bible contains the words of humans.
(2) Humans err.
(3) Therefore, the Bible errs.
However, this does not follow, since (2a) humans do not always err.
Even without special divine aid, humans can avoid making errors—most anyone can write an inerrant book. Furthermore, the human authors of Scripture had divine aid (John 14:26; 2 Peter 1:20–21). As to how God can produce a perfect product through an imperfect instrument, we need only remember that it is possible to draw a straight line with a crooked stick.
Another form of the objection goes like this:
(1) The Bible is a human book.
(2) Humans can err.
(3) Therefore, the Bible can err.
In this form it would seem that both premises are true and that the conclusion follows logically from them. This notwithstanding, there is a flaw in the argument if it is intended to deny the inerrancy of the Bible.
At best, this argument only shows that the Bible can err, not that it actually does err. One could still affirm that the Bible does not err (a weaker sense of inerrancy), even if he could not conclude that the Bible cannot err (a stronger sense of inerrancy).
However, even the stronger sense of inerrancy can be preserved by making an important distinction brought out by the following argument:
(1) Insofar as the Bible is the Word of God, it cannot err.
(2) The Bible is the Word of God.
(3) Therefore, the Bible cannot err.
Likewise, since the Bible is also the words of men it can err (but doesn’t). This is no more a contradiction than to say of Christ, insofar as He was a human being, He did not know everything (Luke 2:52; Matt. 24:36). But insofar as Christ is God, He does know everything (Job 11:7–9; Ps. 147:5). Both Christ and Scripture have two natures, and what is true of one is not necessarily true of the other. So one and the same words of Scripture can be inerrant in the strong sense (that they cannot err) insofar as they are the Word of God, and errorless in the weaker sense (that they do not err) insofar as they are the words of human beings.
OTHER CHARACTERISTICS OF THE BIBLE
The Bible contains many powerful metaphors and figures of speech about itself that help us in visualizing one or more of the above characteristics.
The Bible Is Like a Seed That Saves Us (1 Peter 1:23)
Peter wrote: “For you have been born again, not of perishable seed, but of imperishable, through the living and enduring word of God.”
The Bible Is Like Milk That Nourishes Us (1 Peter 2:2)
Peter adds, “Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation.”
The Bible Is Like Meat (Solid Food) That Satisfies Us (Hebrews 5:14)
The author of Hebrews notes about Scripture: “But solid food is for the mature, who by constant use have trained themselves to distinguish good from evil.”
The Bible Is Like Water That Washes Us (Psalm 119:9; Ephesians 5:25–26)
The psalmist asks, “How can a young man keep his way pure?” He answered: “By living according to your word.” Paul added, “Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her to make her holy, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word.”
The Bible Is Like a Fire That Cleanses Us (Jeremiah 23:29)
Through the prophet Jeremiah: “ ‘Is not my word like fire,’ declares the Lord.”
The Bible Is Like a Hammer That Shatters Us (Jeremiah 23:29)
In the same passage, Jeremiah adds for God, “Is not my word … like a hammer that breaks a rock in pieces?”
The Bible Is Like a Sword That Cuts Deeply Into Us (Hebrews 4:13)
The writer of Hebrews affirms, “Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account.”
The Bible Is Like Medicine to Keep Us From the Sickness of Sin (Psalm 119:11)
David asserts, “I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you.”
The Bible Is Like a Mirror to Reflect Ourselves to Us (James 1:23–25)
James admonishes, “Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like a man who looks at his face in a mirror and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. But the man who looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues to do this, not forgetting what he has heard, but doing it—he will be blessed in what he does.”
The Bible Is Like a Lamp to Our Feet (Psalm 119:105)
David wrote, “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path.”
The Bible Is Like a Counselor That Comforts Us (Romans 15:4)
Paul assures, “For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through endurance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope.”
The Bible Is Like a Forecaster That Never Fails Us (2 Peter 1:19)
Peter observes, “We have the word of the prophets made more certain, and you will do well to pay attention to it, as to a light shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts.”
CONCLUSION
The internal evidence that the Bible is of divine origin is very strong. Unlike any other book in the world, the Bible bears the fingerprints of God. It has sanctity, divine authority, infallibility, indestructibility, indefatigability, indefeasibility, and inerrancy. Indeed, as we have shown, the denial of the inerrancy of the Bible is an attack on the authenticity of God the Father, the authority of God the Son, and the ministry of God the Holy Spirit. The infallibility of the Bible is as firm as the character of God, who cannot lie. The Word is like a seed that saves, milk that nourishes, meat that satisfies, water that washes, fire that cleanses, a hammer that breaks, a sword that cuts, medicine that heals, a mirror that reflects, a lamp that lights, a counselor that comforts, and a forecaster that never fails. Once again,
The grass withers and the flowers fall, but the word of our God stands forever. (Isa. 40:8)
SOURCES
Archer, Gleason. Old Testament Quotations in the New Testament.
Clark, Gordon. God’s Hammer: The Bible and Its Critics.
Gaussen, Louis. Theopneustia.
Geisler, Norman, and William Nix. A General Introduction to the Bible.
———, ed. Inerrancy.
Henry, Carl F. H., ed. Revelation and the Bible.
Hodge, Charles, and B. B. Warfield. Inspiration.
Johnson, S. Lewis. The Old Testament in the New.
Lindsell, Harold. The Battle for the Bible.
Nash, Ronald. The Word of God and the Mind of Man.
Packer, J. I. “Fundamentalism” and the Word of God.
Pasche, Rene. The Inspiration and Authority of Scripture.
Turretin, Francis. The Doctrine of Scripture.
Warfield, B. B. The Inspiration and Authority of the Bible.
———. Limited Inspiration.
1 For a discussion of other objections to inerrancy see chapter 27.
Geisler, N. L. 2002. Systematic theology, volume one: Introduction, Bible (244). Bethany House Publishers: Minneapolis, MN
