Day 16: The Doctrine of Scripture — Authority and Inerrancy

Scripture Reading:

“All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness.” – 2 Timothy 3:16, LSB

If the church is to stand firm, she must begin with Scripture. Paul teaches that all Scripture is inspired—literally “God-breathed.” This means that the Bible is not man’s ideas about God but God’s revelation to man. Its authority flows from the fact that it is His Word.

Because Scripture comes from God, it is inerrant. It does not contain mistakes or contradictions. Everything it affirms is true, whether it speaks of history, doctrine, or morality. Louis Berkhof explained, “Holy Scripture is for the Church the infallible rule of faith and practice” (Systematic Theology, p. 60). If Scripture errs, God errs. But God cannot lie (Titus 1:2), so His Word cannot fail.

John Calvin emphasized that Scripture carries divine authority: “We owe to Scripture the same reverence which we owe to God, since it has its only source in Him” (Institutes, 1.7.1). To reject the Bible’s inerrancy is to reject God’s own truthfulness. To submit to its authority is to submit to God Himself.

The doctrine of Scripture is under fierce attack today. Many treat the Bible as outdated, flawed, or culturally bound. Others accept parts of Scripture while rejecting passages that challenge their beliefs. But Paul insists that all Scripture is God-breathed and profitable. We cannot pick and choose which parts to obey.

The authority and inerrancy of Scripture are essential for life and ministry. Paul tells Timothy that Scripture teaches, reproves, corrects, and trains in righteousness. It equips believers for every good work. Without Scripture, the church loses her foundation. Without inerrancy, she loses her confidence. Without authority, she loses her Lord’s voice.

Beloved, let us cherish the Word of God. It is our sure foundation, our unshakable rock, and our unfailing guide. The church does not stand above the Bible to judge it; the Bible stands above the church to judge her. As R.C. Sproul said, “The issue of biblical inerrancy is the watershed of evangelical theology” (Scripture Alone, p. 45).

To be faithful to God, we must be faithful to His Word. The doctrine of Scripture is not a side issue; it is the very ground upon which we stand.

Personal Reflection

1. Why is it essential to believe that all Scripture is inspired by God?

2. How does the doctrine of inerrancy protect the church’s confidence in God’s Word?

3. What dangers arise when the church rejects or minimizes the authority of Scripture?

4. How can you grow in your reverence for the authority of God’s Word?