The Bible makes no mistakes and leads no one astray. Every generation has had to defend this truth against attacks. To help, the church has carefully anchored the argument on two words—infallible and inerrant. With them, the church has confessed with confidence that God’s Word can be trusted in every part.
To describe the Bible as “infallible” is to say that it cannot fail. Scripture will never mislead, deceive, or prove untrustworthy. It is a sure guide for faith and life. The word “inerrant” means that Scripture is without error. Everything it affirms, from beginning to end, is consistent with reality. Infallibility tells us Scripture will never lead us astray. Inerrancy tells us it never gets it wrong. Together, they assure us that God’s Word is a trustworthy foundation for faith and life.
Of course, these claims are often misunderstood. Inerrancy does not demand strict adherence to modern grammar. It does not forbid the use of poetry, metaphor, or figures of speech. It does not require the technical precision of modern science. When the psalmist says the sun “rises” (Ps. 113:3), he is speaking figuratively, not scientifically. This is everyday language. Inerrancy also does not mean every historical account is exhaustive or that every quotation is word-for-word exact. Rather, it means that everything the Bible affirms is wholly true and wholly trustworthy.
Infallibility means Scripture will never mislead; inerrancy means it never errs. Together, they assure us the Bible can be trusted.
Infallibility and inerrancy are necessary consequences of God’s character. Scripture was breathed out by God, who “cannot lie” (Tit. 1:2). He is omniscient (Ps. 147:5), never ignorant (Heb. 4:13). He is righteous (Ps. 145:17), never deceitful (Num. 23:19). The Spirit who inspired the word of Scripture is specifically called “the Spirit of truth” (Jn. 16:13). So, how could the God of truth, working through the Spirit of truth, produce anything less than truth? He cannot. This is why Jesus affirms it in His prayer, “Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth” (Jn. 17:17).
The Bible itself makes this claim repeatedly. The apostle Peter affirmed, “The word of the Lord remains forever” (1 Pet. 1:25). The psalmist wrote, “The law of the Lord is perfect” (Ps. 19:7). Jesus declared, “Scripture cannot be broken” (Jn. 10:35). Each of these passages communicates the eternal nature of Scripture. It cannot be annulled, set aside, or proven false. It is true and binding forever.
The implications for us are significant. Because the Bible is infallible, it will never mislead us or lead us astray. Because it is inerrant, it never errs in what it teaches. That means every promise can be believed without hesitation and every command can be obeyed without fear of mistake. Scripture provides the foundation for what we believe, binds our conscience with God’s authority, and gives us the mandate to proclaim Christ with courage. It equips us to stand firm in a world of shifting opinions and unstable ground.
When approaching God’s Word, we shouldn’t be embarrassed or doubtful. It is the true Word of the living God—incapable of failure, free from error, and filled with His reliability. Every doctrine rests on it, every promise depends on it, and every command carries the weight of His authority. To confess its truthfulness is to confess the very trustworthiness of God Himself. So read it with confidence. Obey it with conviction. Proclaim it with courage. And above all, rest assured—the God who cannot fail has given us a Word that cannot fail.
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