The Truthfulness of Scripture

To be true is to correspond with reality as God defines it. It is to be wholly reliable, free from falsehood, and incapable of deception. The doctrine of the truthfulness of Scripture affirms that the Bible, because it is God’s Word, is entirely true in all that it teaches and asserts.

The foundation of this doctrine rests in the character of God Himself. Scripture identifies Him as “the God of truth” (Is. 65:16), who “cannot lie” (Tit. 1:2; Heb. 6:18). Because God is both omniscient and righteous, He is neither ignorant nor deceitful. His speech necessarily reflects His nature. The Spirit who inspired Scripture is explicitly called “the Spirit of truth” (Jn. 16:13). To deny the truthfulness of Scripture is, therefore, to impugn the truthfulness of God.

The church has historically guarded this doctrine with two terms: infallibility and inerrancy. Infallibility means that Scripture is incapable of failing or leading us astray; it is utterly trustworthy as a guide for faith and life. Inerrancy means that Scripture is free from error in everything it affirms—whether historical, moral, theological, or spiritual. Together, these terms preserve the confession that the Bible is wholly reliable because its Author is wholly reliable.

Common misunderstandings must be avoided. Inerrancy does not demand wooden literalism, precise scientific terminology, or exhaustive accounts of every event. It allows for poetry, metaphor, approximation, and ordinary language, just as truth in daily speech allows us to say the sun “rises” without error. Inerrancy also applies to the original writings, not to every copy or every interpretation. Properly defined, the doctrine insists only that Scripture tells the truth in all it intends to communicate.

The testimony of Scripture itself is clear. The psalmist declares, “The words of the Lord are pure words, like silver refined in a furnace” (Ps. 12:6). Jesus affirmed, “Your word is truth” (Jn. 17:17), and elsewhere insisted that “Scripture cannot be broken” (Jn. 10:35). Peter likewise announced, “The word of the Lord remains forever” (1 Pet. 1:25).

The truthfulness of Scripture is not a peripheral issue. It provides the foundation for doctrine, worship, obedience, and mission. Without it, we have no certain word from God and no secure ground for faith. With it, we possess a Word as trustworthy as the God who gave it—utterly reliable, eternally enduring, and sufficient for salvation and godliness.

Verses for Further Reflection

• Titus 1:2
• John 17:17
• Psalm 12:6
• John 10:35
• 1 Peter 1:25

A Discipleship Resource

Creative Content for Christian Men

Watch Now

Instead of comments, I accept and encourage letters to the editor. If you want to write a letter to the editor, you can do so here.