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The Inerrant Word: Biblical, Historical, Theological, and Pastoral Perspectives
Because God has made himself known in his Word, a commitment to a high view of Scripture is of paramount importance. Sadly, more and more people--not only from outside the church but also from within--are denying the complete truthfulness of God's Word.
Edited by pastor John MacArthur, this compilation of essays by a host of evangelical pastors, theologians, historians, and biblical scholars contends that the Bible is completely true and without error--a foundational belief for those who claim to honor God and his Word. Exploring key Bible passages, events from church history, common criticisms, and pastoral applications, the contributors in this volume instill Christians with both the certainty and the courage to defend the inerrancy of God's Word--the means by which God has revealed himself and awakens sinners from death to life.
Edited by pastor John MacArthur, this compilation of essays by a host of evangelical pastors, theologians, historians, and biblical scholars contends that the Bible is completely true and without error--a foundational belief for those who claim to honor God and his Word. Exploring key Bible passages, events from church history, common criticisms, and pastoral applications, the contributors in this volume instill Christians with both the certainty and the courage to defend the inerrancy of God's Word--the means by which God has revealed himself and awakens sinners from death to life.
400 pages, Hardcover
First published March 31, 2016
74 people are currently reading
488 people want to read
About the author
John F. MacArthur Jr.
1,348 books1,893 followersJohn F. MacArthur, Jr. was a United States Calvinistic evangelical writer and minister, noted for his radio program entitled Grace to You and as the editor of the Gold Medallion Book Award-winning MacArthur Study Bible. MacArthur was a fifth-generation pastor, a popular author and conference speaker, and served as pastor-teacher of Grace Community Church in Sun Valley, California beginning in 1969, as well as President of The Master’s College (and the related Master’s Seminary) in Santa Clarita, California.
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Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews
August 2, 2018
As the title suggests, this is an extended declaration and defence of biblical inerrancy, authored by a veritable Who's Who of evangelical pastor-scholars. As with any collection of essays, some are better than others, but the whole experience of reading this was encouraging, and some of the essays were superb.
The book is divided into four sections. The first covers the basics, "building the case" for inerrancy from key biblical passages. This covers familiar ground, but important ground. Section two offers a survey of inerrancy through church history. The highlight here is Nathan Busenitz's chapter on pre-Reformation history, especially his extensive discussion of the early church fathers, replete with quotations and primary references.
Section three was the best part of the book for me, covering theological issues that have come under attack. Beale's article on "The Use of Hosea 11:1 in Matthew 2:15" is the best treatment of the issue I have read, even if it feels slightly out of place in this collection. Brad Klassen's article on clarity is brilliantly direct in getting to the key issues. Matt Waymeyer's article on dual authorship is excellent, challenging those who suggest that accommodation entails errancy, which is an increasingly common position in professing evangelicalism. Michael Kruger closes this section with a helpful chapter on textual criticism and canon, showing (contra Ehrman) why we can be confident that we have the original text of Scripture, even if we don't have the physical autographs.
The fourth section of the book was probably the weakest, covering "inerrancy in pastoral practice," looking at preaching, apologetics and mission. This section was not as substantial in terms of content, although Stephen Lawson's survey of different biblical images of Scripture was a good read.
Overall, even if this is a mixed book, it's an important, helpful and encouraging one, and I'd commend it especially to pastors and preachers wanting to lead their congregations to have unwavering confidence in the inerrant written word of God.
The book is divided into four sections. The first covers the basics, "building the case" for inerrancy from key biblical passages. This covers familiar ground, but important ground. Section two offers a survey of inerrancy through church history. The highlight here is Nathan Busenitz's chapter on pre-Reformation history, especially his extensive discussion of the early church fathers, replete with quotations and primary references.
Section three was the best part of the book for me, covering theological issues that have come under attack. Beale's article on "The Use of Hosea 11:1 in Matthew 2:15" is the best treatment of the issue I have read, even if it feels slightly out of place in this collection. Brad Klassen's article on clarity is brilliantly direct in getting to the key issues. Matt Waymeyer's article on dual authorship is excellent, challenging those who suggest that accommodation entails errancy, which is an increasingly common position in professing evangelicalism. Michael Kruger closes this section with a helpful chapter on textual criticism and canon, showing (contra Ehrman) why we can be confident that we have the original text of Scripture, even if we don't have the physical autographs.
The fourth section of the book was probably the weakest, covering "inerrancy in pastoral practice," looking at preaching, apologetics and mission. This section was not as substantial in terms of content, although Stephen Lawson's survey of different biblical images of Scripture was a good read.
Overall, even if this is a mixed book, it's an important, helpful and encouraging one, and I'd commend it especially to pastors and preachers wanting to lead their congregations to have unwavering confidence in the inerrant written word of God.
November 11, 2021
Listened on audible while working my library job. I appreciate their desire to honor and be faithful to God, but the foundation to the argument and the implications they draw are extreme and narrow, especially if you disagree with the premise of their argument.
November 8, 2016
I am beginning a long term study of the doctrine of Scripture. I wanted to prime the pump a bit and chose this book to do so. It was an excellent choice. None of the articles discuss an issue comprehensively. Each chapter could have been a book. But what the book does do is give you a good orientation to the major issues, such as the character of God, textual criticism, the Spirit's work, inspiration, illumination, apparent contradictions, pastoral implications of inerrancy, and numerous footnotes directing you to other sources.
This book is not an all in one comprehensive guide to the doctrine of Scripture or even to inerrancy. But it does give a good lay of the land from high up that will allow a student or pastor to explore other areas more in depth.
My Rating System
1 Star-Terrible book and dangerous. Burn it in the streets.
2 Stars-Really bad book, would not recommend, probably has some dangerous ideas in it or could just be so poorly written/researched that it is not worth reading. Few books I read are 1 or 2 stars because I am careful about what I read.
3 Stars-Either I disagree with it at too many points to recommend it or it is just not a good book on the subject or for the genre. Would not read it again, reference it, or recommend it. But it is not necessarily dangerous except as a time waster.
4 Stars-Solid book on the subject or for the genre. This does not mean I agree with everything in it. I would recommend this book to others and would probably read it again or reference it. Most books fall in this category because I try not to read books I don’t think will be good. There is a quite a variety here. 3.6 is pretty far from 4.5.
5 Stars-Excellent book. Classic in the genre or top of the line for the subject. I might also put a book in here that impacted me personally at the time I read it. I would highly recommend this book, even if I do not agree with all that it says. Few books fall in this category. Over time I have put less in this category.
This book is not an all in one comprehensive guide to the doctrine of Scripture or even to inerrancy. But it does give a good lay of the land from high up that will allow a student or pastor to explore other areas more in depth.
My Rating System
1 Star-Terrible book and dangerous. Burn it in the streets.
2 Stars-Really bad book, would not recommend, probably has some dangerous ideas in it or could just be so poorly written/researched that it is not worth reading. Few books I read are 1 or 2 stars because I am careful about what I read.
3 Stars-Either I disagree with it at too many points to recommend it or it is just not a good book on the subject or for the genre. Would not read it again, reference it, or recommend it. But it is not necessarily dangerous except as a time waster.
4 Stars-Solid book on the subject or for the genre. This does not mean I agree with everything in it. I would recommend this book to others and would probably read it again or reference it. Most books fall in this category because I try not to read books I don’t think will be good. There is a quite a variety here. 3.6 is pretty far from 4.5.
5 Stars-Excellent book. Classic in the genre or top of the line for the subject. I might also put a book in here that impacted me personally at the time I read it. I would highly recommend this book, even if I do not agree with all that it says. Few books fall in this category. Over time I have put less in this category.
December 30, 2016
An excellent collection by two dozen scholars on the subject, focusing on very particular issues relating to inerrancy. I wondered as I began what so many authors would have to say on the subject. Would it be repetitive? But the project was very carefully designed and executed to avoid such concerns.
Readability and accessibility varies from author to author; some authors are careful to explain even terms such as epistemology and ontology, while one author in particular (Sinclair B. Ferguson) seems by his use of Latin to forget on occasion that he is writing for an English audience. (Citing words of scripture from the original languages is all fair play in such a book, but the repeated use of Latin expressions is obfuscating and pretentious here in my opinion. ) Despite this violation of a very good rule of style from Strunk & White (that is, write in English), this volume is so excellent with so many good articles that I still found it amazing. Not an easy read-through, mind you, but a fantastic resource to dip into a chapter at a time, or to refer to for ideas for sermons.
Readability and accessibility varies from author to author; some authors are careful to explain even terms such as epistemology and ontology, while one author in particular (Sinclair B. Ferguson) seems by his use of Latin to forget on occasion that he is writing for an English audience. (Citing words of scripture from the original languages is all fair play in such a book, but the repeated use of Latin expressions is obfuscating and pretentious here in my opinion. ) Despite this violation of a very good rule of style from Strunk & White (that is, write in English), this volume is so excellent with so many good articles that I still found it amazing. Not an easy read-through, mind you, but a fantastic resource to dip into a chapter at a time, or to refer to for ideas for sermons.
May 29, 2022
Audible.com 14 hours and 23 min. Narrated by Bob Souer (A)
I've had this book on my Audible wait list, and decided to listen to it after I finished "The Divine Inspiration of the Bible" (3 hr.)written by A.W. Pink in 1917. I should have read the complete title before listening to this! I thought it was written by John MacArthur, but he served as editor of this collection of essays written by a host of evengelical pastors, historians, and biblical scholars. It certainly is not written as easy listening, but it would be a great reference book as preparation for sermons on the subject. There were a numbers of essays that were more like short Bible lessons that I did appreciate. I am glad to know that book on this argumentative subject has been addressed recently.
Isaiah 40:8 "The grass withers, the flowers fade: but the word of our God shall stand for ever."
The book was read by one of my favorites, Bob Souer.
I've had this book on my Audible wait list, and decided to listen to it after I finished "The Divine Inspiration of the Bible" (3 hr.)written by A.W. Pink in 1917. I should have read the complete title before listening to this! I thought it was written by John MacArthur, but he served as editor of this collection of essays written by a host of evengelical pastors, historians, and biblical scholars. It certainly is not written as easy listening, but it would be a great reference book as preparation for sermons on the subject. There were a numbers of essays that were more like short Bible lessons that I did appreciate. I am glad to know that book on this argumentative subject has been addressed recently.
Isaiah 40:8 "The grass withers, the flowers fade: but the word of our God shall stand for ever."
The book was read by one of my favorites, Bob Souer.
June 2, 2019
Foundation of Christian Faith
The doctrine of Scripture’s inerrancy is central to Christian Faith. The articles in this book succeeded in demonstrate that. One of the most important conclusions it derived recognizes the direct link between the integrity of the biblical message and the affirmation of its inerrancy. The book also shows that the main attack directed at this doctrine came from inside and not outside the Church. The debate between liberalism and evangelicalism (fundamentalism) in Christian Faith is directly interwoven with biblical inerrancy and many articles in the book deals with the matter. At the end the reader has a sound understanding of this key concept of christian theology.
The doctrine of Scripture’s inerrancy is central to Christian Faith. The articles in this book succeeded in demonstrate that. One of the most important conclusions it derived recognizes the direct link between the integrity of the biblical message and the affirmation of its inerrancy. The book also shows that the main attack directed at this doctrine came from inside and not outside the Church. The debate between liberalism and evangelicalism (fundamentalism) in Christian Faith is directly interwoven with biblical inerrancy and many articles in the book deals with the matter. At the end the reader has a sound understanding of this key concept of christian theology.
January 9, 2023
Collection of very high quality essays on the Word of God as inerrant. Exposition on the Chicago Statement of Biblical Inerrancy.
July 2, 2021
The Word is a corrective to the tsunami of postmodern deconstruction of scripture. Over the last 30 years, we have seen hundreds of academics, some atheist and some faux-Christians, outright attack and/or subvert the holy texts.
Most Christian authors won't touch these topics because either they are not academics, or, if they are, they need to at least pretend to believe in the methods and conclusions. Believers in the divinity of scripture are laughed at and shunned in academia. At best you will get guys like Harvard's Kugel who professionally destroy scripture while privately following the faith.
The publisher commissioned brilliant scholars who have been able to make careers without compromising their faith to write a much needed, academically sound book on the inerrancy and authority of scripture.
Most Christian authors won't touch these topics because either they are not academics, or, if they are, they need to at least pretend to believe in the methods and conclusions. Believers in the divinity of scripture are laughed at and shunned in academia. At best you will get guys like Harvard's Kugel who professionally destroy scripture while privately following the faith.
The publisher commissioned brilliant scholars who have been able to make careers without compromising their faith to write a much needed, academically sound book on the inerrancy and authority of scripture.
July 26, 2017
Doze pastores e eruditos cristãos abordam de modo acessível e firme a doutrina depreciada - mas sem a qual não existe cristianismo - de que, em seus autógrafos, a Bíblia não contém erros. Mesmo se você, como eu, tem certa precaução com livros “organizados”, em razão das inevitáveis repetições, vai ver que este é recompensador. O melhor capítulo, para mim, é o de Beale explicando o uso que Mateus fez de Oséias 11.1.
September 29, 2021
Enjoyed this. Some chapters felt a little like the authors were being hype men for their philosophy of preaching as much as they were inerrancy. Many pot shots were taken, some rightfully so, and some at people that actually don't deny inerrancy, which is less fun. Overall the potshots were mostly legitimate. Standout chapters for me were Trueman's, Kruger's, and Beale's. Nice to see a new generation of thinkers addressing this issue. I think it's important.
June 20, 2022
I found this to be a mixed bag overall. Some of the essays were excellent and well worth the time (Trueman, Busenitz, and Murray were highlights for usefulness for me). Most were fine, but it is a lot of ground I heard tread upon numerous times, and, given the short nature of the essays, probably in a less adequate way than fuller treatments. Overall it is a helpful volume with contributions from quite a number of well respected evangelical scholars and pastors.
July 6, 2018
This is a textbook, something you would expect to find in your seminary training. Its purpose is to pound home the message of the inerrancy of the Word of God and this it does well, but it is best you know this going in. I am glad I read it, but I will say that it is not for everyone. It takes considerable discipline to stay seated long enough to gobble up the 400+ pages.
February 18, 2022
A good collection of essays on the topic of Scripture, specifically how it does not err in all manners pertaining to truth. I would quibble here and there about the language used, particularly in regard to preservation, but it is a helpful resource nonetheless.
August 13, 2022
What a brilliant book, a must read for anyone interested in the Bible as a 'manual'.
For the rest of us with a life filled with of historical, philosophical and theological studies
this is an interesting read.
Thank you gentleman :-)
For the rest of us with a life filled with of historical, philosophical and theological studies
this is an interesting read.
Thank you gentleman :-)
October 25, 2022
Very good book. Love that it’s written by many different men. They all bring great points. It did feel slightly repetitive for the first 200 pages, but was still a good read. Every Christian should read it.
November 9, 2022
Listened to it on Audible.
An edifying compilation of essays which are solid, Biblically grounded, and Reformed; a clarion call
for Christians to defend the doctrines of inerrancy (and also inspiration and infallibility) without compromise.
An edifying compilation of essays which are solid, Biblically grounded, and Reformed; a clarion call
for Christians to defend the doctrines of inerrancy (and also inspiration and infallibility) without compromise.
Read
January 5, 2024I have fewer disagreements with these authors' takes on inspiration than theologians like (the often mentioned in this book) Peter Enns. It was comfortable to read familiar perspectives.
But with their modern assumptions, some of the hills these guys are defending don't need to be defended.
But with their modern assumptions, some of the hills these guys are defending don't need to be defended.
August 2, 2017
I give this book a hearty AMEN! The inerrancy of scripture is a crucial and foundational presupposition for us as Disciples of Jesus Christ.
September 11, 2020
Actually used Audible.com to "read" it, but Audible wasn't an option on Goodreads.
August 28, 2021
Excellent first chapter expositing Psalm 19.
December 30, 2021
A fantastic study on why we can trust God's word and why it is inerrant.
May 13, 2024
Excellent coverage on the Inerrancy of Scripture.
Covers both the history of this doctrine and an in-depth study of every aspect. Well worth the time for reading and studying.
Covers both the history of this doctrine and an in-depth study of every aspect. Well worth the time for reading and studying.
Read
December 8, 2024Audiobook
April 5, 2025
This book is a comprehensive defense of the inerrancy and authority of the Bible. Holding the Bible in its proper, elevated place, it was clear that God’s word must be the source of truth.
April 7, 2016
This is truly everything you would need or want in a contemporary defense of biblical inerrancy. It starts by looking at Scriptures claims concerning itself; highlights include a chapter by Derek Thomas on 2 Peter 1 and a chapter by Kevin DeYoung on Matthew 5:17-20. The next part of the book is an historical survey. Don't miss Carl Trueman's chapter on the Reformation and Steve Nichols' on modernism. Then Part 3 addresses critics of inerrancy. This is the longest and deepest portion of the book. Read it all! John Frame's foundation is particularly good, as is Beale on Hosea 11:1/Matthew 2:15, Sinclair "The Man" Ferguson on the Holy Spirit, and Mike Kruger on canonicity and textual criticism (or just read Kruger's book! Canon Revisited: Establishing the Origins and Authority of the New Testament Books). Part 4 is the pastoral application of inerrancy. Steve Lawson and Miguel Nunez were helpful here.
Every generation needs to produce a work like this. It is the foundation on which the rest of theology rests. Those who espouse inerrancy will always have an uphill climb, but when you're dealing with the very words of God, it's worth it.
Every generation needs to produce a work like this. It is the foundation on which the rest of theology rests. Those who espouse inerrancy will always have an uphill climb, but when you're dealing with the very words of God, it's worth it.
February 17, 2022
This is an excellent book for all Christians. The topic is equally important to the vitality of individual believers and the community of saints. Within the pages of this book you’ll find answers to many questions.
What is inerrancy? What is inspiration? What is preservation? What is the canon? What is transmission? How does inerrancy relate to apologetics, evangelism, and sanctification? What did the early church believe on this topic? What did the reformers believe on this topic? Why is inerrancy often disregarded in our cultural context? These are a few of the questions that this book begins to answer.
Get yourself a copy of this book, a full cup of coffee, and a pencil. Read, take notes, learn, and grow. I highly recommend this book to all my inerrantist brothers and sister, but if you’re on the fence about the doctrine of inerrancy then this is a must read.
What is inerrancy? What is inspiration? What is preservation? What is the canon? What is transmission? How does inerrancy relate to apologetics, evangelism, and sanctification? What did the early church believe on this topic? What did the reformers believe on this topic? Why is inerrancy often disregarded in our cultural context? These are a few of the questions that this book begins to answer.
Get yourself a copy of this book, a full cup of coffee, and a pencil. Read, take notes, learn, and grow. I highly recommend this book to all my inerrantist brothers and sister, but if you’re on the fence about the doctrine of inerrancy then this is a must read.
April 17, 2017
Excellent book. Greatly appreciated the variety of writers who wrote the content of this book. It stimulated great thought, answered questions, and gave a solid reasoning for the Inerrancy of Scripture. I highly recommend this book.
Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews