What does it mean for the Bible to be infallible? What is biblical infallibility?

WHAT DOES THE BIBLE SAY?

Infallible means incapable of error, never wrong, absolutely trustworthy. When we say the Bible is infallible, we are stating it is without flaw and absolutely true. God’s Word is described as pure, flawless, and life-giving. The Bible is inspired by the Holy Spirit, breathed out by God, and fully reliable for teaching, correction, and training in righteousness. Because God Himself is perfect, His Word cannot contain flaws, and its truth endures unchanged. While the Bible has passed through human hands in copying and translation, its accuracy and consistency across thousands of manuscripts demonstrate God’s preservation of His message. The Scriptures we hold today faithfully reflect the original writings and carry the full authority of God’s Word. This means we can approach the Bible with confidence, knowing it reveals God’s truth, character, and will for our lives.

FROM THE OLD TESTAMENT

• Psalm 12:6 highlights the absolute purity and reliability of God’s words: “The words of the Lord are pure words, like silver refined in a furnace on the ground, purified seven times.” Scripture is without error and completely trustworthy.
• God’s infallible Word is life-giving and transformative: “The law of the Lord is perfect, reviving the soul; the testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple” (Psalm 19:7).
• Throughout Psalm 119, God’s Word is described repeatedly as right, trustworthy, and steadfast. The psalm continuously reveals the Bible’s consistency and infallibility.
• Proverbs 30:5 states, “Every word of God proves true; he is a shield to those who take refuge in him.” Every statement from God is entirely trustworthy, offering both protection and certainty because it comes from a perfect and unchanging God.

FROM THE NEW TESTAMENT

• The Bible is not merely filled with human words; it was written by men carried along by the Holy Spirit. The Bible is inspired by a perfect, infallible God, and its message trustworthy (2 Peter 1:19–21). Because God is perfect, what He produces—including His Word—is perfect and without flaw, making the Bible an infallible standard for faith and practice.
• Every part of Scripture comes from God and is useful for teaching, correction, and training in righteousness, showing that the Bible is fully reliable and equipped to guide believers in truth and godly living (2 Timothy 3:16–17).
• Jesus, the Word, existed with God from the beginning and was fully God, revealing truth, grace, and life; this connection between God and His Word shows that the Scriptures are divinely inspired and entirely trustworthy (John 1:1–4, 9–14).
• Hebrews 4:12 speaks of the power of God's Word: "For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart."

IMPLICATIONS FOR TODAY

The truth that God inspired the Bible is certain and foundational. While human hands were involved in transcribing, copying, and later translating Scripture, the evidence shows that God has faithfully preserved His Word across the centuries. Though minor variations exist in manuscripts, they do not affect the meaning or central message of the text. In fact, careful comparison of thousands of manuscripts has confirmed the remarkable accuracy and reliability of both the Old and New Testaments.

The original writings, inspired by the Holy Spirit, were completely without error. Even though we do not possess those original manuscripts, the manuscript copies we hold today accurately reflect the originals and continue to communicate God’s truth without distortion. When a Bible is translated carefully based upon the manuscripts, we can trust its accuracy. Because Scripture is the very Word of God, it remains absolutely trustworthy and infallible. We can read it with confidence, knowing it carries God’s words and reveals His perfect will for our lives.

UNDERSTAND

• The Bible is flawless and completely trustworthy because it comes from a perfect God.
• God has preserved His Word accurately through history.
• Scripture is reliable and authoritative for knowing God’s truth and will.

REFLECT

• How does believing that the Bible is completely true and without error shape the way you read and apply it?
• How does trusting God’s Word as infallible give you confidence when facing uncertainty or doubt?
• If every word of Scripture is flawless and trustworthy, how should that change the way you respond to difficult commands or teachings in the Bible?

ENGAGE

• What evidence supports our trust that God has preserved His Word faithfully?
• How can understanding the infallibility of the Bible deepen the way we study, teach, and live out God’s truth?
• How does the belief in biblical infallibility strengthen our confidence in sharing God’s Word?