School of the Foundations of the Christian Faith “The Creator and His Creation.” Lesson 11. The Inerrancy of the Bible. The school consists of 22 lessons. The founder of the school is the Christian Bible Institute.
God repeatedly says that His Word is absolutely true and infallible. It cannot be broken, and it will be fulfilled with absolute accuracy. See what the following Bible passages say about this:
The Bible is absolutely true and contains no errors
Matt. 5:18 I tell you the truth: until heaven and earth disappear, not the smallest letter or stroke will disappear from the Law—all will be fulfilled.
Ps. 118:138 The commandments You have given are righteous and completely true.
The Bible contains absolutely everything we need for our lives
2 Tim. 3:16 All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting, and training in righteousness, 2 Tim. 3:17 so that the person of God may be fully prepared for every good work.
Ps. 18:8 The law of the Lord is perfect, restoring the soul. The testimony of the Lord is trustworthy, making the simple wise. Ps. 18:9 The precepts of the Lord are righteous, bringing joy to the heart. The commands of the Lord are radiant, giving light to the eyes. Ps. 18:10 The fear of the Lord is pure, enduring forever. The judgments of the Lord are true, and altogether righteous. Ps. 18:11 They are more desirable than gold, even much pure gold; they are sweeter than honey, than drippings from the honeycomb. Ps. 18:12 Your servant is warned by them; there is great reward in keeping them.
Today we will examine two aspects that clearly speak of the inerrancy of the Word of God.
1. Fulfillment of Biblical Prophecies
It is important to know that God not only foretells historical facts, but also directs and governs them.
Isaiah 46:9 Remember the things of old; I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is none like Me. Isaiah 46:10 I have declared the end from the beginning, from ancient times, what is yet to come. I say: “My purpose will stand, and I will do all that I please.”
The Bible contains a great many precise and detailed prophecies spoken many centuries before their fulfillment. God personally directed their exact fulfillment. See how precisely and flawlessly the following prophecies were fulfilled—
Prophecies about Jesus Christ: His birth from a virgin was foretold by the prophet Isaiah 700 years before Christ’s birth.
Prophecy:
Isaiah 7:14 Therefore, the Lord Himself will give you a sign: the virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and will name Him Immanuel.
Fulfillment:
Matthew 1:18 This is how the birth of Jesus Christ came about. His mother Mary was pledged to be married to Joseph, but before they married, she was found to be pregnant. The child she was to give birth to was from the Holy Spirit. Matthew 1:22 All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: Matthew 1:23 “The virgin will conceive and give birth to a Son, and they will call Him Immanuel,” which means, “God with us.”
From a human perspective, this was—and remains—absolutely incredible. It was a miracle through which God fulfilled the biblical prophecy exactly.
The exact place of Christ’s birth was foretold by the prophet Micah almost 700 years before Christ’s birth.
Prophecy:
Micah 5:2 — But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are small among the cities of Judah, out of you will come for Me the One who will rule Israel, whose origins are from ancient times, from long ago.
Fulfillment:
Luke 2:1 At that time, Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken throughout the Roman Empire. Luke 2:2 This was the first census taken while Quirinius was governor of Syria. Luke 2:3 So everyone went to their own town to register. Luke 2:4 Joseph also went up from the Galilean town of Nazareth to Judea, to Bethlehem, the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. Luke 2:5 He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. Luke 2:6 While they were there, the time came for her to give birth, Luke 2:7 and she gave birth to her firstborn, a Son. She wrapped Him in cloths and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.
Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem on a donkey was foretold by the prophet Zechariah nearly 500 years before Christ’s birth
Prophecy:
Zechariah 9:9 Rejoice greatly, Daughter of Zion! Shout, Daughter of Jerusalem! See, your King comes to you, righteous and victorious, humble and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey.
Fulfillment:
Matthew 21:1 As they approached Jerusalem and came to Bethphage on the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent two disciples, Matthew 21:2 saying to them, “Go to the village ahead of you, and at once you will find a donkey tied there, with her colt by her. Untie them and bring them to Me. Matthew 21:3 If anyone asks you about it, say that the Lord needs them, and he will send them right away.” Matthew 21:4 This took place to fulfill what was spoken through the prophet: Matthew 21:5 “Say to Daughter Zion, ‘See, your King comes to you, humble and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey.’” Matthew 21:6 The disciples went and did as Jesus had instructed them. Matthew 21:7 They brought the donkey and the colt and placed their cloaks on them, and Jesus sat on them. Matthew 21:8 A very large crowd spread their cloaks on the road, while others cut branches from the trees and spread them on the road.
The prophet Zechariah foretold that Christ would be sold for thirty pieces of silver.
Prophecy:
Zechariah 11:12 I told them, “If you think it best, give me my pay; but if not, keep it.” So they paid me thirty pieces of silver. Zechariah 11:13 And the Lord said to me, “Throw it to the potter”—the handsome price at which they valued Me! So I took the thirty pieces of silver and threw them into the house of the Lord to the potter.
Fulfillment:
Matthew 26:14 {Judas Iscariot Decides to Betray Jesus} Then one of the Twelve—the one called Judas Iscariot—went to the chief priests Matthew 26:15 and asked, “What are you willing to give me if I deliver Him over to you?” So they counted out for him thirty pieces of silver.
Matthew 27:5 So Judas threw the money into the temple and left. Then he went away and hanged himself. Matthew 27:6 The chief priests picked up the money and said, “It is against the law to put this into the treasury, since it is blood money.” Matthew 27:7 So they decided to use the money to buy the potter’s field as a burial place for foreigners. Matthew 27:8 That is why it has been called the Field of Blood to this day.
The prophet Isaiah foretold that Christ would be disfigured before His crucifixion.
Prophecy:
Isaiah 53:3 He was despised and rejected by mankind, a man of suffering, and familiar with pain. Like one from whom people hide their faces, He was despised, and we held Him in low esteem.
Isaiah 52:14 Just as there were many who were appalled at Him—His appearance was so disfigured beyond that of any human being and His form marred beyond human likeness—
Fulfillment:
Matthew 27:27 {Roman soldiers mock Jesus} The soldiers led Jesus into the governor’s residence and gathered the whole company around Him. Matthew 27:28 They stripped Him and put a scarlet robe on Him. Matthew 27:29 Then they twisted a crown of thorns and placed it on His head, put a staff in His right hand, and mocked Him, kneeling before Him and saying: – Hail, King of the Jews! Matthew 27:30 They spit on Him and took the staff and struck Him on the head. Matthew 27:31 After they had mocked Him enough, they took off the robe, dressed Jesus in His own clothes, and led Him away to be crucified.
The place where Christ would be buried was foretold by the prophet Isaiah 700 years before the birth of Jesus Christ
Prophecy:
Isaiah 53:9 He was assigned a grave with the wicked, but He was with the rich in His death, although He had committed no sin, and there was no deceit in His mouth.
Fulfillment:
Matthew 27:57 In the evening, a rich man from Arimathea named Joseph came to the place of execution. He too was a disciple of Jesus. Matthew 27:58 Joseph went to Pilate and asked for Jesus’ body. Pilate ordered that the body be given to him. Matthew 27:59 Joseph took it, wrapped it in clean linen, Matthew 27:60 and placed it in his own new tomb, which had been cut out of rock. He rolled a large stone in front of the entrance and left.
Prophecy about Israel’s deliverance from captivity.
This is one of the most remarkable prophecies in the Bible. 150 years before King Cyrus was born and 100 years before Israel was taken into Babylonian captivity, God names the exact person through whom He would later deliver Israel from Babylonian captivity.
Prophecy:
Isaiah 44:26 Who confirms the words of His servants and fulfills the predictions of His messengers; who says of Jerusalem, “It will be inhabited,” and of the cities of Judah, “They will be rebuilt, and I will restore their ruins”; Isaiah 44:27 who says to the watery deep, “Dry up – I will dry up your rivers”; Isaiah 44:28 who says of Cyrus, “He is My shepherd and will accomplish all that I please; he will say of Jerusalem, ‘It will be rebuilt,’ and of the temple, ‘Its foundations will be laid.’” Isaiah 45:1 This is what the Lord says to His anointed, to Cyrus, whose right hand I take hold of to subdue nations before him and strip kings of their armor, to open doors before him—gates that will not be shut: Isaiah 45:2 – I will go before you and level the mountains; I will break down gates of bronze and cut through bars of iron. Isaiah 45:3 I will give you hidden treasures, riches stored in secret places, so that you may know that I am the Lord, the God of Israel, who calls you by name. Isaiah 45:4 For the sake of My servant Jacob, of Israel, My chosen one, I call you by name and bestow on you a title of honor, though you do not acknowledge Me. Isaiah 45:5 I am the Lord, and there is no other; apart from Me there is no God. I will strengthen you, though you have not acknowledged Me, Isaiah 45:6 so that from the rising of the sun to the place of its setting people may know that there is none besides Me; I am the Lord, and there is no other.
Fulfillment:
Ezra 1:2 “This is what Cyrus king of Persia says: ‘The Lord, the God of heaven, has given me all the kingdoms of the earth and has appointed me to build a temple for Him at Jerusalem in Judah. Ezra 1:3 Any of His people among you may go up to Jerusalem in Judah and build the temple of the Lord, the God of Israel, the God who is in Jerusalem. And may their God be with them. Ezra 1:4 And in any locality where survivors may now be living, the people are to provide them with silver and gold, with goods and livestock, and with freewill offerings for the temple of God in Jerusalem.’”
Prophecy about the destruction of Tyre.
In Ezekiel 26, God, through Ezekiel, predicted in great detail the capture and destruction of the city of Tyre. In fulfillment of the prophecy, the mainland part of Tyre was destroyed by Nebuchadnezzar in 573 BC, but many inhabitants took refuge in the island fortress and withstood the siege. But this part of the city was also destroyed by Alexander the Great in 322 BC. Today, a small village exists there where fishermen, in accordance with the prophecy, spread their nets on the sand covering the site of the ancient city. (Ezek. 26:5)
Prophecy Concerning the Restoration of Israel
Isa. 43:4 Since you are precious in My sight, honored, and I have loved you, therefore I will give other people for you, and nations for your life. Isa. 43:5 Do not fear, for I am with you; I will bring your descendants from the east and gather you from the west. Isa. 43:6 I will say to the north, “Give them up”; and to the south, “Do not withhold them; bring My sons from afar and My daughters from the ends of the earth,
After AD 70, Israel was completely devastated and destroyed as a state. In 1948, after nearly 19 centuries of nonexistence, Israel was re-established. This is the only case in human history in which a state was restored after such a long period of nonexistence.
The Bible contains 6,408 prophecies, of which 3,268 have already been fulfilled, while the remaining prophecies concern future events.
2. The Historical Accuracy of the Bible
Although the Bible was written many years ago, it describes all historical facts with great accuracy.
The Reliability of Old Testament Facts
One of the oldest books of the Bible, Job 26:7, says that God “hangs the earth on nothing”—despite the fact that most people believed the earth was flat.
The Capture of Jericho by Joshua’s Army
Bryant Wood, a professor of Near Eastern studies at the University of Toronto, Canada, wrote in Biblical Archaeology Review (Mar./Apr. 1990):
Archaeological evidence indicates that:
- The city was very strongly fortified
- The city was destroyed during the harvest
- The city's population had no way to escape
- The siege of the city was very short because plenty of food remained
- The city walls were destroyed
- The city was not plundered
The historicity of King Hezekiah and his story
For a long time, the historicity of the events surrounding the siege and deliverance of Jerusalem described in 2 Kings 18–19 was disputed as being implausible for the Assyrian king Sennacherib. However, excavations in Assyria—the royal palace of Ashurbanipal, Sennacherib's grandson—provided access to 26,000 clay tablets describing various stages of Assyrian history, including Sennacherib's account of his campaign against Jerusalem
As for Hezekiah, the Jew, he did not submit to my yoke. I besieged 46 of his fortified cities, and countless small villages… I deported 200,150 people, young and old, men and women, horses, mules, donkeys, camels, cattle and sheep beyond counting. I shut him up in Jerusalem, his royal residence, like a bird in a cage. (ANET, 288).
The Historicity of New Testament Facts
The New Testament accurately describes various facts that the Bible's opponents denied, but God repeatedly demonstrates the infallibility of His Word.
The New Testament is a reliable source of information about:
- Religious parties – Pharisees, Sadducees, Zealots
- Traditions and rituals
- Topography, and the names of cities, rivers, lakes, and mountains
- The Mount of Olives
- Golgotha
- The Kidron Valley
- The Sea of Galilee
- The locations of Samaria and the Decapolis,
- Nazareth, Nain, Bethlehem, Capernaum,
- The rulers of Judea and Rome
- Caesar Augustus
- Quirinius, governor of Syria
- King Herod
- Pontius Pilate
- The high priests Annas and Caiaphas
Specific places mentioned in the New Testament
- Pool of Siloam
- Pool of Bethesda
- Synagogue in Capernaum
- Remains of Herod’s palace
Thank God today for His wonderful Word, which is absolutely inerrant and accurate. Thank Him also for giving you the grace to study His Word and believe it.
Source: Christian Bible Institute
