Scripture fully truthful and authoritative; inerrancy typically affirmed
Reformed theology holds Scripture to be the inspired, infallible, and authoritative Word of God. The Westminster Confession (Chapter I.4–5) teaches that the authority of Scripture depends not upon any man or church but solely upon God, who is its author. The Belgic Confession (Article 7) states that Scripture 'fully contains the will of God' and that nothing may be added to it. The Holy Spirit both inspired the scriptural authors (verbal, plenary inspiration) and illumines readers to receive it as God's Word.
Confessional Reformed bodies (such as the Orthodox Presbyterian Church and the Christian Reformed Church) typically affirm inerrancy of the original autographs — that Scripture does not affirm anything false. The Chicago Statement on Biblical Inerrancy (1978), to which many Reformed scholars contributed, is influential in confessional Reformed circles. More progressive Reformed and Presbyterian bodies (such as the PCUSA) allow historical-critical engagement that may qualify inerrancy claims. The term 'infallibility' is more universal across the tradition — Scripture is fully reliable and trustworthy for faith and practice — while 'inerrancy' in its strict form is more characteristic of conservative Reformed theology.
Key Distinctions
- Inerrancy scope:
- verbal plenary inerrancy — every word of Scripture is inspired and without error in the original autographs
- Hermeneutic approach:
- grammatical-historical — literal meaning in its original context
Scripture References
Sources
- Westminster Confession of Faith, Chapter I (1647)
- Belgic Confession, Articles 5–7 (1561)
- Chicago Statement on Biblical Inerrancy (1978)