Biblical Infallibility

National Association of Christian Ministers Summary Series: Theology

Biblical infallibility is a belief held by some Christians that the Bible is incapable of error in its teachings on matters of faith and Christian practice. Unlike biblical inerrancy, which holds that the Bible is completely without error, biblical infallibility holds that the Bible is incapable of error only in matters related to faith and morality, and not necessarily in matters of history, science, or other secular areas.

Proponents of biblical infallibility believe that the Bible is the inspired word of God, and that God ensured that its authors wrote without error on matters related to faith and morality. They view the Bible as a reliable guide for Christian living and believe that its teachings are divinely inspired and without error in the areas of faith and morality.

However, like biblical inerrancy, biblical infallibility is a controversial topic within Christian theology. Some theologians argue that the Bible should not be interpreted as infallible in every area, and that it must be read and interpreted with attention to its historical and cultural context.

Despite these differences in interpretation, the Bible remains a central and authoritative text for Christians worldwide.