Essentials: Inerrancy & Infallibility

Essentials Week 3 - Inerrancy and Infallibility - Student Guide

OPENING QUESTION
When you were a kid, what was a Bible story you believed without hesitation? Why do you think children believe so simply?

SECTION 1: THE MODERN CHALLENGE
Statement many people believe:
“I don’t believe the Bible is the Word of God. I don’t think its values or rules apply today. The Bible is not true. There is no absolute truth; everything is relative.”
Discuss:
Have you ever heard someone say something like this? How did it make you feel?
Why does this challenge strike at the foundation of Christianity?

SECTION 2: FAITH AS A CHILD… THEN DOUBT AS AN ADULT
Growing up you may have heard stories of

• Jonah and the fish
• Daniel and the lions
• Jericho
• Balaam’s donkey
• Noah’s Ark
• David and Goliath
• Moses and the burning bush
• The boy with five loaves and two fish

As children we believed easily. As adults we wrestle with doubt.

Discuss:
What changed as you grew up? Why do adults begin to question what they once believed?
Is doubt always bad? What can doubt reveal?

SECTION 3: THE BIBLE MAKES A CLAIM ABOUT ITSELF
2 Timothy 3:16–17

• All Scripture is inspired by God.
• God signs His name on every page.
• If even one part is false, the whole thing falls apart.

Bank statement analogy:
If your bank says a statement is 100 percent accurate but you find one error, you lose trust in all of it.
Discuss:
How does this analogy help you understand the seriousness of biblical accuracy?
Why is it dangerous to trust part of the Bible but not all of it?

SECTION 4: THE LOGICAL QUESTION
If the Bible claims to be true, how do we know that claim is real?
There is only one way to know:
We must decide if the Bible truly comes from God.

SECTION 5: THE LOGIC FLOW ABOUT JESUS
A. Jesus Claimed to Be God

• John 8:58
• Matthew 11:27

B. Jesus Affirmed the Old Testament as God’s Word
Matthew 5:17-18

• Jesus quotes it as divine authority because His audience already believed it was.
• Jesus’ audience already believed the Law and Prophets were divinely inspired.

Jesus affirms their belief by assuming it, using it, and building on it rather than correcting it.
He uses the Old Testament:

• ethically (Sermon on the Mount)
• doctrinally (resurrection)
• prophetically (Messiah)
• personally (His mission)
• spiritually (temptation)

C. Jesus Promised the New Testament through the Holy Spirit
John 14:26
MacArthur summary:

• Jesus promised the apostles the Spirit would guide them into all truth. This is the foundation of the New Testament.

Discuss:
Why is Jesus’ view of Scripture important for our view of Scripture?
If Jesus affirmed the Old Testament and promised the New Testament, what does that imply?

SECTION 6: THE CRUCIAL QUESTION
All of this is meaningless unless Jesus truly is God.
Jesus predicted:

• His death
• His resurrection as the proof of His divinity

Historical Evidence for the Resurrection—scholars agree:

• Jesus was crucified
• He was buried
• His tomb was found empty
• His followers believed they saw Him alive
• Their lives were radically transformed

Discuss:
Why is the resurrection central to believing in the Bible?
Of the historical facts listed, which stands out most? Why?

SECTION 7: PUTTING THE LOGIC TOGETHER

1. Jesus claimed to be God.
2. This Jesus endorsed the Old Testament as God’s Word.
3. This Jesus promised the New Testament through His apostles.
4. This Jesus predicted His resurrection as proof.
5. This Jesus rose from the dead.
6. God cannot lie.
7. Therefore everything Jesus affirmed is true.
8. Jesus affirmed all of Scripture.
9. Therefore the Bible must be completely true.

Discuss:
Which step in this logical flow is strongest to you personally?
If someone asked you why you believe the Bible is true, which point would you share?

SECTION 8: INERRANCY
“Inerrancy means that everything the biblical author intended to communicate is true.”
God uses different literary styles.

• Hyperbole
• Metaphor
• Symbolic vision
• Poetry
• Parable
• Imagery
• Historical narrative

Discuss:
How does recognizing different literary styles help us interpret Scripture more accurately?
Which literary example made the most sense to you?

SECTION 9: INFALLIBILITY
“Infallible means the Bible will never fail you.”
GPS analogy:
The GPS is inerrant (always correct) and infallible (will always get you there), but many people ignore it.
Forgiveness example:
We know forgiveness is good but fear it won’t work.
Discuss:
Where do people most often doubt the infallibility of God’s Word?
Why is forgiveness such a difficult example for believers?
Where have you obeyed God reluctantly and later realized His way was right?

Essentials Week 3 - Inerrancy and Infallibility - Leader Guide

OPENING QUESTION
When you were a kid, what was a Bible story you believed without hesitation? Why do you think children believe so simply?
(Leader Note: Children trust authority easily, don’t overthink, have soft hearts, and aren’t pressured by culture or skepticism.)

SECTION 1: THE MODERN CHALLENGE
Statement many people believe:
“I don’t believe the Bible is the Word of God. I don’t think its values or rules apply today. The Bible is not true. There is no absolute truth; everything is relative.”
Discuss:
Have you ever heard someone say something like this? How did it make you feel?

• (Leader Note: Many have heard this in culture; it can feel sad, discouraging, frustrating, or confusing.)

Why does this challenge strike at the foundation of Christianity?

• (Leader Note: If Scripture isn’t true, we lose authority for life; Jesus’ teachings and the gospel become uncertain.)
• 
  

SECTION 2: FAITH AS A CHILD… THEN DOUBT AS AN ADULT
Growing up you may have heard stories of

• Jonah and the fish
• Daniel and the lions
• Jericho
• Balaam’s donkey
• Noah’s Ark
• David and Goliath
• Moses and the burning bush
• The boy with five loaves and two fish

As children we believed easily. As adults we wrestle with doubt.

Discuss:
What changed as you grew up? Why do adults begin to question what they once believed?

• (Leader Note: Pain, cultural pressure, pride, desire for control, and exposure to skepticism.)

Is doubt always bad? What can doubt reveal?

• (Leader Note: Doubt can drive deeper faith, highlight areas needing understanding, or expose self-reliance.)
• 
  

SECTION 3: THE BIBLE MAKES A CLAIM ABOUT ITSELF
2 Timothy 3:16–17

• All Scripture is inspired by God.
• God signs His name on every page.
• If even one part is false, the whole thing falls apart.

Bank statement analogy:
If your bank says a statement is 100 percent accurate but you find one error, you lose trust in all of it.
Discuss:
How does this analogy help you understand the seriousness of biblical accuracy?

• (Leader Note: One error breaks trust; reliability requires consistency; God’s Word must be accurate.)

Why is it dangerous to trust part of the Bible but not all of it?

• (Leader Note: We become judges over God’s Word; selective obedience; undermines Jesus’ view of Scripture.)
• 
  

SECTION 4: THE LOGICAL QUESTION
If the Bible claims to be true, how do we know that claim is real?
There is only one way to know:
We must decide if the Bible truly comes from God.

SECTION 5: THE LOGIC FLOW ABOUT JESUS
A. Jesus Claimed to Be God

• John 8:58
• Matthew 11:27

B. Jesus Affirmed the Old Testament as God’s Word
Matthew 5:17-18

• Jesus quotes it as divine authority because His audience already believed it was.
• Jesus’ audience already believed the Law and Prophets were divinely inspired.

Jesus affirms their belief by assuming it, using it, and building on it rather than correcting it.
He uses the Old Testament:

• ethically (Sermon on the Mount)
• doctrinally (resurrection)
• prophetically (Messiah)
• personally (His mission)
• spiritually (temptation)

C. Jesus Promised the New Testament through the Holy Spirit
John 14:26
MacArthur summary:

• Jesus promised the apostles the Spirit would guide them into all truth. This is the foundation of the New Testament.

Discuss:
Why is Jesus’ view of Scripture important for our view of Scripture?

• (Leader Note: If Jesus is God, His view determines ours; He treated Scripture as perfectly trustworthy.)

If Jesus affirmed the Old Testament and promised the New Testament, what does that imply?

• (Leader Note: The whole Bible carries Jesus’ authority; OT is confirmed; NT is Spirit-guided through apostles.)
• 
  

SECTION 6: THE CRUCIAL QUESTION
All of this is meaningless unless Jesus truly is God.
Jesus predicted:

• His death
• His resurrection as the proof of His divinity

Historical Evidence for the Resurrection—scholars agree:

• Jesus was crucified
• He was buried
• His tomb was found empty
• His followers believed they saw Him alive
• Their lives were radically transformed

Discuss:
Why is the resurrection central to believing in the Bible?

• (Leader Note: It proves Jesus is God; validates His teaching; verifies His authority about Scripture.)

Of the historical facts listed, which stands out most? Why?

• (Leader Note: The empty tomb, transformed disciples, eyewitnesses, rapid growth of Christianity.)
• 
  

SECTION 7: PUTTING THE LOGIC TOGETHER

1. Jesus claimed to be God.
2. This Jesus endorsed the Old Testament as God’s Word.
3. This Jesus promised the New Testament through His apostles.
4. This Jesus predicted His resurrection as proof.
5. This Jesus rose from the dead.
6. God cannot lie.
7. Therefore everything Jesus affirmed is true.
8. Jesus affirmed all of Scripture.
9. Therefore the Bible must be completely true.

Discuss:
Which step in this logical flow is strongest to you personally?

• (Leader Note: Often the resurrection, Jesus’ claims, or God’s inability to lie.)

If someone asked you why you believe the Bible is true, which point would you share?

• (Leader Note: Resurrection evidence, fulfilled prophecy, unity of Scripture, transformed lives.)
• 
  

SECTION 8: INERRANCY
“Inerrancy means that everything the biblical author intended to communicate is true.”
God uses different literary styles.

• Hyperbole
• Metaphor
• Symbolic vision
• Poetry
• Parable
• Imagery
• Historical narrative

Discuss:
How does recognizing different literary styles help us interpret Scripture more accurately?

• (Leader Note: Helps avoid misinterpretation; honors the author’s intent; treats poetry differently than history.)

Which literary example made the most sense to you?

• (Leader Note: Many resonate with parables, metaphors, poetry, or imagery.)
• 
  

SECTION 9: INFALLIBILITY
“Infallible means the Bible will never fail you.”
GPS analogy:
The GPS is inerrant (always correct) and infallible (will always get you there), but many people ignore it.
Forgiveness example:
We know forgiveness is good but fear it won’t work.
Discuss:
Where do people most often doubt the infallibility of God’s Word?

• (Leader Note: Forgiveness, sexuality, money, suffering, relationships, loving enemies.)

Why is forgiveness such a difficult example for believers?

• (Leader Note: Pain, fear, pride, mistrust, desire for control or justice.)

Where have you obeyed God reluctantly and later realized His way was right?

• (Leader Note: Leaders may model with generosity, purity, forgiveness, confronting sin, serving others.)