How do we speak to the inerrancy of scripture to non-believers?

A question we get quite often: My son does not believes the bible is the inerrant word of God, but is written by man and full of lots of errors.

We get this question a lot because it is a common view. First, we need to find the reasoning for why the question is being asked. Because if you have ever tried to talk to someone about why the bible is true - it’s normally an argument that goes nowhere.

Firstly, why is this person unwilling to accept the truth of scripture? Usually it’s because they are not a believer. The bible itself says that unless you have the spirit of God, unless you have believed and been saved, then scripture is foolishness.

Unless you have the spirit of God inside you, teaching you what the bible means, then you cannot understand it. You can read the words, but you won’t get to the depth of it. It will look like a story - a book written by a bunch of men, full of errors.

When I hear someone say the bible is not something they can trust, I question where their heart is.

If this person does not believe the gospel, forget about trying to explain to them that the bible is true. Your one mission is to explain the gospel. Over and over again. Until they believe Jesus is Lord, there is no other conversation. Until they believe, nothing else you tell them will make any sense.

Jesus taught his disciples to go out and teach: Repent and believe. He did not say go out and convince them that I am the Messiah, that they should trust the scriptures. Focus on the gospel. that the bible is true.

If you’re dealing with a believer, they have faith, but for some reason they have not given themselves over to the truth of scripture – it is something they have always had doubts about and never explored otherwise – for them there is no other way to get past that objection than to try what they are lacking faith in. There is no other way to prove scripture is true than to study the bible.

God will not be tested by our doubts. Until we are willing to humble ourselves, then will God condescend to show us it is true. But if we demand God show us the bible is true, before we give ourselves over to it, then He leaves us in our ignorance.

So if you know someone who is a believer but will not study the bible, or agree it is the truthful inerrant source, we should encourage them to take a study with you. Find something on our website, chat about what you are both learning.

As they read, the Holy Spirit inside them will convict them and they will come away changed.

For unbelievers, don’t get suckered in to discussions that don’t matter. Focus on the gospel: Jesus and their sin and His death on the cross to pay the price, and that they too can have eternal life through faith in the one and only son of God. Then, move to Step Two.

For believers, encourage them to feed on the word of God, the bread of life. For they will soon find that it is trustworthy.