Growing up, I frequently butted heads with a belief called “biblical inerrancy,” the idea the bible as we have it today is perfect and free of error in all things. (And yes, I’m aware there are multiple schools of inerrancy, but this is the way it was presented to me as a teenager.) Many of my church leaders and teachers and friends all clung to this doctrine, but even then, I thought it was a little fishy. Defenders of inerrancy often cited verses like 2 Timothy 3:16 and Revelation 22:18-19, which were written before the bible was compiled and don’t refer to the book as it exists today. By contrast, the evidence against inerrancy is stark.
On one hand, we have fossil records and historical evidence which contradict many assertions about the biblical timeline, but even more than this: the bible itself contradicts its timeline. Genesis offers up multiple creation stories. The books of Samuel, Kings, and Chronicles present the same events retold in very different ways. Books like Job and Song of Solomon have no discernible location in Israel’s history. The gospel of John presents the events of Jesus’s life in a completely different order than the other three gospels (which is to say nothing of the subtle differences between those other three). And some of the letters allude to issues which wouldn’t have been known at the time of their supposed authorship. How could these authors and editors be okay with all these inconsistencies?
Well, for one, it’s important to remember the idea of a perfect “historically accurate” timeline is a fairly recent invention. The cultures which produced the bible prized folklore, and a story’s symbolic value might transcend its historical significance. Authors of this era had no issue changing details to better resonate with audiences, and they intentionally depicted ancient characters anachronistically so attentive readers could detect foreshadowing or covert political messaging.
Of course, that’s just the authors. Things get even crazier with the editors and translators.
The bible as we have it today is the product of nearly two millennia of translation. For centuries before the printing press, these books were copied by hand, and different scribes had different styles which affected the bible. My personal favorite example comes from John 5:4, in which Jesus visits a pool in Jerusalem thought to have healing properties. According to local legend, a healing angel would come down and stir the waters of this pool, and the first disabled person to enter the water after such a magical moment would be healed of all ailments. If you have a bible handy (whether printed or digital), check to see if your translation mentions the bit about the angel. In fact, check to see if your bible even includes verse 4 at all; many translations don’t! The bit about the angel likely comes from an early translator’s margin note about the local legend. Over time, this translator’s note found its way into the text proper, and only in recent decades have we started pulling the verse back out and placing it again as a margin note. This style of editing occurs throughout the New Testament, so it’s important to read some of these lines with a cautious eye. (Also, while John 5:4 is kind of fun, we’ll see a more toxic example of notes-into-verses soon in our Crowlers & Corinthians series.)
Of course, I’m not writing any of this to criticize the bible. I love the bible. I constantly rely on its teaching, and I’ve studied it more than any other book. I’m writing this to criticize the belief in inerrancy, which ultimately harms the bible by diminishing its intricacy and removing it from the beautiful, messy history which shaped it. The bible was never meant to be read in a literalist fashion, clumsily stripped of context and nuance. It’s not some static record of platitudes or a rigid textbook of history and science. No, the bible is alive, ever changing as it passes into new hands guided by the Holy Spirit; it continues to speak in different ways to different ears while still showing us an ancient people’s understanding of God. So don’t make the mistake of trying to engage such a book “objectively.” It can’t be done.
Instead, engage the bible like a wise, old friend whose words hold deeper truths for those willing to put in the time. Regard it respectfully but also critically. Consult other sources which may be able to help in understanding it. Listen to your gut when something doesn’t feel right, and talk about it openly with friends and mentors you trust. Be willing to do the work, even when doing so leaves more questions than answers, because the alternative is a rigid viewpoint which leaves faith no room to grow.