Bible Students

There are three main views of the inerrancy of Scripture, which are the absolute, full, and limited views. Inerrancy is the measurement of whether the Scriptures are errant, or in error. Absolute inerrancy believes the Bible is absolutely inerrant, correct even in a surface reading. Full inerrancy believes the Bible is fully inerrant, which means it is true, but some things may be written from a flawed perspective, especially in relation to science. Limited inerrancy is the view that the Scriptures are only mostly true, only necessarily true in spiritual truth. 

Absolute inerrancy states that the Bible is true in all matters as they are presented. This means that Scriptures may be intended to be hyperbole or metaphorical, but if they are not supposed to be understood that way by the author, Scripture should triumph over science. In this view, it may be understood that Genesis one is completely true, as it is presented in the text. There were seven literal days, with each creature and space created on that day. This view sees the Genesis event as literally as possible, without attempting to synchronize it with science. If science disagrees with Scripture, science is incorrect. 

Full inerrancy states that the Bible is true in most matters as they are presented, but may be misrepresented by the way the author has viewed the event. For example, in this view, the flood episode may only cover Mesopotamia, rather than the whole world. In this view, the event is written from the limited perspective of the author, so to one standing on a mountain watching Mesopotamia destroyed by water, it may seem the whole world has been destroyed when only a small part has been flooded. In this view, the Scriptures are still authoritative, but events may be described from a limited view, especially in terms of science. 

Finally, limited inerrancy views that the Scriptures are completely inerrant in spiritual matters. All spiritual matters are completely true in the Bible, but scientific matters are written from a flawed human perspective. As the Bible was written by humans, their view of science was not impacted by the Spirit’s work. This leads to a lack of scientific prowess in Scripture, according to this view. 

Christians can have any of these views, though these views do have different levels of Scriptural dependance. I lay somewhere between full and absolute authority, as the Scripture was likely not meant to correct scientific matters, and I find it unclear where the Bible sees itself, between full and absolute authority.