What You Should Know about Inerrancy

by Charles Caldwell Ryrie

Publisher:

Woodlawn

, 1981

Overview

Some say that inerrancy is either unimportant, irrelevant, or unnecessary to the faith.

But that is simply not so, says Dr. Charles Ryrie. Belief about the Bible assumes a place of primary importance in one's doctrinal system. It has to. For if even one part of the Bible is thought to be false, how can any of it be trusted as true?

Through convincing facts and explanations, Dr. Ryrie proves to readers that God did not permit man to divert, misdirect, or erroneously record his message. The Bible, the entire Bible, is inerrant and can be trusted to be totally reliable.

Product Details

• Title: What You Should Know about Inerrancy
• Author: Charles C. Ryrie
• Publisher: Moody
• Publication Date: 1981
• Pages: 109

About Charles Ryrie

Charles C. Ryrie is a renowned author and scholar. He has written dozens of books which have sold more than 1.5 million copies worldwide. As a scholar, he has served in several capacities throughout this career. He was ordained by the First Baptist Church in Alton, Illinois. He spent five years at Westmont College, first as professor, later as dean of men and chairman of biblical studies and philosophy. In 1958 he became president of Philadelphia College of Bible. He spent most of his career as a professor of systematic theology at Dallas Theological Seminary in Dallas, Texas. The father of three, he is now professor emeritus of systematic theology at Dallas Theological Seminary and acts as visiting professor of theology at Philadelphia College of Bible.

Sample Pages from the Print Edition

Contents

Top Highlights

“Perhaps the tension would be erased if we defined inerrancy positively—the inerrancy of the Bible means simply that the Bible tells the truth. Truth can and does include approximations, free quotations, language of appearances, and different accounts of the same event as long as those do not contradict. For example, if you were to report to me that a mutual friend had a hundred-thousand dollar income last year, I might well say (especially if I had never considered him to be a rich man), ‘Are you telling me the truth?’ When you reply, ‘Yes,’ that would be an inerrant reply, even though his income for reporting to the Internal Revenue Service was $100,537. That approximation would tell the truth.” (Pages 30–31)

“Belief about the Bible assumes a place of primary importance in one’s doctrinal system. If the Bible does in fact teach its own inerrancy, then to deny that doctrine is to disbelieve the Bible. If we cannot trust the Bible in a fact of history that seems unrelated to any major doctrine, how can we be sure we can trust it in a matter of history, like the empty tomb, which is unquestionably related to a very major doctrine?” (Pages 10–11)

“But how can we know the truth about the Holy Spirit unless we can trust the accuracy of the Bible?” (Page 10)

“Most people understand clearly and easily that approximations, and so forth, tell the truth. The Bible is inerrant in that it tells the truth, and it does so without error in all parts and with all its words.” (Page 32)

“Inspiration answers the question, How did He give the Bible? Inerrancy answers the question, Did He give it with or without errors?” (Page 37)

Product Details

• Title: What You Should Know about Inerrancy
• Author: Charles Caldwell Ryrie
• Publisher: Woodlawn
• Print Publication Date: 1981
• Logos Release Date: 2010
• Language: English
• Resources: 1
• Format: Digital › Logos Research Edition
• Subject: Bible › Evidences, authority, etc
• Resource ID: LLS:42.110.37
• Resource Type: Monograph
• Metadata Last Updated: 2022-02-12T07:06:20Z

About Charles Caldwell Ryrie

Charles Caldwell Ryrie (1925–2016) was a renowned author and scholar and key figure in the theology of dispensationalism. He received degrees from Haverford College, Dallas Theological Seminary, University of Edinburgh, and Liberty Baptist Theological Seminary.

Ryrie served as professor of systematic theology and dean of doctoral studies at Dallas Theological Seminary and professor at what is now Cairn University.

Along with frequently contributing to Bibliotheca Sacra, Ryrie authored over 25 books including Dr. Ryrie’s Articles, Transformed by his Glory, Nailing Down a Board: Serving Effectively on the Not-for-Profit Board, The Basis of Premillennial Faith, and Neo-orthodoxy.