The Debate on the Authority, Inspiration and Inerrancy of the Bible in Contemporary Protestantism

Abstract

The article explores the doctrine of biblical inerrancy, inspiration and authority in the Protestant tradition. Authors' historical survey shows that the doctrine of inerrancy of the Holy Scripture emerged as a reaction to the Catholic teaching on the infallibility of the Pope and the Church, as well as to the liberal tendencies in theology. The key ideas of the doctrine are presented from the text of the Chicago Statement on Biblical Inerrancy. In his critical analysis of the contemporary version of the inerrancy doctrine the author shows its main problematic aspects: the doctrine is wrongly accepted as foundation of the Christian faith, it imposes an alien concept of truth on biblical texts, it gives wrong hermeneutical directives to the interpreter, it appeals to non-existent original biblical autographs. The author concludes that the authority and inspiration of the Bible should not be established by proving inerrancy of its texts, but should be based on faith, supported by the transforming witness of God's Word in the community of believers.