Applying Biblical Inerrancy to Youth Ministry

This article is part of a blog series entitled “the Significance of Scripture” in order to help youth workers develop a clear theological understanding of what it means to say “the Bible is the Word of God.” Subscribe to the blog to make sure you benefit from the remainder of the series.

There are few doctrines that create a dividing line like that of inerrancy. Theologians like Carl F. H. Henry and apologists like Francis Schaeffer in the 20th century heralded the importance of inerrancy and warned against the dangers of weakening and rejecting this important doctrine. It is on the doctrine of inerrancy that many organizations like the Evangelical Theological Society (and including Youth Pastor Theologian) have chosen to set up a boundary. 

What is it about this doctrine that makes it so significant? Why does it matter? And moreover, as a youth pastor, how do I communicate its importance to the students I am discipling? While whole articles could be written on each of these questions, my aim is to give a very brief introduction to the doctrine of inerrancy, provide a couple suggestions on how to teach this doctrine to students, and solidify why this doctrine is so important. 

What Is the Doctrine of Inerrancy?

The doctrine of inerrancy refers specifically to the truthfulness of the Bible, that it is completely true in all it says. In other words, when we talk about inerrancy, we’re not just talking about the absence of errors in the Bible, but more fully, the complete truthfulness of the Bible as written. Of course, these two claims are related. 

Paul Feinberg probably offers the best definition of inerrancy. He states, “Inerrancy means that when all facts are known, the Scriptures in their original autographs and properly interpreted will be shown to be wholly true in everything that they affirm, whether that has to do with doctrine or morality or with the social, physical, or life sciences.” We would do well to note the nuance in his definition. 

Inerrancy is not based on our own private interpretations of Scripture (2 Peter 1:20). Instead, it claims that they are objectively true in what they affirm. And what the Bible affirms can extend (and often does) beyond theological and religious claims. This means when the Bible makes claims about history or science, the doctrine of inerrancy affirms that those claims are also true. 

One point of clarity is that when we talk about the inerrancy of Scripture, we are referring to the original documents that were penned—the autographs. For instance, the books penned by Paul, when he wrote them, were inerrant, but there are sometimes differences between those originals and the physical Bibles we may read from today. That means that we do not think that manuscripts with scribal errors, or later translations carry the same inerrant quality. For those interested the specifics, I recommend reading through the affirmations and denials in the Chicago Statement on Biblical Inerrancy.

How Do I Teach It? 

The doctrine of inerrancy presents such an interesting test-case for teaching on a particular doctrine of Scripture in student ministry precisely because so much of our teaching of doctrine as a whole depends on this particular one (Psalm 119:160). That is, the reason we have confidence in teaching our students about justification, ecclesiology, creation, and the rest of the Bible is because we believe that what we have in the Bible is true and without error. It is foundational to establishing a litany of other doctrinal claims. So, how do you teach on such a fundamental belief? 

I think a helpful way to approach teaching this doctrine to students would be two-fold. First, I would encourage youth pastors and youth leaders to emphasize the essential nature of inerrancy (Matthew 4:4). When teaching on this, emphasize to your students that inerrancy is comprehensive because it covers all that the Bible tells us. In all that Scripture affirms, we can confidently assert that it is the truth according to God. Moreover, if the Bible is true, that has an immediate impact for one’s life, because that means, even in the weird parts, it is also authoritative for our lives, coming from an inerrant God. Inerrancy gives us confidence in the nature of Scripture. 

Second, I would encourage students to test this doctrine out. Take a youth meeting and analyze ways in which inerrancy has been challenged by skeptics. Deal with hard verses that seem to conflict with one another. Address how even textual criticism can actually make a better case for inerrancy as a whole. These can be wonderful opportunities to strengthen the faith of your students and their trust in the Scriptures. Don’t be afraid to test God’s Word. It can handle scrutiny. An inerrant revelation from a holy God is something we can stand on with confidence, even in uncertain times. 

Why Does It Matter?

Maybe this question is a bit self-explanatory. After all, it seems clear that if the Bible isn’t true, then there are major problems at hand. That is certainly the case, and that is precisely why this doctrine of Scripture matters so much. As many theologians have recognized, the doctrine of inerrancy is connected to so many other areas of one’s theological framework. 

If God’s unique revelation to mankind in the Bible is not without error, what does that say about God? (2 Timothy 3:16) What does that say about His character? Or about God’s providence? How does that shape how we approach the more difficult passages of Scripture? How would we know which commands in Scripture are trustworthy? We should help our students understand the importance of inerrancy, as it really does touch on so many other areas of our theological thinking. 

Further, and as noted earlier, this doctrine is all about truth. Thus, in a culture that often has competing ideas about truth and where truth comes from, I dare say that there are few doctrines as important as that of inerrancy (Isaiah 40:8). When we say that the Bible shares truth, we don’t mean just any truth, but objective truth that is without error. In doing this, we are making an incredibly strong claim: that there is a God who has made everything, including us, and that He decides what the right understanding of reality looks like, as well as how we are meant to flourish in it. 

In a culture that often wants to privatize or relativize truth claims, the Bible speaks with the roar of a lion, communicating God’s authoritative and errorless truth to us with a strength and boldness that we can be confident in.

As you seek to teach inerrancy to your students, remind them that the point of inerrancy is that God’s word is not a collection of truth claims; it is the ultimate source of life, hope, and flourishing. Within its pages, not only do we learn the truth about God, but ourselves and how we can find the kind of life we were made for. Inerrancy matters so that our students will know the truth, and the truth will set them free.