Robert N. Wilkin, Inerrancy for Dummies (Denton, TX: Grace Evangelical Society, 2016), 70 pages.
Introduction
Few things are as important to evangelism as the truth of God’s Word. Wilkin quotes Dr. Norman Geisler: “The doctrine of the divine authority and inerrancy of Scripture is the fundamental of all the fundamentals” (p. 28). But to many liberal and conservative scholars, the theological doctrine known as inerrancy no longer means the Bible is true. Sadly, even seminary professors like Dan Wallace teach:
…my students… need to have a doctrinal taxonomy that distinguishes core beliefs from peripheral beliefs. When they place more peripheral doctrines such as inerrancy and verbal inspiration at the core, then when belief in these doctrines starts to erode, it creates a domino effect: One falls down, then they all fall down. (p. 29)
Clearly, Dan Wallace and scholars like him have already suffered the domino effect. Wilkin sums up the heart of the issue with a simple observation and question all of us should ask: “If the Bible has errors in it, then it is not God’s Word and Christianity is not true. What issue could be more fundamental than that” (p. 29)?
Why Inerrancy Matters
Faith is the ordinary yet essential response of a finite being in the acquisition of knowledge; in its simplest terms it is being persuaded something or someone is true.
From faith to faith (Romans 1:17), the believer is transformed, discipled and sanctified for the work of ministry.
Transformation:
Our worldview—the way we see the world and life—needs to be conformed to God’s way of seeing things, which is seeing the truth. If God’s Word has errors in it, then it cannot renew our minds and transform our lives. (p. 44-45)
Discipleship:
… discipleship hinges on the unity, and hence, the inerrancy of God’s Word. All the authors of Scripture are presenting the same principles for growth in the faith. (p. 46)
Sanctification:
Sanctify them by Your truth. Your Word is truth(John 17:17)… if you abide in My word, you are my disciples indeed. And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall set you free (John 8:31-32)… The truth sets us free from sin’s domination. Error cannot do that. God’s Word can only deliver us in our experience from slavery to sin if it is true. (p. 40, 43)
By faith alone in Jesus and His promise of eternal life (John 6:47-48; 1 Timothy 1:16), the unbeliever is made… alive (Ephesians 2:4-5), gifted with eternal life (John 4:10-14), or brought… forth by the word of truth (James 1:17-18).
If the Bible has errors in it, then it can teach competing gospels… It is not unusual today to find conservative Bible scholars say that for some the condition of everlasting life is turning from his sins; for others, simply believing in Jesus; for others, commitment and obedience; and for others, selling all and following Jesus. But how do you evangelize if you believe that? (p. 45)
The link between faith and truth is simple yet profound. If the Bible is not true, then faith in His word for either the believer or unbeliever becomes meaningless.
Conclusion
Wilkin makes a compelling case for the correct or true doctrine of inerrancy. Even for dummies, the truth of God’s Word is “the fundamental of all the fundamentals” (p. 28).