Name: Kate Dallenbach
Class: THEO 201-001
Dr. Chris Gnanakan
Date: 9/24/2019
Theology & Culture Essay
Introduction
Throughout human existence, it has become common that when the living eyewitnesses
to events die off, the process of discerning truth from falsity can become clouded. While
believers of the Lord uphold the Bible as the ultimate source of truth and accuracy regarding
historical events and scriptural teachings, opponents of Christianity often attempt to discredit the
authority, authenticity, and inerrancy of the Bible. However, evidence found in scripture and
through the discovery of archaeological artifacts support the affirmation that the Bible and all of
its contents are true and inerrant.
Biblical Inerrancy
The doctrine of biblical inerrancy is the belief that the Bible is reliable, truthful in its
entirety, and free from any errors. Biblical inerrancy is not limited only to moral and religious
truths, but also applies to all teachings and matters in Scripture. Such matters range across
disciplines of theology, history, and science. Wayne Grudem, a prominent evangelical theologian
and author, describes biblical inerrancy by writing that “scripture in the original manuscripts
does not affirm anything that is contrary to fact,” meaning that the Bible always tells the truth
concerning everything that it mentions (Grudem, 2000, p. 17). Therefore, if the Bible talks about
geography, biology, creation or any other subject, then what it says must be upheld as truth. Paul
Feinberg, another theologian and professor of systematic theology, wrote “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 (Frame, 2014, p. 31)”
Name: Kate Dallenbach
Class: THEO 201-001
Dr. Chris Gnanakan
Date: 9/24/2019
While the word “inerrancy” does not explicitly appear in Scripture, it results from the
systematic collection of Scriptures and biblical data. For example, there are many passages in
both the Old Testament and the New Testament which state or imply that the authors of the Bible
were inspired by God. 2 Peter 1:20-21 says “above all, you must understand that no prophecy of
Scripture came about by the prophet's own interpretation of things. For prophecy never had its
origin in the human will, but prophets, though human, spoke from God as they were carried
along by the Holy Spirit” (New International Version). While verses in and of themselves do not
prove biblical inerrancy, archaeological evidence has supported the claim.
Evidence concerning the inerrancy of the Bible has been found outside of Scripture and
through the discovery of biblical archaeological artifacts, which speaks to the Bible being
inerrant in the context of the social, physical, and life sciences. For example, the Smithsonian’s
Department of Anthropology issued a statement that the historical books of the Bible are
regarded as an accurate source of historical documents and have proven to be more accurate that
the accounts from many of the Egyptian, Mesopotamian, or Greek histories when used in the
study of archaeological artifacts [CITATION The04 \p 381 \l 1033 ]. Many archaeological
discoveries ranging from evidence for the Flood, the Tower of Babel, and the life of King David
have greatly heightened the credibility of the Bible.
The story of the Tower of Babel took place in Genesis 11, whereby Noah’s decedents
attempted to build a tower that would reach the heavens. Because of their foolish intentions, God
confused the language, scattered them among the earth, and left the tower abandoned. Andrew
George, a professor of Babylonia at the University of London, has found archaeological evidence
that would attest to the truthfulness regarding the biblical story of the Tower of Babel. In an
interview with the Smithsonian, George examined a baked clay tablet that had been discovered a
Name: Kate Dallenbach
Class: THEO 201-001
Dr. Chris Gnanakan
Date: 9/24/2019
century ago in Babylon (Miller, 2017, p. 138). The tablet contains a relief depicting a tower and
text that describes the commissioning of the tower’s construction, including the words including
the words ‘Tower of Babylon’. Furthermore, a video that was presented by the Smithsonian
Institute states: “Incredibly, this ancient account is identical to the biblical story of how the
Tower of Babel was constructed. For scholars, the tablet offers further proof that the Tower of
Babel wasn’t just a work of fiction. It was an actual building from antiquity”[CITATION Mar171
\p 138 \l 1033 ].
Furthermore, archaeological evidence has been discovered regarding the existence and
reign of King David. 1 Chronicles 18:14 speaks to David’s reign as king and says, “David
reigned over all Israel, doing what was just and right for all his people” (NIV). Israeli
archeologists discovered evidence from a site believed to be a fortress in the 10th century BCE,
when David is said to have lived (Biblical Archaeology Society, 2019). In 1993, archaeological
site surveyor, Gila Cook, found an inscribed stone at the site within a newly excavated wall in
Israel. The stone, called the Dan Tel Stele, included the text “House of David”, containing the
first historical evidence of King David outside the Bible (Biblical Archaeology Society, 2019).
The discovery of the stone was an important archaeological discovery because it proved that
David was a real historical figure. While the Tower of Babel and the stone of King David are just
a few examples of historical evidence, it goes to show that archaeological discoveries and
historical texts are continuing to demonstrate that the Bible is inerrant, reliable and accurately
written.
Application: Hell/Homosexuality (depending on what you choose)
Throughout Scripture, God has given His people detailed instructions on how to live and
how not to live. By knowing that the Word of God is truthful in all of its content and teachings,
Name: Kate Dallenbach
Class: THEO 201-001
Dr. Chris Gnanakan
Date: 9/24/2019
Christians can apply Scripture to their lives with confidence. While today’s secular society seems
to continually embrace homosexuality and the LGBTQ movement, God has explicitly spoken
through His inerrant Word about the immorality and sinfulness of homosexuality. In several
passages of the Bible, Scripture says that homosexual conduct is contrary to God’s will and is
considered a sin. In the Old Testament, Leviticus 18:22 says, "'Do not have sexual relations with
a man as one does with a woman; that is detestable” (NIV). Homosexuality was considered to be
sin for both Israelites and non-Israelites, and resulted resulted in God’s judgment and death.
The New Testament also upholds the message that homosexuality is a sin. 1 Corinthians
6:9-11, says “Or do you not know that wrongdoers will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not
be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor men who have sex
with men…will inherit the kingdom of God…But you were washed, you were sanctified, you
were justified in the name of the LORD Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God” (NIV). The
New Testament Scriptures clearly prohibit any sexual sin outside the sacred bonds of male-
female marriage and regards homosexuality as a sin which reaps the judgment of God. However,
the second part to this verse differs from the Old Testament by making it clear that although
homosexual behavior is a sin, it may be forgiven because God’s grace is not limited by this or
any other sin. The Biblical view of homosexuality is that it is sinful, but God’s forgiveness offers
freedom from sin to all people who repent. “For God did not send his Son into the world to
condemn the world, but to save the world through him” (John 3:16, NIV).
Conclusion
In conclusion, the Bible’s inerrancy is taught through Scripture itself and through the use
of logic and reasoning. Evidence from ancient manuscripts, archaeology, and many other fields
of study has been uncovered that strengthens the case for the Bible’s accuracy. By knowing that
Name: Kate Dallenbach
Class: THEO 201-001
Dr. Chris Gnanakan
Date: 9/24/2019
the Bible is accurate and infallible, people can be affirmed that its teachings are from God and
worthy of our devotion whether regarding creation, the existence of hell, or sinful actions such as
homosexuality.
Word Count: #1,297
BIBLIOGRAPHY
Biblical Archaeology Society. (2019, May 2). The Tel Dan Inscription: The First Historical
Evidence of King David from the Bible. Retrieved from Biblical Archaeology Society:
https://www.biblicalarchaeology.org/daily/biblical-artifacts/the-tel-dan-inscription-the-
first-historical-evidence-of-the-king-david-bible-story/
Frame, J. (2014, March). Inerrancy: A Place to Live. Journal of the Evangelical Theological
Society, 57(1), 29-39. Retrieved from https://search.proquest.com/docview/1534298360?
pq-origsite=summon
Grudem, W. (2000). Systematic Theology. Grand Rapids, Michigan, USA: Zondervan Publishing
House.
Miller, M. (2017, May 8). Ancient Babylonian Tablet Provides Compelling Evidence that the
Tower of Babel DID Exist. Journal of Ancient Origins, 132-138. Retrieved from Journal
of Ancient Origins.
The Smithsonian Institute. (2004). The Bible as History. Smithsonian Institution , 381-397.
