Sharon:
I believe the Bible is the perfect Word of God. It doesn’t have any mistakes. Every word, every line—it’s all true. It’s not just inspired. It’s inerrant. That means it can’t be wrong.
Mike:
I believe the Bible is God’s Word too. I read it every day. But I think when we say “inspired,” it means God worked through people. That means there could be human fingerprints on the pages—not mistakes, but maybe different styles or ways of speaking.
Sharon:
But if there are “fingerprints,” doesn’t that mean it could be wrong? I don’t think God would allow mistakes in His Word. If He’s perfect, then His Word must be perfect too.
Mike:
I get what you’re saying. But think about this—God used people to write the Bible. Paul didn’t sound like David. And Moses didn’t sound like John. Each writer had their own way of saying things. That doesn’t make it wrong. It just shows that God worked through people.
Sharon:
Yes, but God guided them. The Holy Spirit made sure they wrote the truth. That’s what I believe. If we start saying there might be errors, then how do we trust anything in it?
Mike:
I’m not saying there are errors in what the Bible is trying to teach us. I’m saying that the message is true, even if the writers used their own words or spoke from their own time. God used real people to reach real people.
Sharon:
But the Bible says “all Scripture is God-breathed.” That sounds like every word came straight from Him. Not just the big message, but the little details too.
Mike:
Yes, and I believe that. I believe God breathed life into the Scriptures. But I think He allowed people to speak in their own voices. Like when Paul says, “I, not the Lord, say this…” He’s being honest that it’s his own thought.
Sharon:
That’s true, but Paul was still chosen by God. Even his thoughts were led by the Holy Spirit. I just don’t think there’s room to say some parts might not be 100% right.
Mike:
Let me ask you this—what about when the Gospel writers tell the same story but use different words? Like when they describe the sign over Jesus’s cross. The wording changes a little between Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John.
Sharon:
That’s just different ways of remembering the same thing. The message is the same. Jesus was called the King of the Jews. It doesn’t change what happened.
Mike:
Exactly. That’s my point. The truth is still there, even if the details vary. That’s why I say it’s inspired—not a perfect match in every sentence, but a perfect message across the whole book.
Sharon:
But once we start calling it “imperfect,” won’t people stop trusting it? They’ll say, “Oh, that’s just someone’s opinion.” That scares me.
Mike:
I understand that fear. But for me, saying the Bible is inspired doesn’t make it weaker. It makes it more real. It shows how God speaks through history, through culture, through people. And yet, His truth still shines through.
Sharon:
I just want to hold onto the idea that the Bible is without error. It helps me stand strong. If God’s Word is firm, then my faith can be firm too.
Mike:
That’s beautiful, Sharon. I admire your trust. I just think we don’t have to be afraid of the human part of Scripture. God chose to work that way—through people. And He didn’t make a mistake by doing that.
Sharon:
Still, I don’t like the idea that there could be any flaws in it. Even small ones. I think if God said it, then it’s flawless. That’s what gives me peace.
Mike:
And you should hold on to that peace. But for me, it gives me peace to know that the Bible speaks to all kinds of people, in all kinds of ways. It’s not a list of rules dropped from the sky. It’s a story of love, written through real lives.
Sharon:
Yes, but even stories have to be true. If it’s God’s story, then every part must be right. That’s what I believe.
Mike:
I believe the story is true. I believe Jesus is the Son of God, that He lived, died, and rose again. I believe the Bible shows us the way to know Him. That’s what matters most to me.
Sharon:
And to me too. That’s the center of everything. But I still think it’s important to say the Bible is perfect in every way. No mistakes. No errors.
Mike:
So maybe we just define “perfect” differently. You mean every word is exact. I mean the message is clear and true, even if written through human voices.
Sharon:
Yes, I guess that’s the difference. But I worry that if people stop believing in inerrancy, they’ll stop believing in the Bible at all.
Mike:
And I worry that if people think they must believe every word is perfect or else walk away, they might give up when they hit something they don’t understand. I want them to know it’s okay to wrestle with Scripture.
Sharon:
I suppose we both care about helping people hold onto the Bible. We just have different ways of holding it.
Mike:
Exactly. I hold it like a love letter from God. You hold it like a firm rock. And maybe we need both—a love that’s alive and a rock that’s strong.
Sharon:
That’s a nice way to put it. I just want people to know the Bible can be trusted.
Mike:
And I do too. I trust it with my whole heart. It’s led me to Jesus. It’s comforted me in pain. It’s shown me who God is. Inspired or inerrant, the Bible is still my guide.
Sharon:
Same here. I couldn’t live without it. I read it every morning, and it speaks to me.
Mike:
Me too. Even the parts that confuse me—I keep reading. Because I know God speaks through it.
Sharon:
So maybe we agree more than we disagree. We both believe the Bible is God’s Word. We both believe it’s true. We just see the way He gave it to us a little differently.
Mike:
Yes, and that’s okay. If we keep talking, praying, and reading, I think God will keep showing us more.
Sharon:
I believe that too. And no matter what, we’ll keep following the Word together.
Mike:
Amen.