The Chicago Statement on Biblical Inerrancy: Article XIX

The Chicago Statement on Biblical Inerrancy was not composed in order to take its place on the mantel. The drafters of this statement intended for it to be used in the life of the church and that desire is clearly put on display in the final article, Article 19. Consider the Affirmation,

We affirm that a confession of the full authority, infallibility, and inerrancy of Scripture is vital to a sound understanding of the whole of the Christian faith. We further affirm that such confession should lead to increasing conformity to the image of Christ.

The previous articles of statement have been vigorous in their affirmation that the doctrine of inerrancy is “vital to a sound understanding of the whole of the Christian faith.” However, this final article further affirms that such a “confession should lead to increasing conformity to the image of Christ.”

The word “should” is important in this statement. Just because someone knows something does not mean that they will put that knowledge to use. For instance, a young person may know the benefits of drinking milk or standing up straight but that does not mean that they will engage those behaviors. The same is true in the Christian life. A believer may know that the Bible is God’s word and therefore sufficient for all of life’s tussles and trials but instead of seeking its counsel they may look for a sign much like Gideon (Judges 6:36-40).

But that’s not the only danger. The statement also has a denial that is equally important, and it serves as a closing warning. It reads,

We deny that such confession is necessary for salvation. However, we further deny that inerrancy can be rejected without grave consequences, both to the individual and to the Church.

The denial begins with what seems to be a “backing off” of sorts. As strenuously as the previous articles argued for inerrancy, now there is an admission. Belief in inerrancy is not a requirement for salvation.

And then comes the “however.” But, say the drafters, if inerrancy is denied the consequences will be great. Now, the question begging to be asked is, what are those consequences? Simply this, if a person denies inerrancy, they may argue that since Scripture contains errors, one of those errors may be what the Bible teaches about the person and work of Christ. So, it may be denied that the Jesus is divine. It may also be denied that the Bible teaches double imputation, the very heart of the gospel. Or it may be denied that Jesus bore the wrath of God on the tree and instead was a moral exemplar.  These and other crucial doctrines may well be denied by a person who denies inerrancy and consequently the sufficiency of Scripture.

But, if these things, among others, are denied, then you may well lose the Gospel and having nothing in which a person might put his faith and so be saved. Thus, the consequences can be individual. However, they can also be ecclesiastical. In other words, when a church ceases to look to the Word of God as an inerrant, infallible, and authoritative Book, then it will look to something else. Sadly, the alternative will be man centered and have everlasting consequences.

Therefore, in a day when evangelicals are once again influenced by liberal scholarship and even leftist political agendas and consequently moving away from the doctrine of inerrancy, the authors of this series hope that these articles will help you see the doctrine in a fresh and new light. Or to put it the way the original Committee phrased it, we hope that this series has been an opportunity for you to rejoice in the deepening of your own conviction about God’s Book so that your life might be continually conformed to it.

Jeffrey A Stivason (Ph.D. Westminster Theological Seminary) is pastor of Grace Reformed Presbyterian Church in Gibsonia, PA.  He is also Professor of New Testament Studies at the Reformed Presbyterian Theological Seminary in Pittsburgh, PA. Jeff is the Editorial Director of Ref21 and Place for Truth both online magazines of the Alliance of Confessing Evangelicals.