Questions tagged [infallibility]

Questions on inerrancy of Bible, Pope or other authorities.

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From a Fundamentalist standpoint, what does the phrase "Inspired, infallible, inerrant Word of God" mean?

Many denominations teach that the Bible is the "inspired, inerrant, infallible Word of God." Detractors of Christianity, and even some denominations within Christianity, disagree with all or some of ...
David Stratton's user avatar
24 votes
4 answers
3k views

What is the origin of the Catholic apocrypha?

In the Catholic tradition, several "apocryphal" books are used in addition to the same Old Testament canon used by Protestants. What is the origin of these books and how do they differ from from the ...
Caleb's user avatar
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17 votes
3 answers
15k views

What is the difference between "infallible" and "inerrant"?

As with many others I know, I believe in both the infallibility and inerrancy of the Bible. But what is the difference between these two important terms? If something has no errors (inerrant), then ...
warren's user avatar
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17 votes
5 answers
3k views

When was the Bible formally declared to be inerrant and/or infallible?

Fundamentally*, an inerrant Bible is one without errors and an infallible Bible is one that cannot have errors, as David Stratton pointed out in his answer. As for the Roman Catholic Church, all of ...
El'endia Starman's user avatar
14 votes
1 answer
594 views

To what extent should the Apostles' speech be considered infallible?

It is my understanding that all known writings of the Apostles are considered infallible and are Canonical. However, I am unclear as to what extent recorded speech of the Apostles should be ...
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13 votes
4 answers
2k views

Was 'Jesus and the woman taken in adultery' in St. John a later addition, and does this invalidate infallibility?

In John 7:53-8:11 we have the account of 'Jesus and the woman taken in adultery' 53 Then they all went home, 1 but Jesus went to the Mount of Olives. 2 At dawn he appeared again in the temple ...
aceinthehole's user avatar
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12 votes
2 answers
2k views

What is the Biblical basis for testing the truthfulness of every statement made by Prophets or Apostles who have been confirmed as 'real'?

In the case of 'real' Apostles and Prophets (who have passed the tests), what is the Biblical basis for continuing to test the truthfulness of every statement made by them as they continue in their ...
Mike's user avatar
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11 votes
2 answers
241 views

Are any writings of the Apostles non-Canonical?

Do we have any writings that are reasonably likely to be written by Apostles, but are not included in the Bible?
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9 votes
2 answers
428 views

What is an overview of Christian viewpoints on the accuracy and truthfulness of the Bible?

Can anyone provide an overview of major Christian viewpoints regarding the infallibility of the Bible? Background: I am struggling with accepting that the Bible is 100% correct in all it says. All ...
Adam Heeg's user avatar
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8 votes
1 answer
920 views

What were the reformers' views of biblical inerrancy?

I have never researched but am very curious what views of Biblical Inerrancy did the reformers generally hold, such as Luther and Calvin? I found these description about different kinds of views: ...
Mike's user avatar
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8 votes
1 answer
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How did James Orr's view of the inspiration of the Bible differ from B. B. Warfield's?

Two of the intellectual fathers of Christian fundamentalism, and ultimately evangelicalism, were James Orr and B. B. Warfield. Both contributed to The Fundamentals, and are well known for opposing ...
Nathaniel is protesting's user avatar
7 votes
2 answers
289 views

What is meant by "faith and morals" with regards to papal infallibility?

There are plenty of questions in this site about infallibility (e.g. here, here, and here). All of them take for granted a certain definition of "faith and morals", which is the area upon which ...
luchonacho's user avatar
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7 votes
2 answers
2k views

Incompatibilities between Vatican II and the Council of Florence on salvation outside the Church?

I am aware of this previous question where the discussion centered on statements of Pope Francis and the catechism but that is not my interest here. This question also asks about the reasoning behind ...
Blue0500's user avatar
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6 votes
4 answers
1k views

Must a Christian accept the Bible to be infallible and/or inerrant? [closed]

Related question: What is the difference between "infallible" and "inerrant"? I have heard lists of requirements to be considered Christian; among those, I find these the most ...
beatgammit's user avatar
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6 votes
1 answer
990 views

What doctrinal value does the Catholic Church place on "Cantate Domino"?

If I understand correctly, Cantate Domino is a papal bull by Pope Eugene IV which is in some way affiliated with the Council of Florence. I have heard it claimed that the writing of Cantate Domino ...
user avatar
5 votes
2 answers
1k views

Is *infallibilitas in credendo* a new or established doctrine within the Roman Catholic Church?

In Pope Francis' recent interview, he says: Thinking with the church, therefore, is my way of being a part of this people. And all the faithful, considered as a whole, are infallible in matters of ...
Affable Geek's user avatar
5 votes
2 answers
179 views

Is the Pope Emeritus infallible?

Currently the Catholic Church has a Pope Emeritus (Benedict XVI). This is, to the best of my knowledge, the first time that such position has existed. There have been and still are plenty of bishop ...
luchonacho's user avatar
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5 votes
1 answer
344 views

What does the LDS Church teach about infallibility?

"Infallibility" is a loaded word and very likely has different connotations in different denominations. In its most basic form, it suggests that there is a path (revelatory or not) between God and ...
JBH's user avatar
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4 votes
5 answers
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Which Catholic doctrines are infallible?

I know that the Pope can speak infallibly (ex cathedra), and that this has officially been done once, as well as three times before Papal infallibility was formally declared. I would assume that any ...
El'endia Starman's user avatar
4 votes
1 answer
100 views

Identifying General and Universal Magisterium

So, this is a question I have been struggling with for a while now. I understand easily enough the concept of Extraordinary Magisterium, that exercised by the Church through the Council of Bishops ...
Coolio2654's user avatar
3 votes
2 answers
987 views

Does Mark 16:9-20 Prove the Bible is not the infallible word of God?

Regarding Mark 16:9-20: To my knowledge, most biblical scholars agree that the last 12 verses of the Gospel of Mark were added at a later date in order to give a more coherent finish to a seemingly ...
Anthony A's user avatar
3 votes
2 answers
272 views

According to Catholicism, does an individual bishop have the safeguard of Infallibility or Indefectibility?

Is an individual bishop in communion with the Church and Supreme Pontiff prevented from teaching/approving heresy via formal acts under the doctrines of Infallibility or Indefectibility?
eques's user avatar
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3 votes
1 answer
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According to the Holy Spirit's infallible inspiration of scripture, is anything ever recorded that is unnecessary or curious?

I wonder sometimes where the role of Bible trivia and extensive historical research plays into the Bible. For example, Melchisedec, is a type of Christ in a great part because the Bible does not ...
Mike's user avatar
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3 votes
2 answers
175 views

How do people who deny Biblical inerrancy understand this argument on inspiration?

This is my own deductive argument for the inerrancy of the scriptures. From what I can tell, people who deny Biblical inerrancy still accept God’s inspiration of the scriptures (as espoused in 2 ...
Luke Hill's user avatar
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3 votes
2 answers
363 views

Is the term 'word of God' in the New Testament equal in authority to the designation 'scripture'?

I have noticed there are some that distinguish between the designation 'scripture' as only referring to the Old Testament and 'word of God' as some or all of the New Testament. This seems strange to ...
Mike's user avatar
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3 votes
1 answer
129 views

Are Catholic Canonizations Infallible?

As a generalization to the question posed in Is the Catholic declaration of an extra biblical saint infallible?, and in hope of obtaining, perhaps, more definitive answers from a Catholic perspective, ...
DDS's user avatar
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3 votes
3 answers
88 views

According to Catholicism, did the Apostles enjoy the prerogative of infalliblity?

According to Catholicism, did the Apostles enjoy the prerogative of infallibility? The doctrine of papal infallibility was defined by Pope Pius IX in 1870! Does the Catholic Church recognize that the ...
Ken Graham's user avatar
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3 votes
0 answers
235 views

What are the differences between the CRCNA position on infallibility and the ICBI position on inerrancy?

The International Committee on Biblical Inerrancy has set out two magisterial documents related to an understanding of inerrancy: the Chicago Statement on Biblical Inerrancy (1978) and the Chicago ...
Mr. Bultitude's user avatar
2 votes
3 answers
485 views

Do a significant number of Biblical scholars presently support inerrancy?

Biblical inerrancy is such a hot topic of debate these days that there is at least one website directly devoted to defending it (DefendingInerrancy.com), and of course many multiple Christian ...
tniles's user avatar
  • 131
2 votes
2 answers
120 views

Were New Testament writers infallible when they wrote Scripture?

Were New Testament writers infallible when they wrote Scripture, inspired through the Holy Spirit? Thank You.
Wenura's user avatar
  • 1,008
2 votes
2 answers
297 views

Why the wrongness of "Our Father" translation wasn't spotted earlier? [closed]

Pope Francis thinks the church should tweak the translation of the “Our Father” to clear up the confusion around the phrase “lead us not into temptation.” We all know God doesn't lead us into ...
Grasper's user avatar
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2 votes
2 answers
131 views

What makes a council ecumenical? [Catholic proof from authority]

I know that a council is ecumenical if a Pope ratifies or confirms it. However, I have not seen any explicit affirmation of this by a pope, saint, theologian, etc. I would like to see a quote from ...
Glorius's user avatar
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2 votes
1 answer
117 views

Can a declaration of nullity obtained by deception be valid?

The Council of Trent session 24 on matrimony says the Church can judge matrimonial cases: Canon XII.—If any one saith, that matrimonial causes do not belong to ecclesiastical judges: let him be ...
Geremia's user avatar
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2 votes
0 answers
50 views

Are Catholic Church teachings about homosexuality infallible? [duplicate]

The Catholic Church's current teaching regarding homosexuality is that homosexual acts are peccatum contra natura. More precisely, the New Catholic Encyclopedia (2003) states: Although the Catholic ...
luchonacho's user avatar
  • 4,672
1 vote
3 answers
856 views

Is the Summa Theologia infallible to Catholics or not?

Me: Ah, so the Summa Theologia IS considered infallible! (Assuming that if the Magisterium and Pope are, then their trusted sources must be through them!) Catholic: No, it isn't infallible by itself,...
Sehnsucht's user avatar
  • 1,592
1 vote
4 answers
157 views

According to the Calvinist, why "believe" if something is known absolutely true?

From this link: Christians have said Scripture is infallible because they have believed that God’s Word is incapable of erring and thus contains no errors The above sentences maybe to everyone ...
karma's user avatar
  • 2,386
1 vote
2 answers
126 views

Is The Bible truly infallible? Is it inerrant without divine inspiration?

My question comes in two parts, the second being a direct result of the first. Is the Bible infallible? I have often heard that it is, but the most conclusive proof that I have heard essentially ...
TheCosmicAspect's user avatar
1 vote
1 answer
509 views

Are Catholic bishops infallible?

I hear that Catholic bishops being considered 'infallible' is untrue and their words can be contested if they are not speaking truths directly from the Bible/other relevent documents. However, even if ...
Sehnsucht's user avatar
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1 vote
0 answers
78 views

Protestant view on the canon [closed]

I am currently researching the Protestant view of the biblical canon and have encountered a variety of perspectives on the infallibility of the canon. For instance, the renowned Reformed theologian R....
Wenura's user avatar
  • 1,008
0 votes
4 answers
431 views

Is Matthew 26:32 and John 20:9 a mistake stating that Jesus told the disciples He would rise again then stating they didn't know after it happened?

Matthew 26:32 Jesus tells the disciples that He will die and rise again. But after I am risen again, I will go before you into Galilee. John 20:9 says that the disciples didn't know that Jesus ...
Breakskater's user avatar
0 votes
1 answer
95 views

Statements about the doctrine or the future made by current LDS Prophet, and the church view on those

I was looking at this mormon.org page that mentions that "The current prophet and President of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is Thomas S. Monson." Does the LDS church assert that ...
x457812's user avatar
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