8.150: Can the Bible Contradict Itself? Is it Fallible?

Explore the key differences between biblical infallibility and inerrancy with PhD candidate Bridget Jack Jeffries.

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What’s the difference between biblical infallibility and inerrancy, and does it matter for your faith? Join hosts Rev. Dr. Kathryn Schifferdecker and Rev. Katie Langston as they welcome PhD candidate Bridget Jack Jeffries to explore this crucial theological distinction. Many Christians struggle with apparent contradictions in Scripture and wonder if they can still trust the Bible’s authority. This episode provides clarity on biblical infallibility as an alternative to strict inerrancy, showing how Scripture can be sufficient for salvation without requiring perfection in every historical detail.

Bridget shares her journey from skepticism to faith, explaining how biblical infallibility allows for narrative choices by biblical authors while maintaining Scripture’s trustworthiness. The conversation covers practical interpretation methods, the role of church tradition, and how to approach difficult passages without losing faith. Whether you’re questioning biblical reliability or seeking to understand different evangelical perspectives, this discussion offers valuable insights into biblical infallibility and its implications for Christian belief and practice.

Bible References:

  • Romans 16:7 (Junia)
  • 1 Timothy 2:12 (women in ministry)
  • Judges 15 (Samson and the jawbone)
  • Jeremiah 29:11 (“I know the plans I have for you”)
  • Leviticus 19 (mixing fabrics)

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Bridget Jeffries

Bridget Jack Jeffries, a PhD Candidate of church history at Trinity Evangelical Divinity School, is writing a dissertation on Romans 16:7, and the reception history of Junia.

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Hosted By:

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Kathryn M. Schifferdecker

Kathryn M Schifferdecker came to Luther Seminary as an assistant professor of Old Testament in 2006. Ordained in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America in 2001, Schifferdecker was associate pastor for five years at Trinity Lutheran Church, Arkdale, Wisc., before coming to Luther. Schifferdecker is a frequent contributor to workingpreacher.org, Word & World and the author of Out of the Whirlwind: Creation Theology in the Book of Job (Harvard University Press, 2008). She is currently writing a commentary on the book of Esther.

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Katie Langston

Katie Langston is a doubter by nature and a believer by grace. She grew up Mormon in a small Utah town and still isn't sure she fits in anywhere sophisticated enough to have a Target. She's the author of Sealed: An Unexpected Journey into the Heart of Grace, an acclaimed spiritual memoir about her conversion to orthodox Christianity. Katie works as the director of digital strategy for Luther Seminary's innovation team, where she oversees digital projects aimed at cultivating vibrant Christian spirituality in a post-modern, post-Christian cultural context.

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