Chicago Statement on Biblical Inerrancy - Revision history

BrantleyRider at 18:39, 6 April 2026

2026-04-06T18:39:20Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 18:39, 6 April 2026
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	The '''Chicago Statement on Biblical Inerrancy''' is a written statement of belief formulated by more than 200 [[Evangelicalism\|evangelical]] leaders at a conference convened by the [[International Council on Biblical Inerrancy]] and held in [[wikipedia:Chicago\|Chicago]] in October 1978.<ref>https://library.dts.edu/Pages/TL/Special/ICBI.shtml</ref> The statement was designed to defend the position of [[biblical inerrancy]] against a trend toward [[wikipedia:Liberal Christianity\|liberal Christian]] conceptions of [[Bible\|Scripture]].		The '''Chicago Statement on Biblical Inerrancy''' is a written statement of belief formulated by more than 200 [[Evangelicalism\|evangelical]] leaders at a conference convened by the [[International Council on Biblical Inerrancy]] and held in [[wikipedia:Chicago\|Chicago]] in October 1978.<ref>https://library.dts.edu/Pages/TL/Special/ICBI.shtml</ref> The statement was designed to defend the position of [[biblical inerrancy]] against a trend toward [[wikipedia:Liberal Christianity\|liberal Christian]] conceptions of [[Bible\|Scripture]].

	The subsequent November 1982 ~~'''~~Chicago Statement on Biblical Hermeneutics~~'''~~ recognized the need to add a [[Biblical hermeneutics\|hermeneutical]] framework to the statement.		The subsequent November 1982 [[Chicago Statement on Biblical Hermeneutics]] recognized the need to add a [[Biblical hermeneutics\|hermeneutical]] framework to the statement.

	~~Finally the~~ December 1986 conference adopted the ~~'''~~Chicago Statement on Biblical Application~~'''~~.		The final December 1986 conference adopted the [[Chicago Statement on Biblical Application]].

	==Inerrancy statement==		==Inerrancy statement==
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	Signatories to the statement came from a variety of evangelical Christian denominations, and included [[Robert Preus]], [[James Montgomery Boice]], [[Kenneth Kantzer]], [[J. I. Packer]], [[Francis Schaeffer]], [[R. C. Sproul]] and [[John F. MacArthur]].		Signatories to the statement came from a variety of evangelical Christian denominations, and included [[Robert Preus]], [[James Montgomery Boice]], [[Kenneth Kantzer]], [[J. I. Packer]], [[Francis Schaeffer]], [[R. C. Sproul]] and [[John F. MacArthur]].

	~~==Hermeneutics statement==~~
	The Hermeneutics Statement recognized that "the values of a commitment [to inerrancy] are only as real as one's understanding of the meaning of Scripture". It particularly aimed to address "the meaning of the 'grammatico-historical exegesis' mentioned in Article XIII".

	~~==Biblical Application statement==~~
	The foci of the summit on Biblical Application were "the Trinitarian foundations that must give shape to all the church's life and witness, and then on a number of community concerns that come under the heading of Christian social ethics. These themes were chosen partly for their intrinsic importance and partly because there is need to dispel doubts as to whether Bible believers can ever agree on how to respond to them. ... [It] offers a high degree of consensus as to how a trusted Bible directs prayer, planning and action in today's drifting society."

	==Notable signers==		==Notable signers==

BrantleyRider at 18:02, 6 April 2026

2026-04-06T18:02:48Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 18:02, 6 April 2026
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	The '''Chicago Statement on Biblical Inerrancy''' is a written statement of belief formulated by more than 200 [[Evangelicalism\|evangelical]] leaders at a conference convened by the [[International Council on Biblical Inerrancy]] and held in [[wikipedia:Chicago\|Chicago]] in October 1978. The statement was designed to defend the position of [[biblical inerrancy]] against a trend toward [[wikipedia:Liberal Christianity\|liberal Christian]] conceptions of [[Bible\|Scripture]].		The '''Chicago Statement on Biblical Inerrancy''' is a written statement of belief formulated by more than 200 [[Evangelicalism\|evangelical]] leaders at a conference convened by the [[International Council on Biblical Inerrancy]] and held in [[wikipedia:Chicago\|Chicago]] in October 1978.<ref>https://library.dts.edu/Pages/TL/Special/ICBI.shtml</ref> The statement was designed to defend the position of [[biblical inerrancy]] against a trend toward [[wikipedia:Liberal Christianity\|liberal Christian]] conceptions of [[Bible\|Scripture]].

	The subsequent November 1982 '''Chicago Statement on Biblical Hermeneutics''' recognized the need to add a [[Biblical hermeneutics\|hermeneutical]] framework to the statement.		The subsequent November 1982 '''Chicago Statement on Biblical Hermeneutics''' recognized the need to add a [[Biblical hermeneutics\|hermeneutical]] framework to the statement.

BrantleyRider: /* Notable signers */

2026-04-06T18:01:56Z

Notable signers

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	*[[Gleason Archer Jr.]]		*[[Gleason Archer Jr.]]
	*[[Greg Bahnsen]]		*[[Greg Bahnsen]]
	*[[~~wikipedia:James Montgomery Boice\|~~James Montgomery Boice]]		*[[James Montgomery Boice]]
	*[[~~wikipedia:D. A. Carson\|~~D. A. Carson]]		*[[D. A. Carson]]
	*[[~~wikipedia:W. A. Criswell\|~~W. A. Criswell]]		*[[W. A. Criswell]]
	*[[~~wikipedia:John Feinberg\|~~John Feinberg]]		*[[John Feinberg]]
	*[[~~wikipedia:Norman Geisler\|~~Norman Geisler]]		*[[Norman Geisler]]
	*[[~~wikipedia:Ralph Earle Jr.\|~~Ralph Earle Jr.]]		*[[Ralph Earle Jr.]]
	*[[~~wikipedia:W. Robert Godfrey\|~~Robert Godfrey]]		*[[Robert Godfrey]]
	*[[~~wikipedia:Wayne Grudem\|~~Wayne Grudem]]		*[[Wayne Grudem]]
	*[[~~wikipedia:Stanley N. Gundry\|~~Stanley N. Gundry]]		*[[Stanley N. Gundry]]
	*[[~~wikipedia:Howard Hendricks\|~~Howard Hendricks]]		*[[Howard Hendricks]]
	*[[~~wikipedia:D. James Kennedy\|~~D. James Kennedy]]		*[[D. James Kennedy]]
	*[[~~wikipedia:Hal Lindsey\|~~Hal Lindsey]]		*[[Hal Lindsey]]
	*[[~~wikipedia:Josh McDowell\|~~Josh McDowell]]		*[[Josh McDowell]]
	*[[~~wikipedia:Jack MacArthur\|~~Jack MacArthur]]		*[[Jack MacArthur]]
	*[[~~wikipedia:John F. MacArthur\|~~John F. MacArthur]]		*[[John F. MacArthur]]
	*[[~~wikipedia:Allan MacRae\|~~Allan MacRae]]		*[[Allan MacRae]]
	*[[~~wikipedia:J. P. Moreland\|~~J. P. Moreland]]		*[[J. P. Moreland]]
	*[[~~wikipedia:Harold Ockenga\|~~Harold Ockenga]]		*[[Harold Ockenga]]
	*[[~~wikipedia:J. I. Packer\|~~J. I. Packer]]		*[[J. I. Packer]]
	*[[~~wikipedia:Luis Palau\|~~Luis Palau]]		*[[Luis Palau]]
	*[[~~wikipedia:Paige Patterson\|~~Paige Patterson]]		*[[Paige Patterson]]
	*[[~~wikipedia:Paul Pressler (Texas politician)\|~~Paul Pressler]]		*[[Paul Pressler]]
	*[[~~wikipedia:Robert Preus\|~~Robert Preus]]		*[[Robert Preus]]
	*[[~~wikipedia:Francis Schaeffer\|~~Francis Schaeffer]]		*[[Francis Schaeffer]]
	*[[~~wikipedia:Frank Schaeffer\|~~Frank Schaeffer]]		*[[Frank Schaeffer]]
	*[[~~wikipedia:R. C. Sproul\|~~R. C. Sproul]]		*[[R. C. Sproul]]
	*[[~~wikipedia:Marten Woudstra\|~~Marten Woudstra]]		*[[Marten Woudstra]]

	==Reception==		==Reception==

BrantleyRider: Created page with "The '''Chicago Statement on Biblical Inerrancy''' is a written statement of belief formulated by more than 200 evangelical leaders at a conference convened by the International Council on Biblical Inerrancy and held in Chicago in October 1978. The statement was designed to defend the position of biblical inerrancy against a trend toward liberal Christian conceptions of Scripture..."

2026-04-06T17:25:05Z

Created page with "The '''Chicago Statement on Biblical Inerrancy''' is a written statement of belief formulated by more than 200 evangelical leaders at a conference convened by the International Council on Biblical Inerrancy and held in Chicago in October 1978. The statement was designed to defend the position of biblical inerrancy against a trend toward liberal Christian conceptions of Scripture..."

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The '''Chicago Statement on Biblical Inerrancy''' is a written statement of belief formulated by more than 200 [[Evangelicalism|evangelical]] leaders at a conference convened by the [[International Council on Biblical Inerrancy]] and held in [[wikipedia:Chicago|Chicago]] in October 1978. The statement was designed to defend the position of [[biblical inerrancy]] against a trend toward [[wikipedia:Liberal Christianity|liberal Christian]] conceptions of [[Bible|Scripture]].

The subsequent November 1982 '''Chicago Statement on Biblical Hermeneutics''' recognized the need to add a [[Biblical hermeneutics|hermeneutical]] framework to the statement.

Finally the December 1986 conference adopted the '''Chicago Statement on Biblical Application'''.

==Inerrancy statement==
The Inerrancy Statement elaborates on various details in articles formed as couplets of "We affirm..." and "We deny...". Under the statement, inerrancy applies only to the ''original manuscripts'' which no longer exist, but which, its adherents claim, "can be ascertained from available manuscripts with great accuracy" (Article 10). In the statement, inerrancy does ''not'' refer to a blind [[Biblical literalism|literal]] interpretation, and that "history must be treated as history, poetry as poetry, hyperbole and metaphor as hyperbole and metaphor, generalization and approximation as what they are, and so forth." It also makes it clear that the signers deny "that [[Biblical infallibility|Biblical infallibility]] and inerrancy are limited to spiritual, religious, or redemptive themes, exclusive of assertions in the fields of history and science. We further deny that scientific hypotheses about earth history may properly be used to overturn the teaching of Scripture on creation and the flood."

Signatories to the statement came from a variety of evangelical Christian denominations, and included [[Robert Preus]], [[James Montgomery Boice]], [[Kenneth Kantzer]], [[J. I. Packer]], [[Francis Schaeffer]], [[R. C. Sproul]] and [[John F. MacArthur]].

==Hermeneutics statement==
The Hermeneutics Statement recognized that "the values of a commitment [to inerrancy] are only as real as one's understanding of the meaning of Scripture". It particularly aimed to address "the meaning of the 'grammatico-historical exegesis' mentioned in Article XIII".

==Biblical Application statement==
The foci of the summit on Biblical Application were "the Trinitarian foundations that must give shape to all the church's life and witness, and then on a number of community concerns that come under the heading of Christian social ethics. These themes were chosen partly for their intrinsic importance and partly because there is need to dispel doubts as to whether Bible believers can ever agree on how to respond to them. ... [It] offers a high degree of consensus as to how a trusted Bible directs prayer, planning and action in today's drifting society."

==Notable signers==
*[[Gleason Archer Jr.]]
*[[Greg Bahnsen]]
*[[wikipedia:James Montgomery Boice|James Montgomery Boice]]
*[[wikipedia:D. A. Carson|D. A. Carson]]
*[[wikipedia:W. A. Criswell|W. A. Criswell]]
*[[wikipedia:John Feinberg|John Feinberg]]
*[[wikipedia:Norman Geisler|Norman Geisler]]
*[[wikipedia:Ralph Earle Jr.|Ralph Earle Jr.]]
*[[wikipedia:W. Robert Godfrey|Robert Godfrey]]
*[[wikipedia:Wayne Grudem|Wayne Grudem]]
*[[wikipedia:Stanley N. Gundry|Stanley N. Gundry]]
*[[wikipedia:Howard Hendricks|Howard Hendricks]]
*[[wikipedia:D. James Kennedy|D. James Kennedy]]
*[[wikipedia:Hal Lindsey|Hal Lindsey]]
*[[wikipedia:Josh McDowell|Josh McDowell]]
*[[wikipedia:Jack MacArthur|Jack MacArthur]]
*[[wikipedia:John F. MacArthur|John F. MacArthur]]
*[[wikipedia:Allan MacRae|Allan MacRae]]
*[[wikipedia:J. P. Moreland|J. P. Moreland]]
*[[wikipedia:Harold Ockenga|Harold Ockenga]]
*[[wikipedia:J. I. Packer|J. I. Packer]]
*[[wikipedia:Luis Palau|Luis Palau]]
*[[wikipedia:Paige Patterson|Paige Patterson]]
*[[wikipedia:Paul Pressler (Texas politician)|Paul Pressler]]
*[[wikipedia:Robert Preus|Robert Preus]]
*[[wikipedia:Francis Schaeffer|Francis Schaeffer]]
*[[wikipedia:Frank Schaeffer|Frank Schaeffer]]
*[[wikipedia:R. C. Sproul|R. C. Sproul]]
*[[wikipedia:Marten Woudstra|Marten Woudstra]]

==Reception==
===Criticism within evangelicalism===
Old Testament theologian [[Peter Enns]] was greatly critical of the statement, saying, "Much of what burdens CSBI can be summed up as failing to reflect adequately on the nature of inspiration. The irony is clear. In their efforts to protect biblical authority, the framers define inspiration in a way that does not account well for how the Bible actually behaves."

Theologian [[Roger Olson]] recognised the political elements of the statements: "In all such efforts, projects, there is a perceived 'enemy' to be excluded." He adds: "When I look at the Chicago Statement on inerrancy and its signatories I believe it is more a political (in the broad sense) statement than a clear, precise, statement of perfect agreement among the signatories. In other words, what was really going on there... was driven by a shared concern to establish and patrol 'evangelical boundaries'."

===Criticism of position on evolution===
The Hermeneutics statement specifically came out against what it called "evolutionism":

* Article 19: "WE DENY that Scripture should be required to fit alien preunderstandings, inconsistent with itself, such as naturalism, evolutionism, scientism, secular humanism, and relativism."
* Article 22: "WE DENY that the teachings of Genesis 1-11 are mythical and that scientific hypotheses about earth history or the origin of humanity may be invoked to overthrow what Scripture teaches about creation."

The official commentary was forthright: "...a recognition of the factual nature of the account of the creation of the universe, all living things, the special creation of man, the Fall, and the Flood. These accounts are all factual, that is, they are about space-time events which actually happened as reported in the book of Genesis. ... Likewise, the use of the term 'creation' was meant to exclude the belief in macro-evolution, whether of the atheistic or theistic varieties."

The Biblical Application statement was also forthright in its denial of evolutionary thought: "Mainstream Protestantism ... provides a cautionary tale in this regard, for it has erred in a radical way by acquiring the habit of regularly relativizing biblical teaching to current secular fashion, whether rationalist, historicist, evolutionist, existentialist, Marxist, or whatever. But this is to forget how sin darkens and misdirects the human intellect..." and "for our secular society insists on judging itself, not by the revelation of the Creator that the Bible sets forth, but by evolutionary, permissive, materialistic, hedonistic, and this-worldly yardsticks...".

The statements' rejection of the scientific consensus about evolution has been strongly criticised by thinkers within the evangelical community itself, such as Richard Wright: "the important Chicago Inerrancy statements simply miss the target when addressing the relationship between science and the bible. ... [D]iscussions on science and the bible touch upon very important and profound theological issues, which require some amount of expounding, but none was given. The statements supply a surprisingly large number of articles and other declarations that insist that all the bible is literal, historical truth, including Genesis. Those articles, combined with [[Geisler]]'s commentary to those articles, reveal contradictions, inconsistencies, and a healthy dose of lazy theology."

==External links==
* Chicago Statement on Biblical Inerrancy: https://library.dts.edu/Pages/TL/Special/ICBI_1.pdf
** Text of the Statement: http://www.bible-researcher.com/chicago1.html
** Typed list of signers: http://library.dts.edu/Pages/TL/Special/ICBI_1_typed.pdf
* Chicago Statement on Biblical Hermeneutics: http://library.dts.edu/Pages/TL/Special/ICBI_2.pdf
* Chicago Statement on Biblical Application: http://library.dts.edu/Pages/TL/Special/ICBI_3.pdf
* Explaining Biblical Inerrancy: Official Commentary on the ICBI Statements: http://www.isca-apologetics.org/sites/default/files/Explaining%20Biblical%20Inerrancy.pdf

==References==

[[Category:Biblical criticism]]
[[Category:Christian statements of faith]]
[[Category:Evangelical theology]]
[[Category:Christian theology of the Bible]]
[[Category:1978 in Christianity]]
[[Category:1978 documents]]
[[Category:1978 in Illinois]]
[[Category:Christian fundamentalism in the United States]]
[[Category:Evangelical Christian fundamentalism]]