In Chapter Two of The Theology of Dallas Willard, written by Gary Black Jr., Black writes about a phenomenon which I think is quite intriguing.  He talks of how the creation of scripture must have been based on the human and the divine working in tandem.  Willard believes that the bible contains no evidence to suggest that he writers of the bible were not wholly human, who were merely writing God’s will through their experiences.  Alongside this, Willard does not propose that the bible is without error.  I agree that the bible could contain error, but not in such a way as to derail the purpose of God.  I think that part of what makes the bible beautiful is the harmony of God’s divinity and human capability.  We are not perfect, and the bible reflects this.  An author may have made a mistake but this is just the nature of our being. 

            While the bible is not perfect with respect to historical fact, this is simply because humanity had a major hand in the writing of it.  Indeed, I find it strange when people denounce the bible or even the faith as a whole due to the understanding that God’s book was written by people less than divine.  God would not allow His book to stand for anything other than His intended purpose.  The errors that may be contained in Scripture have not slipped by God’s eyes; He has allowed these errors to occur possibly as a test of faith, but perhaps also as a means to show the divine authority of God and the feebleness of human understanding coexisting in His word.

            I deeply respect Willard’s acceptance that the bible is not without error, but that this does not take away from its authority.  I think that too many people, even Christians, get hung up on this debate and try to convince themselves and others that the bible is less than perfect in a theological sense.