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 the pastors I know hold to the belief that the Bible is right and any view that contradicts it is wrong.  They hold that every part of the bible is God inspired and thus without error.  

As an example - but not the point of this question or post:
I have debated with friends about the relationship between works and faith and being saved.  We can all point to scripture that says what we want it to say and seems to imply the other person is wrong.  After 2000 years of Christianity we still have very different interpretations of the Bible and of salvation.  

I believe in God, I question whether the Bible is the unspoiled word of God.  

I don't believe in arguing over things that are impossible to prove, but I'd like to understand the topic better by reading some well thought out viewpoints.

Thank you for your time.
Without much detail, here is an overview of how different Christians view the Bible. These are major categories, and there is going to be some grey area between all of them.


The Bible is inerrant on all matters it addresses, and should be taken to speak the literal truth unless the Bible itself says otherwise. Also called Biblical Literalism. Adherents to this view believe that Genesis is a literal historical description of the creation of the world, for example.
The Bible is inerrant on all matters it addresses. This is usually called Biblical Inerrancy. It differs from Biblical Literalism in that it admits of the possibility that the Bible may use non-literal descriptions even when that is not explicitly stated. It is the view of many churches (especially but not only Evangelical churches) who do not explicitly hold to the Literalist viewpoint. The Catholic church holds approximately this view, and says ""the books of Scripture must be acknowledged as teaching solidly, faithfully and without error that truth which God wanted put into sacred writings for the sake of salvation."
The Bible is inerrant in matters of faith and Christian practice. Also called Limited Inerrancy. This would mean that the descriptions of God, and commands to his people, are infallible, but that the history of early Israel (for example) might not be completely accurate.
The Bible is an accurate enough description of God and his interactions with his people in order for us to know him. Some adherents to this would attach special weight to the Gospels and to the sayings of Jesus.
The Bible is a helpful book.