---
title: "Evangelical Leaders and the Bible"
description: "While practically all evangelical Christian leaders say the Bible is the word of God, half say not everything in the Bible should be taken literally."
date: "2011-07-12"
authors:
  - name: "Russell Heimlich"
    job_title: "Former web developer"
    link: "https://www.pewresearch.org/staff/russell-heimlich/"
url: "https://www.pewresearch.org/short-reads/2011/07/12/evangelical-leaders-and-the-bible/"
---

# Evangelical Leaders and the Bible

A survey of evangelical Christian leaders from around the world found universal consensus on one question: 98% said the Bible is the word of God. Despite agreement on this question, evangelical leaders split on how it should be read. Half (50%) said the Bible should be read literally, while nearly as many (48%) said that not everything in the Bible should be taken literally. Evangelical leaders are similarly divided on whether it is necessary to believe in God to be a moral person (49% say yes and 49% say no). There is overwhelming agreement among evangelical leaders, however, that Christianity is the one, true faith leading to eternal life (96%). [Read More](https://www.pewresearch.org/pubs/2036/worldwide-evangelical-christian-leaders-poll-lausanne-congress)