The Church never stated that. The Church to this day does not state that, because it is all too well aware that too many fingers were involved in shaping the various bibles we have today.
The Church does teach and believe that God's full revelation (in Christ) is perfect, and its inerrant interpretation is maintained in the life and teachings of the Church, and not in the bible (the book) by itself, which has been corrupted throughout ages and subjected to outside influences.
So, the correct interpretation of God's revelation, as understood and taught by the Apostles, is maintained in the life of the Church, which doesn't change, despite errors introduced into the Bible by various individual authors, translators, editors, etc.
Our Divine Liturgy has not changed in at least 1,700 years, so we at least know that how we worship is how the Church knew the faith at the time when the Church canonized the Christian Bible. If the Bible is a reflection of that mindset, then our mindset is a reflection of the correct understanding that canonized it.
In other words, whatever the mindset of the Church was 1700 years ago, when the Bible was canonized, is what we believe and practice.
But if you want the official Orthodox teaching on the (in)errancy of the Bible itself, here it is:
In this sense, we can understand possible imperfections in the books of the Bible, since they are the result of the cooperation between the all-perfect and perfecting Divine Author, the Spirit, and the imperfect human author." [The Dogmatic Tradition of the Orthodox Church]
Excuse me but this is just gobblygook nonsense and Church revisionist history. The Church from its earliest foundation separated the inspired word of God. That was the entire purpose of identifying the Bible. There was NEVER any claims in the early church that the scriptures were only part of the story with more to follow later. In fact, Augustine writes that the purpose of separating the scriptures from the other writings were, in fact, to perserve them from the flawed man-inspired writings. They held the scriptures at a higher level than other teachings.
So, the correct interpretation of God's revelation, as understood and taught by the Apostles, is maintained in the life of the Church, which doesn't change
Which Church? The Orthodox or Catholic? Who has the right interpretation?
Our Divine Liturgy has not changed in at least 1,700 years,
Considering Christianity is 2100 years old you're short by about 400 years. Why did you change? And, btw, the Orthodox never has accepted a number of the very early creeds of the Church (e.g. Nicene Creed). You've may have accepted some of the early divine liturgy but not all.
In other words, whatever the mindset of the Church was 1700 years ago, when the Bible was canonized, is what we believe and practice.
Well, considering you have admitted that you don't buy into the OT and a significant portion of the NT, I would suggest what's in the Bible is not really what is believed.
***”[T]he Holy Spirit inspires, and the sacred author follows the Holy Spirit’s injunctions, utilizing his own human and imperfect ways to express the perfect message and doctrine of the Holy Spirit.
In this sense, we can understand possible imperfections in the books of the Bible, since they are the result of the cooperation between the all-perfect and perfecting Divine Author, the Spirit, and the imperfect human author.” ***
Very well said. No frogmarching involved here either.