Doctrinal Statement on Bibliology

I believe that the entire Bible is the inspired Word of God. The Bible is literally a living book (John 1:1-3) that came from God (2 Timothy 3:16) as the “Holy Spirit [superintended] over the writers so that while according to their own styles and personalities, the result was God’s Word” (2 Peter 1:21-22) (MHT 161). 

I believe that the Bible is God’s special revelation to mankind. God moved Holy Men to write down His Word through the Holy Spirit (2 Peter 1:21). “Special revelation has been necessitated because of Man’s sinful estate (MHT 161). Special revelation is God’s direct communication to man; the Bible contains the words of the prophets, Jesus Christ, and the apostles; therefore, the Bible is the only source of special revelation that is available to us today (Romans 3:21). 

I believe that the Bible is inerrant. The Bible accurately records events as they happened—history, science, and geography. God’s Word is pure truth (John 17:17). “God is true (Rom 3:4); the Scriptures were breathed out by God (2 Tim. 3:16); therefore, the Scriptures are true (MHT, 168).  The Bible does not merely contain truth, but it is entirely true. Matthew 5:18 states that even the “jots and tittles” are significant to the Bible.

I believe that spiritual illumination can only come from reading the Bible.  Unbelievers can only obtain a surface level understanding of the Bible because of their spiritually dead condition (1 Corinthians 2:14). “Because the Bible is God-breathed and therefore in an entirely different dimension from other literature, it is necessary that man receives God-given help in understanding the Bible” (MHT 177). Only true believers can be supernaturally changed by the power of the Bible as God enlightens the eyes of our heart (Ephesians 1:18).

I believe that the Bible was given freely to all men. The Bible truly comes from God and not from men (1 Thessalonians 2:13) and God has not made the Bible exclusive to any group of people (2 Peter 1:20). God gave us His Word freely so that we might better know and understand Him (1 Corinthians 2:12-14). 

I believe that the Bible is complete. God has given us everything we need through His Word (2 Peter 1:3). If any man tries to take away or add to the Bible, then he will be judged by God (STV1 183) (Revelations 22:18-19).

I believe that the Bible is my ultimate authority. “The Bible alone is the final court of appeal in matters of doctrine and practice” (NBD 136).  Since the Bible has given me everything that pertains to life and godliness (2 Peter 1:3), I need no other source of revelation to govern my life.