Under God’s Word
What do we believe about the bible?

Whatever debate - get back to the Bible. Conviction in the AUTHORITY of the Bible is essential in debate in all topics

We believe that the bible is inspired

Defined as that activity of the Spirit of God whereby He super-intended the human authors of Scripture so that their writings became a transcript of God’s Word to man. (God Breathed)
The method:

Dictation (Word by Word dictation)
Accommodation (God accommodated Himself to the Limitations of the Human authors)
Super Intended (The Holy Spirit supervised and ordered the backgrounds and circumstances of the individual writers so that their personality shows through but what is being written down is exactly what God wants)
Verbal Inspiration (The bible is the God Breathed word of God)
Plenary (All of the Bible is inspired and all books are important)

The Bible contains 66 books, divided among the Old and New Testaments.

There are 39 books in the Old Testament.

between 30 - 40 authors
1200 years to write

There are 27 books in the New Testament.

8 authors
50-60 years to write

All authors agree!

The Bible is Inerrant

Defined as simply meaning that the Bible is wholly True
We believe it because the bible teaches it

Seen as a whole or in part the Bible does not contain man's words about God but God’s words about man to people

We believe it because Jesus taught it ( - Luke 20:37-38 - Mark 11:15-17 - Isaiah 61:1-2)

Jesus saw His life as the fulfillment of Isaiah 61:1-2

We believe it because the church teaches it
God Character (John 17:17 - Psalm 119:160 - Proverbs 30:5 - Titus 1:2)

The Bible is Infallible

This refers to the totality of Scripture - It makes no mistake, it is without error in the truth it conveys. (Psalm 19:7-9 - Matthew 5:17-18 - John 10:35 - Romans 7:12)
The difference between inerrancy and infallibility - Infalliblity refers to the whole of Scripture while inerrancy refers to parts of Scripture.

It is Authoritative

Defined as - We are under the authority of the Bible

No Pope
No Priesthood
The Bible is authority

Documented

Over 4000 times in the Old Testament and over 500 times in the first 5 books the Bible says “The LORD said” (Micah 3:8 - 2 Samuel 23:2-3 - Matthew 5:17-18)

Point of Interest: The Higher Criticism Movement challenged the Authority of Scripture and created the Liberal Theology Movement (1800’s)

It is Sufficient and Final (Deuteronomy 4:2 - Proverbs 30:6 - Revelation 22:18-19 - 2 Timothy 3:16 - Jude v3)

Nothing else needed

No Experiences
No Signs and Wonders

Conclusion: To get away from these truths is to land in confusion but we believe the Bible to be God’s final word to us. It is the final word for our Doctrine and our Practice. Don't add to it, don’t take away from it - Love it, read it and teach it.

	Created by Mark Morcom over 12 years ago

Systematic Theology Note on 01 - Under Gods Word, created by Mark Morcom on 26/07/2013.