The Bible
We believe in the verbal plenary inspiration of the Bible, consisting of sixty-six books of the Old and New Testaments. We further believe that the Bible was given by divine inspiration and is the inerrant Word of God in all matters that it addresses including historical, geographical, and scientific data (II Tim. 3:16-17 [show]2 Timothy 3:16-17
[16]All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, [17]that the man of God may be competent, equipped for every good work. (ESV)
; II Pet. 1:19-21 [show]2 Peter 1:19-21
[19]And we have something more sure, the prophetic word, to which you will do well to pay attention as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts, [20]knowing this first of all, that no prophecy of Scripture comes from someone's own interpretation. [21]For no prophecy was ever produced by the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit. (ESV); I Thess. 2:13 [show]1 Thessalonians 2:13
[13]And we also thank God constantly for this, that when you received the word of God, which you heard from us, you accepted it not as the word of men but as what it really is, the word of God, which is at work in you believers. (ESV)); that it is sufficient, harmonious, and authoritative; that it reveals man’s state by nature (Rom. 3:10-12 [show]Romans 3:10-12
[10]as it is written:
"None is righteous, no, not one;
[11]no one understands;
no one seeks for God.
[12]All have turned aside; together they have become worthless;
no one does good,
not even one.") and presents the only means of his salvation (Acts 4:12 [show]Acts 4:12
[12]And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved." (ESV)); that it constitutes the only perfect rule and final authority in all matters pertaining to Christian faith and practice (Matt. 5:18-19 [show]Matthew 5:18-19
[18]For truly, I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not an iota, not a dot, will pass from the Law until all is accomplished. [19]Therefore whoever relaxes one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do the same will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever does them and teaches them will be called great in the kingdom of heaven. (ESV); Acts 17:11 [show]Acts 17:11
[11]Now these Jews were more noble than those in Thessalonica; they received the word with all eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily to see if these things were so. (ESV); Isa. 8:20 [show]Isaiah 8:20
[20]To the teaching and to the testimony! If they will not speak according to this word, it is because they have no dawn. (ESV)); and it sets forth the principles by which man will be judged (Rom. 2:1-3, 16 [show]Romans 2:1-3
[2:1]Therefore you have no excuse, O man, every one of you who judges. For in passing judgment on another you condemn yourself, because you, the judge, practice the very same things. [2]We know that the judgment of God rightly falls on those who practice such things. [3]Do you suppose, O man--you who judge those who practice such things and yet do them yourself--that you will escape the judgment of God? (ESV)
Romans 2:16
[16]on that day when, according to my gospel, God judges the secrets of men by Christ Jesus. (ESV)). We believe that the only infallible rule of interpretation of Scripture is the Scripture itself. Moreover, we believe that the canon of Scripture is closed (Heb. 1:1-2 [show]Hebrews 1:1-2
[1:1]Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets, [2]but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world. (ESV)) and that all canonical revelation from God has ceased.