We believe the Bible is the Word of God. It is our final authority in all matters of faith and life. It reveals God, His purposes and how we can have a restored relationship with Him.

Detailed Beliefs

We believe the Bible is the revealed Word of God and is comprised of 66 self-authenticating books. God prepared human agents (Jer 1:5; Gal 1:15) directed by the Holy Spirit without distorting their individual personalities and styles (2 Pet 1:21) to permanently record His special revelation without error (2 Tim 3:16).

The Bible is the vehicle by which man may come to know God (Eph 1:17). It is a self-disclosure in propositions using human language (Gen 1:1). Special revelation has come in many ways (Heb 1:1). These include direct words (Exod 33:11), direct writing by God (Exod 31:18), dreams (Dan 7:1), and visions (Ezek 1:1). Biblical authors drew from a variety of from non-inspired sources such as public documents (Luke 1:1-4), histories (1 Chron 29:29), and poetry (Acts 17:18). These writings are not direct revelation but do partake of inspiration when incorporated into the cannon.

The doctrine of inspiration implies a preservation of Scripture. This is based on the continuing authority of the Word (Matt 5:18; John 10:35; 1 Pet 1:9-13), the indestructibility of the Word (Matt 24:35; John 10:35; 1 Pet 1:25) and warnings against corrupting the text (Rev 22:18,19). There are therefore no inspired writings not included in the 66 books of the canon. Scripture has occasionally been preserved miraculously (Exod 32,35;Deut 10; Jer 36) but is normally preserved indirectly through secondary causation.

Because of the effects of depravity, the Spirit of God must illuminate the mind in order that man may apprehend the significance of the Word of God (1 Cor 2:4, 5; Eph 1:17; 1 John 2:20, 21, 27). Scripture is perspicuous with regard to its central messages (Psalm 19:8; 119:105; 2 Peter 1:19) yet not all Scripture is equally clear (2 Pet 3:16).

The correct meaning of Scripture must be derived through proper exegesis and a consistent-literal-grammatical-historical interpretation of Scripture. This method of interpretation is in harmony with a dispensational approach to Scripture, which accounts for progressive revelation (Heb 1:1). The univocal nature of language demands that Scripture can have one meaning in a given context. Scripture, properly interpreted, is fully sufficient to instruct and direct man in redemption and godly living (2 Tim 3:16).

Inspiration concerns that which is written (2 Tim 3:16). It is therefore infallible and consequently inerrant in everything that it affirms (Psalm 12:6; 19:9; John 17:17) whether in doctrine, science, geography or history. Scripture originated with God not the human author (1 Pet 1:20). The human author was so influenced by the Holy Spirit that he consciously wrote exactly what the Spirit desired without any violation of personality or style of writing (1 Pet 1:21; 1 Cor 2:13). Inspiration pertains only to the autographs (1 Cor 14:37; Acts 28:25). Copies and translations partake of inspiration in a derivative sense in as much as they faithfully reproduce the original. The internal witness of Scripture to inspiration through the testimonies of Christ (Luke 4:4,8,10; Mark 14:49; Matt 5:18; John 16:13), the apostles (Acts 1:16; Rom 3:2; 9:17; 1 Cor 14:37-38; Gal 3:8; Heb 3:7) , and other biblical writers (Jer 1:2; Ezek 3:16; Mal 1:1,2) is sufficient