The Inspiration, Authority, and Sufficiency of Scripture
We believe all sixty-six books of the Old Testament and New Testament that compose the Bible are “breathed out by God” (2 Tim 3:16), and that every one of these breathed-out words of God (Mat 5:18) was written down by His prophets and apostles without error (2 Pet 1:20–21) in the original manuscripts. These sixty-six books are the full and sufficient written revelation of God to mankind (Eph 2:19–20; 3:5), and no new revelation that adds to or subtracts from them should be accepted (Rev 22:18–19). We therefore believe the Bible is the final authority for all matters of life and godliness for all people at all times (Ps 12:6–7; Isa 59:21; Matt 24:35) and is sufficient for Christian living (2 Tim 3:16–17; 2 Pet 1:3).
The Unchanging Truth of Scripture
We believe the Bible represents God’s unchanging truth (Isa 40:8; Jn 10:35; 17:17), because God Himself does not change (Num 23:19; Heb 13:8; Jas 1:17) and is always truthful (Tit 1:2; Heb 6:17–18).
The Goodness, Purpose, and Life-Giving Nature of Scripture
We believe the Bible is good and for good (Ps 119:105; Matt 4:4; Luke 11:28; Rom 15:4; Jas 1:17; 1 Pet 2:2). It serves as a guide for living, offering wisdom, encouragement, and spiritual nourishment. The Word of God brings transformation in the lives of believers, equipping them to live in a way that honors God and serves others (Rom 12:1–2; 1 Thess 2:13; Heb 4:12; 2 Tim 3:16–17).
Scripture is far more than a book of “dos and don’ts.” It is life-giving (Jn 6:63; Jn 8:31–32; Rom 10:17; Phil 2:16) and is the means by which God sanctifies His people (Jn 17:17; 1 Thess 4:3; Eph 5:25–26). The Spirit of God illuminates the truth in the believer’s heart, making it understood, loved, and lived (Jn 16:13; Rom 8:5–6; 1 Cor 2:13; 1 Jn 2:27), and convicts the unbeliever through Scripture to bring about faith (Jn 16:8; Rom 10:17; Heb 4:12).
The Clarity and Accessibility of Scripture
We believe the Bible is clear and understandable for all believers who diligently study it under the guidance of the Holy Spirit (Jn 16:13; 1 Jn 2:27). While the Spirit illuminates the truth, God also calls His people to handle His Word with care and accuracy (2 Tim 2:15).
We affirm that Scripture is the best interpreter of Scripture, and that difficult or unclear passages must be understood in light of the fuller, clearer teaching of the whole counsel of God’s Word (Luke 24:27; Acts 17:11; Ps 119:160). Because Scripture is not of merely human origin, it is not subject to subjective will or private interpretation (2 Pet 1:20–21). Rather, it must be understood in light of its original authorship, audience, context, genre, and language.
We therefore believe that the grammatical-historical method is the most faithful hermeneutical approach to Scripture. Alongside the Holy Spirit’s guidance, this approach seeks to understand the author’s original intent by examining the historical setting, literary form, and grammatical structure of the text, rather than reading modern ideas or personal interpretations into it.
The Humility Required in Interpreting Scripture
We believe it requires patience and humility to handle God’s Word accurately, recognizing that we are all growing in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and that some things in Scripture are difficult to understand (2 Pet 3:14–18). However, we reject interpretations that impose meanings not supported by the text or that would cause Scripture to contradict itself. We believe that all apparent contradictions in Scripture can be resolved through careful and contextual interpretation.
We believe that God has spoken clearly and authoritatively, and that His Word remains relevant and sufficient for all generations..