Fundamental Principle #3

>>>That the Holy Scriptures, of the Old and New Testaments, were given by inspiration of God, contain a full revelation of his will to man, and are the only infallible rule of faith and practice. FP1872 5.1

The Holy Scriptures – God’s Inspired Word

I. The Divine Inspiration of Scripture

Key Texts:

2 Timothy 3:16–17 – “All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness.”

2 Peter 1:20–21 – Prophecy came not by man’s will, but holy men spoke as moved by the Holy Spirit.

Hebrews 1:1–2 – God spoke through the prophets, and ultimately through His Son.

Expanded Discussion:

• “Inspiration” = God-breathed (Greek: theopneustos). The Bible originates in God’s own mind, expressed through human language.

• Writers were not passive instruments, but active men guided by the Holy Spirit. Their style, culture, and personality remain, yet the message is divine truth.

• Jesus confirmed the inspiration of the Old Testament by quoting it as the final authority (Matt. 4:4, 7, 10).

• The Spirit of Christ spoke through the prophets (1 Peter 1:10–11).

Key Point: The Bible is not man’s testimony about God but God’s testimony to man, communicated through human messengers.

II. The Unity of Old and New Testaments

Key Texts:

Luke 24:27 – Jesus explained from Moses and the prophets all things concerning Himself.

Romans 15:4 – The Old Testament was written for our learning and encouragement.

John 5:39 – Scriptures testify of Christ.

Matthew 5:17 – Jesus did not abolish the Law or the Prophets but fulfilled them.

Expanded Discussion

• Both Testaments reveal the same God and the same plan of salvation.

• The Old Testament provides foundation: creation, covenant, law, promises, prophecies.

• The New Testament provides fulfillment: Christ’s life, death, resurrection, and the establishment of the church.

• Types and shadows of the Old find their reality in Christ in the New (Hebrews 10:1).

• Revelation closes the canon by pointing to Christ’s final victory and restoration.

Key Point: The Bible is one continuous story of God’s redeeming love, centered in Christ.

III. The Scriptures as a Full Revelation of God’s Will

Key Texts:

Psalm 119:105 – God’s Word is a lamp and light for guidance.

Deuteronomy 29:29 – God has revealed what we need to know for obedience.

John 17:17 – “Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.”

2 Peter 1:3–4 – God has given us all things pertaining to life and godliness through His promises.

Expanded Discussion:

• While God is infinite, He has revealed all that is necessary for salvation and godly living.

• Scripture contains doctrine (what to believe), reproof (what to avoid), correction (what to change), and instruction (how to live).

• The Bible reveals God’s character, purposes, promises, and commands.

• It equips the believer “unto all good works” (2 Tim. 3:17).

• We don’t need new revelations to supplement Scripture — the Bible is complete and sufficient.

Key Point: The Scriptures are God’s complete, reliable revelation of His will for humanity.

IV. The Bible as the Only Infallible Rule of Faith and Practice

Key Texts:

Isaiah 8:20 – Every teaching must align with God’s Word.

Acts 17:11 – The Bereans searched the Scriptures daily to test Paul’s preaching.

Matthew 15:9 – Traditions of men can lead to vain worship.

Revelation 22:18–19 – Warning against adding to or taking away from God’s Word.

Expanded Discussion:

• “Infallible” = incapable of error because its source is the God of truth (Titus 1:2).

• All doctrine, worship, and practice must be tested by Scripture.

• Human traditions, church decrees, and personal feelings are not reliable standards.

• The principle of Sola Scriptura (Scripture alone) safeguards the church from error.

• The Bible is the believer’s final authority, above reason, experience, or tradition.

Key Point: When there is conflict between human authority and the Bible, God’s Word must stand supreme.

V. Practical Applications

• Daily Guidance – Make the Bible the rule of life in all decisions (Psalm 119:133).

• Testing Doctrine – Always ask: “What does the Bible say?” (Acts 17:11).

• Spiritual Growth – Feed daily on God’s Word for strength (1 Peter 2:2).

• Defense Against Error – Like Jesus, meet temptation with “It is written” (Matt. 4:4).

• Witnessing – Share Scripture, not human opinion, as the authority for truth (2 Tim. 4:2).

Reflection & Discussion Questions

• How does the idea of “inspiration” affect your confidence in the Bible?

• Why is it important to study both Old and New Testaments together?

• What dangers arise when human tradition or feeling is placed above Scripture?

• In what areas of my life do I need to rely more on God’s Word as the guiding authority?

• How can I cultivate the habit of searching the Scriptures daily, like the Bereans?

📖 Why We Can Trust the Bible Though No Perfect Copy Exists

1. God Preserved His Word Through Abundance of Manuscripts

We don’t have the original writings (autographs) of Moses, Paul, or John, but we have thousands of copies.

The New Testament alone has over 5,800 Greek manuscripts, plus 10,000 Latin, and 9,000 in other languages. No other ancient work has this kind of evidence.

Because there are so many manuscripts, scholars can compare them and identify where copyists made small errors (spelling, word order, skipped lines, etc.). This actually strengthens our confidence — nothing is hidden.

Key Text: “The words of the Lord are pure words… Thou shalt keep them, O Lord, thou shalt preserve them from this generation forever.” (Psalm 12:6–7)

2. Variants Do Not Change Core Doctrine

The small differences between manuscripts are usually about spelling, word order, or minor phrases.

Not one fundamental doctrine — creation, sin, Christ’s divinity, the atonement, resurrection, salvation by faith, etc. — depends on a disputed text.

God has ensured that His truth is fully preserved in the copies we have.

Example: In some manuscripts of 1 John 5:7, the words differ, but the doctrine of the Trinity is still taught elsewhere (Matt. 28:19; John 1:1,14).

3. Translations Still Communicate God’s Truth

No translation is perfect, but all reliable ones convey the central message of salvation.

Jesus and the apostles often quoted the Septuagint (Greek translation of the Old Testament), even though it wasn’t word-for-word with the Hebrew text. Yet, they treated it as the Word of God.

The gospel has spread across the world through many languages — proof that the message is not bound to one text or version.

Key Text: “The word of God is not bound.” (2 Timothy 2:9)

4. The Holy Spirit Confirms the Word

The same Spirit who inspired the writers (2 Pet. 1:21) also guides the readers.

Jesus promised the Spirit would “guide you into all truth” (John 16:13).

The reliability of Scripture is not only a matter of ink and parchment, but of God’s living power working through His Word.

Key Text: “The word of God is quick [living], and powerful…” (Hebrews 4:12).

5. God’s Providence in Preservation

Despite centuries of copying by hand, attempts to destroy it (e.g., Diocletian’s persecutions, the Middle Ages), and translation into thousands of languages, the Bible remains intact and unchanged in its essential message.

Jesus said: “Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away.” (Matthew 24:35)

History proves His promise true.

Illustration for Teaching:

Think of a jigsaw puzzle with 10,000 pieces. Even if 20 pieces are blurred or slightly damaged, the picture is still clear. Likewise, though some verses differ slightly in wording across manuscripts, the overall message of Scripture is complete and trustworthy.

Summary Points for a Bible Study Guide

We don’t have the originals, but we have an abundance of evidence that confirms accuracy.

No essential truth or doctrine is lost in the minor variations.

Translations are imperfect, but the Spirit ensures the message of salvation is faithfully communicated.

God has kept His promise to preserve His Word.

We can open our Bible today with full confidence: it is God’s Word for us.

What translation is the most reliable for doctrinal position?

Does this translation faithfully represent the Hebrew and Greek texts?

Does it use a translation method that preserves meaning (not just paraphrase)?

Does it avoid altering or obscuring verses that are foundational for doctrine?

Let me give you a structured breakdown.

📖 Choosing the Most Reliable Translation for Doctrine

1. Translation Philosophy Matters

Word-for-Word (Formal Equivalence): Translations like KJV, NKJV, ESV, NASB. These aim to stick close to the original wording. Better for doctrine because they minimize interpretation.

Thought-for-Thought (Dynamic Equivalence): NIV, NLT, etc. These aim to express meaning in modern English but may soften doctrinal precision. Useful for readability, but not the best for doctrinal study.

Paraphrases: The Message, Good News Bible. These are interpretations, not reliable for doctrine.

2. Textual Base

Traditional (Textus Receptus / Majority Text): Basis for KJV and NKJV. Many trust these because they reflect the Bible as used by Christians for centuries.

Critical Text (Nestle-Aland / UBS): Basis for most modern translations (ESV, NIV, NASB). These use older manuscripts but fewer of them.

Both text families agree in the vast majority of verses. Differences rarely affect doctrine, but some verses (like Mark 16:9–20, John 7:53–8:11, Acts 8:37, 1 John 5:7) appear in one and not the other.

3. Recommended Reliable Translations for Doctrine

King James Version (KJV):

   Long-standing, doctrinally solid, widely trusted in Protestant tradition.

   Based on the Textus Receptus.

   Archaic language can be challenging today.

New King James Version (NKJV):

   Keeps the same textual base as the KJV but updates the language.

   Preserves verses sometimes omitted in modern versions.

English Standard Version (ESV):

   More modern English, based on the Critical Text.

   Excellent balance between word-for-word and readability.

New American Standard Bible (NASB):

   Extremely literal, very precise for doctrinal study.

   Can feel stiff in English style.

4. Practical Guideline for Doctrinal Study

Use a formal translation (KJV, NKJV, ESV, NASB) for doctrinal positions.

Compare across translations when in doubt.

Avoid basing doctrine on a verse found only in one translation. Always compare manuscript evidence.

Most importantly: trust the overall harmony of Scripture — no doctrine rests on one disputed verse alone.

✅ Bottom Line:

For doctrinal soundness, the NKJV is often the best balance (clear, accurate, faithful to the historic text). The KJV remains highly reliable, though harder to read. For those comfortable with modern English, the ESV or NASB are excellent for precise doctrinal study.