THE BIBLE

We believe that the Bible is the verbally (every word) and plenary (completely) inspired Word of God as contained in the original manuscripts (2 Tim. 3:16-17).  We believe that the writers were moved along by the Holy Spirit as they wrote the books of the Bible (2 Pet. 1:20-21; Heb. 1:1).  We believe that all portions of Scripture are equally inspired and contain no contradictions.  We believe that the Scriptures are to be the only rule of faith and practice for the believer (2 Pet. 1:3-4; 1 Cor. 10:11). 

We believe that God worked through separate authors, using their different personalities and writing styles.  Even though these writers had different writing styles, there is remarkable unity due to the super-intending of the writings by the Holy Spirit.  

We believe that the Bible is complete, containing sixty-six books (thirty-nine books in the Old Testament and twenty-seven books in the New Testament).  Nothing shall be added to it nor taken from it (Rev. 22:18-19).  There is no other book or writing that has the same authority of the completed Canon of Scripture.  Any group that holds to any other authority (such as additional religious books, traditions, human leaders, or experience) is in doctrinal error.

We also believe that God wants us to understand His Word and therefore the Scriptures should be interpreted in their natural, literal sense in all genres, including prophecy.  When seeking to understand God’s Word, one should take into account the grammatical relationship of words, the historical context, the literary genre, as well as the teaching of the entirety of Scripture.  The interpreter must also understand that figurative language is sometimes used in Scripture (cf. John 10:9; Mark 9:47).  We understand certain passages to be allegories, but only when the writer of Scripture specifically identifies a passage as such (cf. Gal. 4:24).