The Word of God

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The Holy Scriptures, Old and New Testaments, are the written Word of God, given by divine inspiration through holy men of God who spoke and wrote as they were moved by the Holy Spirit. In this Word, God has committed to man the knowledge necessary for salvation. The Holy Scriptures are the infallible revelation of His will. They are the standard of character, the test of experience, the authoritative revealer of doctrines, and the trustworthy record of God's acts in history. Fundamental Beliefs

Internal Testimony

The Ten Commandments are the "Word of God" according to Christ in Mark 7:7-13. (See vs 13).

Peter tells us that because the Bible writers are inspired by the Holy Spirit, that which they spoke (or wrote), they "spoke from God" 2 Peter 1:19-20, and so it is not a matter of this or that individual's private interpretation or preference.

In 1 Thess. 2:13, Paul informs us that when the saints of the New Testament age were hearing the inspired teaching of the Apostles, they did not take it as merely "the word of men," but rather for what it was, "the Word of God."

2 Peter 1:20, 21; 2 Tim. 3:16, 17; Ps. 119:105; Prov. 30:5, 6; Isa. 8:20; John 17:17; 1 Thess. 2:13; Heb. 4:12

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Bible Reading

1. How were the Scriptures given?

All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works. 
2 Timothy 3:16, 17

For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost. 
2 Peter 1:21

2. How did God reveal truth to His prophets? [1]

And he said, Hear now my words: If there be a prophet among you, I the Lord will make myself known unto him in a vision, and will speak unto him in a dream.
Numbers 12:6

For I neither received it of man, neither was I taught it, but by the revelation of Jesus Christ.
Galatians 1:12

3. Has God guarded the purity of His Word?

The words of the Lord are pure words: as silver tried in a furnace of earth, purified seven times.  Thou shalt keep them, O Lord, thou shalt preserve them from this generation for ever.
Psalms 12:6, 7

Every word of God is pure: he is a shield unto them that put their trust in him.
Proverbs 30:5

4. Are the Scriptures infallible? [2]

Thy word is true from the beginning: and every one of thy righteous judgments endureth for ever.
Psalms 119:160

Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away.
Matthew 24:35

5. Are the writings of the prophets to be received as the words of God Himself?

Now these be the last words of David. David the son of Jesse said, and the man who was raised up on high, the anointed of the God of Jacob, and the sweet psalmist of Israel, said, The Spirit of the LORD spake by me, and his word was in my tongue.
2 Samuel 23:1, 2

Then the word of the LORD came unto me, saying, Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee; and before thou camest forth out of the womb I sanctified thee, and I ordained thee a prophet unto the nations. Then said I, Ah, Lord GOD! behold, I cannot speak: for I am a child. But the LORD said unto me, Say not, I am a child: for thou shalt go to all that I shall send thee, and whatsoever I command thee thou shalt speak. Be not afraid of their faces: for I am with thee to deliver thee, saith the LORD. Then the LORD put forth his hand, and touched my mouth. And the LORD said unto me, Behold, I have put my words in thy mouth.
Jeremiah 1:4-9

For this cause also thank we God without ceasing, because, when ye received the word of God which ye heard of us, ye received it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which effectually worketh also in you that believe. 
1 Thessalonians 2:13

6. Are the prophecies important now?

I have also spoken by the prophets, and I have multiplied visions, and used similitudes, by the ministry of the prophets.
Hosea 12:10

Surely the Lord GOD will do nothing, but he revealeth his secret unto his servants the prophets. 
Amos 3:7

We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts:
2 Peter 1:19

7. For what purpose were the Scriptures written?

All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works. 
2 Timothy 3:16, 17

The secret things belong unto the LORD our God: but those things which are revealed belong unto us and to our children for ever, that we may do all the words of this law.
Deuteronomy 29:29

And many other signs truly did Jesus in the presence of his disciples, which are not written in this book: But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name.
John 20:30, 31

8. What is necessary on our part?

Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me.
John 5:39

Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee . . . I will delight myself in thy statutes: I will not forget thy word.
Psalms 119:11, 16

9. How are we to search the Scriptures?

Which things also we speak, not in the words which man’s wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual.
1 Corinthians 2:13

For precept must be upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a little:
But the word of the LORD was unto them precept upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a little; that they might go, and fall backward, and be broken, and snared, and taken.
Isaiah 28:10, 13

And beginning at Moses and all the prophets, he expounded unto them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself.
Luke 24:27

10. How shall we relate ourselves to the Scriptures?

My son, if thou wilt receive my words, and hide my commandments with thee; So that thou incline thine ear unto wisdom, and apply thine heart to understanding; Yea, if thou criest after knowledge, and liftest up thy voice for understanding; If thou seekest her as silver, and searchest for her as for hid treasures; Then shalt thou understand the fear of the LORD, and find the knowledge of God.
Proverbs 2:1-5

Have not I written to thee excellent things in counsels and knowledge, That I might make thee know the certainty of the words of truth; that thou mightest answer the words of truth to them that send unto thee?
Proverbs 22:20, 21

And why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say? Whosoever cometh to me, and heareth my sayings, and doeth them, I will shew you to whom he is like: He is like a man which built an house, and digged deep, and laid the foundation on a rock: and when the flood arose, the stream beat vehemently upon that house, and could not shake it: for it was founded upon a rock. But he that heareth, and doeth not, is like a man that without a foundation built an house upon the earth; against which the stream did beat vehemently, and immediately it fell; and the ruin of that house was great.
Luke 6:46-49

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NOTE l.—”The revelations of prophecy are facts which exhibit the divine omniscience. So long as Babylon is in heaps: so long as Nineveh lies empty, void, and waste; so long as Egypt Is the basest of kingdoms; so long as Tyre is a place for the spreading of nets ill the midst of the sea; so long as Israel is scattered among all nations; so long as Jerusalem is trodden underfoot of the Gentiles; so long as the great empires of the world march on in their predicted course, – so long we have proof that one Omniscient Mind dictated the predictions or that book, and ‘prophecy came not in old time by the will of man,’“—Will the Old Book Stand? H. L. Hastings, p. 19.

NOTE 2.—”This is the century of romance-romance in exploration, in discovery, in invention, in thought, and in life . . . Through a series of marvelous discoveries and romantic events we have been let into the secrets of wonderful centuries of hitherto unknown peoples and events . . .  Now through the co-operation of explorer, archaeologist, and linguist, we are the heirs of what was formerly regarded as prehistoric times . . . These marvelous revelations from the archives of the nations of the past have painted for us a new background, in fact our first background, of the Old Testament.“—“The Monuments and the Old Testament,” Ira Maurice Price, Ph. D., pp. 17, 18.