Credo - The Scriptures

1. We believe the Scriptures, both Old and New Testaments, to be the inspired Word of God, without error in the original writings, the complete revelation of his will for the salvation of men, and the Divine and final authority for all Christian faith and life.

The basis for understanding the whole of doctrine and theology is the Word of God. God has chosen the Scriptures as the chief means to reveal Himself and His purposes to humankind (Psalm 19:7-14, 2 Timothy 3:15-17). No other writing or person (save Jesus Christ Himself or the Holy Spirit) have the same authority or inspiration as the Scriptures. When other sources (books, churches, leaders, etc.) contradict the teaching of the Bible, the standard of Scripture should always be followed (1 John 4:1-6, Psalm 119, 2 Peter 3:1-2).

The very words of Scripture are inspired. Inspiration means "God’s superintending human authors, so that using their own individual personalities, they recorded and composed without error His revelation to man in the words of the original manuscripts" (Charles Ryrie’s popular definition). Inspiration extends down to the very words of Scripture (in Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek) because words are what carry the meaning of any idea (2 Timothy 3:16, 2 Peter 1:21, Galatians 3:16).

The Scriptures, as originally recorded, are inerrant. That is, they teach no error of any kind, whether doctrinal, ethical, historical, scientific, or other. All of the things they intend to teach are in perfect harmony with reality (John 17:17). The Scriptures, however, may accurately record a lie, have phenomenological language, or display a variety of styles in reporting events or quoting sources and still remain inerrant.

The utter trustworthiness of the Scriptures is foundational for effective ministry. Because the Bible can be trusted upon in all of the Christian life, its systematic teaching and application should become the center of our ministry. While not to be venerated as God, the Scriptures should be studied, read, preached, interpreted, proclaimed, and distributed widely (2 Timothy 4:2). Every ministry of the church should be measured against the contents of these 66 books (Matthew 7:24-27, John 5:39-40). Just as the early church fathers and councils recognized the divine authority of the canon, so we today must recognize the Bible’s claim upon our lives. "The grass withers, the flower fades, but the word of our God stands forever" (Isaiah 40:8, Matthew 24:35, Hebrews 4:12-13).