The doctrine of the sufficiency of Scripture affirms that the written Word of God is entirely adequate for all matters of faith and practice, providing the divine information necessary for salvation (2 Tim 3:15; John 3:16), spiritual growth (1 Pet 2:2), and righteous living (2 Tim 3:16-17; 2 Pet 1:3). Paul wrote, “all Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work” (2 Tim 3:16-17). To say that all Scripture is inspired by God affirms its divine origin and authority. It is profitable for teaching truth, exposing error, correcting wrong, and training in righteousness (2 Tim 3:16), with the goal of making the child of God spiritually competent, fully equipped for every good work that honors the Lord (2 Tim 3:17). No other source of revelation is needed to meet the believer’s spiritual needs, for God has already disclosed His will sufficiently in the sixty-six canonical books. This sufficiency does not imply that Scripture answers every curiosity of human inquiry, but rather that it provides the full counsel of God necessary for knowing Him, serving Him, and walking faithfully in the world.
Category: Hermeneutics
A Trustworthy Statement – 2 Timothy 2:11-13
In 2 Timothy 2:11-13, Paul provided Timothy a short theological statement that seems to reflect a doctrinal creed in the early church. The words may have been set to music as a hymn. Paul said, "It is a trustworthy statement: For if we died with Him, we will also live with Him; If we endure, we will also reign with Him; If we deny Him, He also will deny us; If we are faithless, He remains faithful, for He cannot deny Himself." (2 Tim 2:11-13).
The Call of Matthew
Jesus called Matthew to be His disciple, and the tax collector left everything to begin a new life with Jesus. Matthew celebrated his new life as a disciple by hosting a dinner party for Jesus and inviting other tax collectors and irreligious sinners to come and meet his new Master. The Pharisees arrived and filtered the event through their hate filled heart, and then tried to trap Jesus with a question concerning His company, which question implied His guilt. But Jesus corrected the Pharisees by pointing out He’d come to heal the sick and therefore needed to be among them. Jesus then instructed the Pharisees to learn a lesson from the book of Hosea, that God desires compassion and not sacrifice. How Jesus treated the tax collectors and sinners demonstrated His compassion, and how the Pharisees treated them demonstrated their self-righteous pride and hatred.
The Bible as Divine Revelation
The Bible is God’s special written revelation to mankind, it is true in all it affirms, provides absolute standards for ethics, is authoritative to command, is dynamic in its effect, and beneficial to those who accept and live in its light
Authorial Intent
Authorial intent and context always determines meaning. This is true when listening to a supervisor's instruction, reading the words on a medicine bottle, following the speed limit on the freeway, paying one's taxes, or reading the Bible.
What is the Church?
The church refers to the body of Christ which began on the day of Pentecost in Acts chapter 2. It is comprised of Jews and Gentiles who have accepted Jesus as Savior. The church exists universally as an organism, the global presence of Christians who form the body of Christ. The church also exists locally as an organization, a nearby assembly of believers who gather together for Bible study, worship, fellowship, and the practice of the ordinances of baptism and the Lord’s Supper. The Christian church is a mystery not revealed in the Old Testament and is separate from Israel, having a different identity and purpose.
Biblical Righteousness: A Word Study
Throughout the Bible righteousness is also seen as a relationship word that recognizes established standards between a sovereign and subordinate. A man is recognized as righteous, either before God or men, when he satisfies the legal demands placed upon him.
The Plain Interpretation of Scripture
We live our lives on the assumption that language—whether written or spoken—serves as a reliable vehicle for the expression of ideas. Our survival and success depends on the plain use of language whether we’re reading the words on highway signs, food packages, or work documents. A nonliteral reading of the instructions on a … Continue reading The Plain Interpretation of Scripture