INSPIRATION
We believe the Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments as being verbally inspired by God and inerrant and infallible in the original writings, and that they are of supreme and final authority.
We believe God has promised to preserve His Word for all time.
Terms explained:
Verbally: This means that the individual words of the Bible are true and without error in the original writings. Therefore, more than just the thoughts or concepts is inspired, but also every word (Matthew 5:17-18; Proverbs 30:5-6). The term “plenary” is often used with the word “verbal” to give the view that all Scripture is fully and equally inspired (2 Timothy 3:16-17).
Inspired (Inspiration): Inspiration is that particular work of God by which the Holy Spirit, becoming the co-author of Scripture, supernaturally directed the writers of Scripture and without excluding their human intelligence, individuality, literary style, personal feelings, or any other human factor, God’ own complete and coherent message to men was recorded in perfect accuracy and the very words of the Bible bear the authority of this divine authorship. Inspiration is not equivalent to dictation except in certain instances, as God uses the experience, feelings and thinking of the human author. The end result, however, is just as accurate as if God himself had taken the pen. Hence, the Scriptures were inspired or breathed out by God and, though the authors were fallible men, what they wrote was without error (2 Peter 1:20-21). Inspiration does not suppress the intellectual ability and talent but rather uses that intellectual ability and talent (Luke 1:1-3; 2 Samuel 23:2).
Inerrant: Inerrant means that the Scriptures in their original writings were without error (John 10:35; Luke 16:17).
Infallible: Infallible means that the Scriptures in their original writings were incapable of error and never wrong (John 10:35; Luke 16:17).
Final Authority: The Scriptures are God’s special revelation (communication of truth) to man and because they are inspired and inerrant they become our final authority. However, we take careful note of what the Bible indicates as not being authoritative, such as Satan’s statement to Eve in the Garden of Eden, “Ye shall not surly die...” (Genesis 3:4-5; 2 Timothy 3:16-17).
Preserve His Word: God has promised that His Words will not pass away. (Matthew 24:3; 1 Peter 1:24-25). Although we do not have the original copies penned by Moses, Paul, and the other writers of Scripture, many copies of these originals do exist and have been used to faithfully proclaim God’s Word and interpret God’s Word into many languages. It is the position of this church that the essentially-literal procedure of translation (striving to interpret from the original language(s) to another language as close to word for word as is possible) is the best way to translate the original language(s) into other languages. However, we respect the individual’s privilege to read and study from which ever translation they choose.