How Should You View the Bible?

That's a very good question. Is it just a man-made record that contains experiences people have had with God? Or is it something more?

You can do all kinds of analyses to try to reach a conclusion but the place to start is to look at what claims the Bible makes about itself (or put another way, what claims the writers of the Bible make about the Bible).

So that is where we'll start, and then look at how different groups today treat the Bible.

Let's look in the pages of the Bible now. Whatever your theories on the Bible's origin, we will deal with the present document that billions of people have read as our starting point. A little survey will show that there is not a huge difference in different translations like the NIV, KJV, ESV, etc. so initially, we won't get distracted by these things, but focus on the original question, what the Bible claims about itself.

2 Timothy 3:14-17

1. What Scripture has Timothy known "from infancy"?

2. What purposes are here listed for this Scripture?

3. What is the source of these Scriptures?

4. In what way does this passage tell us to use Scripture?

John 10:33-38

1. In this passage, Jesus is disputing with the Jewish leaders about their interpretation of Scripture. What did these Jews misinterpret?

2. In correcting them, what other principles about Scripture did Jesus teach?

2 Peter 1:16-21

1. What is one accusation that the opponents of the Bible make today, that this passage answers?

2. What answer does this passage give?

3. What must we understand about the prophecies of Scripture?

2 Peter 2:1-3

1. What will persist along with the truth of Scripture?

2 Peter 3:15-18

1. In this passage, whose letters are put on equal footing with Scripture?

2. Who is the origin of these letters?

3. Are all Scripture equally clear?

4. What can people do to the Scriptures they read?

5. What is the result of this?

6. What might happen to believers as a result of this teaching?

7. What two things does Peter exhort Christian believers?

John 16:7-15 (Also in John 14:25-26)

1. What hope have we of learning the truth of Scriptures?

Acts 17:11

1. What are the Bereans praised or in this verse?

2. What Scripture is this verse talking about?

1. What can the Galatians do to test Paul's preaching?

2. What means do you have to test what is being preached in your local church?

3. Do you believe the doctrine in your church is one hundred percent correct? Why or why not?

As you read, how do you think their statements compare with what you have read from the claims of the Bible?

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I. Although the light of nature, and the works of creation and providence do so far manifest the goodness, wisdom, and power of God, as to leave men unexcusable; yet are they not sufficient to give that knowledge of God, and of his will, which is necessary unto salvation. Therefore it pleased the Lord, at sundry times, and in divers manners, to reveal himself, and to declare that his will unto his church; and afterwards, for the better preserving and propagating of the truth, and for the more sure establishment and comfort of the church against the corruption of the flesh, and the malice of Satan and of the world, to commit the same wholly unto writing; which maketh the Holy Scripture to be most necessary; those former ways of God's revealing his will unto his people being now ceased.

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IV. The authority of the Holy Scripture, for which it ought to be believed, and obeyed, dependeth not upon the testimony of any man, or church; but wholly upon God (who is truth itself) the author thereof; and therefore it is to be received, because it is the Word of God.

V. We may be moved and induced by the testimony of the church to an high and reverent esteem of the Holy Scripture. And the heavenliness of the matter, the efficacy of the doctrine, the majesty of the style, the consent of all the parts, the scope of the whole (which is, to give all glory to God), the full discovery it makes of the only way of man's salvation, the many other incomparable excellencies, and the entire perfection thereof, are arguments whereby it doth abundantly evidence itself to be the Word of God; yet assurance of the infallible truth and divine authority thereof, is from the inward work of the Holy Spirit bearing witness by and with the Word in our hearts.

VI. The whole counsel of God concerning all things necesssary for his own glory, man's salvation, faith and life, is either expressly set down in Scripture, or by good and necessary consequence may be deduced from Scripture: unto which nothing at any time is to be added, whether by new revelations of the Spirit, or traditions of men. Nevertheless, we acknowledge the inward illumination ofo the Spirit of God to be necessary for the saving understanding of such things as are revealed in the Word...