THE HOLY SCRIPTURES (An Article by Christian Henry) ~ 3/6/25

“All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness” (II Timothy 3:16)

“Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.” (Psalm 119:105)

The Holy Scripture is the only sufficient, specific, and infallible rule of all saving knowledge, faith, and obedience. It explains how and why people are saved and how they must live after they are saved. The Scriptures contain everything we need to know when walking the Christian walk. Although natural intelligence and the works of creation and providence may manifest the truth of God so much that we are left without any excuse for unbelief, they are insufficient to provide the knowledge of God and His will necessary for salvation. We need the Holy Scriptures to enlighten us fully.

Therefore, it pleased the Lord to reveal Himself, declare His will to His people, and protect them against the corruption of the flesh. Because of this, He showed His Truth wholly in writing. The Holy Scriptures are essential for us since those former ways by which God revealed His will to His people have ceased.

There are 66 books in the Bible - 39 in the Old Testament and 27 in the New Testament, all of which were given directly by the inspiration of God to be the rule of faith and life. There are, nor will there ever be any other books beyond these 66 that are to be acknowledged as part of the Scripture canon. This includes the books called 'The Apocrypha,’ which aren’t of divine inspiration and thus are not part of the canon or rule of Scripture and have no authority to the church of God.

Holy Scripture should be believed as the rule of our obedience, not because of the testimony of any man or church, but wholly upon God, its author. Therefore, it is to be received and obeyed because it is the Word of God. In other words, when God speaks, His commands and teachings should not be questioned. We do not believe or obey because a minister proves that the learning is reasonable or rewarding, but because it is God's Word. The Church of Rome claims that the church discerned, gave and guaranteed the Scripture, and that the church alone can interpret. But the Scripture came first, was given by God, is self-authenticating and rules the church.

God's whole plan and purpose concerning all things necessary: His glory, man's salvation, and faith and life, is either expressly set down or necessarily contained in the Holy Scripture.

The Old Testament in Hebrew and the New Testament in Greek were directly inspired by God and were kept pure through the ages by His extraordinary care and providence. They are therefore authentic and trustworthy, so that in all doctrinal disputes, the church must appeal to them as final. But because these original tongues are not known to all the people of God who have a right to and an interest in the Scriptures, they were translated into the ordinary language of every nation so that they may acceptably worship God.