We believe the Bible is the inspired word of God and as such is our final authority on all matters of faith and practice.
Is this brief enough?
Should there be something in there about the 66 books?
Something about scripture interpreting scripture?
Something about the Holy Spirit?
8 comments:
Shoud have something about the holy spirit revealing the word to us, although i belive the bible is true there is some measure of interpretation that needs to be done and it is god through his holy spirit that performs that work.
How short do you want it to be? You could lose the words "and as such is" without affecting the sense.
I should prefer "the final authority" to "our final authority". "Our" is bit too postmodernist for my liking: this is our final authority, but of course you might have another one! In fact the Bible is THE final authority, whether we accept it or not, and sits in judgement on all men everywhere, whether they acknowledge it or not.
Keep the comments coming, all helpful so far.
You could probably do without the 'we believe too'... can probably have a couple of other words instead. So:
The Bible is the inspired word of God and the final authority on all matters of faith and practice.
Perhaps add 'as originally given' or something similar too? Might be worth mentioning sufficient?
'The Bible, as originally given, is the inspired word of God and the final (and sufficient?) authority on all matters of faith and practice.'
It is interesting that in the original document there is God's work to keep his inspired word pure through transmission too. I wonder at the value of adding "Originally given". I like the second suggestion minus that bit very much.
The Old Testament in Hebrew (which was the native language of the people of God of old), and the New Testament in Greek (which at the time of its writing was most generally known to the nations) were immediately inspired by God, and were kept pure through subsequent ages by His singular care and providence.
66 book statement would probably be a helpful addition
OK, how about this, or is it too unwieldy?
The Bible is the inspired word of God and the 66 books in it are the final and sufficient authority on all matters of faith and practice.
I think, for a summary statement that covers it.
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