Working through the Doctrine of the Bible

Since a doctrine requires direct statements from God's Word in order to be identified as a fundamental doctrine, let us work through the Scriptures used in the doctrine of the Bible to see if the statement of belief that accompanies them is accurate. I will probably not do this exercise with every fundamental doctrinal position but felt it important to underscore that a doctrine is comprised of definite statements of Scripture remolded into concise statements reflective of many passages. The passages used are not exhaustive of the biblical statements that support this or any doctrine. This exercise is important as we will examine more controversial doctrines and measure them by the passages often used to defend them. The reason for this is not to accuse believers clinging to teachings that, according to the simple definition of what rises to a doctrine, are not derived from direct statements in the Bible, but to help us have unity under the clear, fundamental doctrines from which we would never compromise, not even for a moment. We may feel strongly about the application of certain statements in the Scriptures but if these cannot be defined as fundamental doctrine, as defined here, let us not defame or sew discord among brethren with whom we truly agree on the fundamentals of the Bible.

II Timothy 3:16-17 is our first text to examine. Here is what it says in the NKJV. (All Scripture will be in blue and the doctrinal statements will be in green) All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness,
17  that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work. To simplify our application of this verse, we are assuming that what we mean by "all Scripture" is the 39 Old Testament and 27 New Testament books known as Genesis through Revelation. That is, Scripture that is most accepted by the vast majority of Christendom both now and historically. There is no direct statement in the Bible to this designation but further study and a point to be made later will guide us to this clear conclusion. The doctrinal position states "every word". That is clear in the word "all" in verse 16. This verse also explains that Scripture "is given by inspiration of God". The word "inspiration" has to do with breath or breathing which leads to the doctrinal position that the Bible was "breathed out by God Himself." Here is the doctrinal statement interlaced in blue, italics, and in parenthesis with the Scripture on which it stands.
I believe that every word (all) of the original autographs of the Scriptures (Scripture) was breathed out by God Himself (is given by inspiration of God) (II Timothy 3:16-17); that by virtue of the superintendence and empowering of the Holy Spirit (as they were moved by the Holy Spirit), the human writers (holy men of God spoke) of the Scriptures (prophecy) wrote not their private interpretations but the very words of God (no private interpretation.) (II Peter 1:19-21) 19 And so we have the prophetic word confirmed, which you do well to heed as a light that shines in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts; 20 knowing this first, that no prophecy of Scripture is of any private interpretation, 21 for prophecy never came by the will of man, but holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit., preserved from error of any kind on any subject whatsoever (the Scripture cannot be broken), (John 10:35) "If He called them gods, to whom the word of God came (and the Scripture cannot be broken).

I believe that the Scriptures are, therefore, the unique (you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success), absolute (testimony of the LORD is sure, right,), authoritative standard of faith and practice (The judgments of the LORD are true and righteous altogether), to be studied (meditate in it day and night), proclaimed (teach them diligently to your children), obeyed (do according to all that is written in it), and defended (contend earnestly for the faith) (Deuteronomy 6:6-9; "And these words which I command you today shall be in your heart. 7 "You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, when you walk by the way, when you lie down, and when you rise up. 8 "You shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes. 9 "You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates." Joshua 1:8; "This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate in it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success. Psalm 19:7-11; The law of the LORD is perfect, converting the soul; The testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple; 8 The statutes of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart; The commandment of the LORD is pure, enlightening the eyes; 9 The fear of the LORD is clean, enduring forever; The judgments of the LORD are true and righteous altogether. 10 More to be desired are they than gold, Yea, than much fine gold; Sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb. 11 Moreover by them Your servant is warned, And in keeping them there is great reward. John 17:17; "Sanctify them by Your truth. Your word is truth. Jude 3-4; Beloved, while I was very diligent to write to you concerning our common salvation, I found it necessary to write to you exhorting you to contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all delivered to the saints. 4 For certain men have crept in unnoticed, who long ago were marked out for this condemnation, ungodly men, who turn the grace of our God into lewdness and deny the only Lord God and our Lord Jesus Christ. ) that they are to be interpreted literally, historically (eyewitnesses), and grammatically (The Matthew and II Peter passages that follow give us examples of the literal, historical and grammatical interpretation.) (Matthew 12:39-41; But He answered and said to them, "An evil and adulterous generation seeks after a sign, and no sign will be given to it except the sign of the prophet Jonah. 40 "For as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of the great fish, so will the Son of Man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth. 41 "The men of Nineveh will rise up in the judgment with this generation and condemn it, because they repented at the preaching of Jonah; and indeed a greater than Jonah is here. II Peter 1:16 For we did not follow cunningly devised fables when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but were eyewitnesses of His majesty.) unless the context clearly indicates otherwise (Exemplified by the following texts in John.) (John 6:35 And Jesus said to them, "I am the bread of life. He who comes to Me shall never hunger, and he who believes in Me shall never thirst. 51-58; "I am the living bread which came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever; and the bread that I shall give is My flesh, which I shall give for the life of the world." 52 The Jews therefore quarreled among themselves, saying, "How can this Man give us His flesh to eat?" 53 Then Jesus said to them, "Most assuredly, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink His blood, you have no life in you. 54 "Whoever eats My flesh and drinks My blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day. 55 "For My flesh is food indeed, and My blood is drink indeed. 56 "He who eats My flesh and drinks My blood abides in Me, and I in him. 57 "As the living Father sent Me, and I live because of the Father, so he who feeds on Me will live because of Me. 58 "This is the bread which came down from heaven—not as your fathers ate the manna, and are dead. He who eats this bread will live forever." 10:7; Then Jesus said to them again, "Most assuredly, I say to you, I am the door of the sheep. 15:1 "I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser.); and that every portion is without exception profitable for doctrine and Christian growth (profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness) (II Timothy 3:16 All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness,). We believe, therefore, that the denial of their inerrant authority contradicts the clear position of Christ and the apostles (acknowledge that the things which I write to you are the commandments of the Lord) and thus undermines all facets of their doctrine as reliable for faith and practice; that the sixty-six books of the Bible constitute the complete and only authoritative revelation of God to man (I Corinthians 14:37; If anyone thinks himself to be a prophet or spiritual, let him acknowledge that the things which I write to you are the commandments of the Lord. II Peter 3:15-16 But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear; 16 having a good conscience, that when they defame you as evildoers, those who revile your good conduct in Christ may be ashamed.); and that anyone who adds to or takes away from this completed revelation is cursed of God (and if anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part from the Book of Life, from the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book) (Revelation 22:18-19 For I testify to everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: If anyone adds to these things, God will add to him the plagues that are written in this book; 19  and if anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part from the Book of Life, from the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book.).