We teach that the Bible is God’s written revelation to humankind, and thus the sixty-six books of the Bible given to us by the Holy Spirit constitute the plenary (inspired equally in all parts) Word of God (1 Corinthians 2:7-14; 2 Peter 1:20-21).

We teach that the Word of God is an objective, propositional revelation, verbally inspired in every word, absolutely inerrant in the original documents, infallible, and God-breathed (1 Corinthians 2:13; 1 Thessalonians 2:13; 2 Timothy 3:16; 2 Peter 1:20-21).

We teach that the Bible constitutes the only infallible rule of faith and practice (John 16:12-13; 17:17; 1 Corinthians 2:12-13; 2 Timothy 3:15-17; Hebrews 4:12).

We teach that God spoke in His written Word by a process of dual authorship. The Holy Spirit so superintended the human authors that, through their individual personalities and different styles of writing, they composed and recorded God’s Word to humankind (2 Peter 1:20-21).

We teach that there is only one meaning of Scripture, the meaning which the human author, under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, intended his audience to hear, and therefore, equally, the meaning which the divine Author intended through the human author. We also teach that it is the responsibility of every believer diligently to seek out the true meaning and intent of Scripture. Therefore, we must attend carefully to the simplest and most natural, normal, and customary sense of the words from the author’s and original audience’s perspective, realizing that context, genre, or related passages of Scripture may indicate that the words are being used in another manner. This hermeneutical method, which we refer to as the literal, grammatical-historical interpretation of Scripture, is to be pursued in dependence upon the enlightenment of the Holy Spirit (John 7:17; 16:12-15; 1 Corinthians 2:7-15; 1 John 2:20). Note: Nothing in this hermeneutic determines the meaning of the text; that meaning was determined when the author spoke or penned the words. This hermeneutic serves only to inform our understanding.

We teach that Scripture is God’s Word for all generations. Only from the correct understanding of the intended meaning can we: 1) discover the commands which God gives us to obey; or 2) discern the fullness of God’s truth which endures as relevant to, authoritative over, and applicable for our lives today. The truth of Scripture forever stands in judgment of us; never do we stand in judgment of it.