Foundational to all Baptist teaching is that the Bible is the supreme norm for faith and practice for the Christian life. The New Testament is clear that this principle was basic for the early church. The reading of the scriptures in the synagogues was a jewish practice. Young converts to Christianity made the Old Testament and the new apostolic writings, as were in circulation, objects of careful study.At NSBC right now there is a class about the canon and its formation. It is an interesting conversation to say the least. There are bright people, people who have been Christian for a good long time, in the class who are just begining to think about these issues. The pamphlet tries to address the issues surrounding Biblical authorship and the intent behind the formation of the canon. Because of its brevity, it again must make claims that are difficult to support. I am, of course, sympathetic, but there is a little more caution this time.
The Bible is best understood in the context of the redeemed people of God, the church. The Bible supports the main purposes for which the church exists: To glorify God by winning the lost and developing (discipling/disciplining) the saved. Bible study is a major way of achieving these purposes. Therefore, Bible reading and study, by individuals, families, groups, are essential....
Throughout our history, there has been much agreement about the Bible's divine origin and role. A variety of interpretation theories have emerged over time; but Baptists, for the most part, have avoided extreme position of interpretation. This has enabled them to focus upon the major tasks of evangelism and missions. Baptists have stressed that the Bible is divinely inspired, but most do not insist upon a single theory of interpretation. Historically, Baptists have been cautious about allowing any human theory of interpretation to assume the Holy Spirit's role in interpreting Scripture with each believer.
The Baptist Faith and Message
[Adopted by the Southern Baptist Convention May 9, 1963]
I. The ScripturesThe Holy Bible was written by men divinely inspired and is the record of God's revelation of Himself to man. It is a perfect treasure of divine instruction. It has God for its author, salvation for its end, and truth, without any mixture of error, for its matter. It reveals the principles by which God judges us; and therefore is, and will remain to the end of the world, the true center of Christian union,
and the supreme standard by which all human conduct, creeds, and religious opinions should be tried. The criterion by which the Bible is to be interpreted is Jesus Christ.Ex. 24:4; Deut. 4:1-2; 17:19; Josh. 8:34; Psalm 19:7-10; 119:11, 89, 105, 140; Isa. 34:16; 40:8; Jer. 15:16; 36; Matt. 5:17-18; 22:29; Luke 21:33; 24:44-46; John 5:39; 16:13-15; 17:17; Acts 2:16 ff.; 17:11; Rom. 15:4; 16:25-26; 2 Tim.
3:15-17; Heb. 1:1-2; 4:12; 1 Peter 1:25; 2 Peter 1:19-21We must be aware that it is wrong to worship the Bible rather than God of the Bible. We must reject those who neglect both God's salvation and God's judgment. We must not become captives of our culture.
We cannot condone the substitution of a proposition of the Bible, however true it might be, for the Bible itself. We must resist the misuse of the Bible to support personal aims, such as secular political agendas, even if those views may be worthy.
They will proclaim God's Word as the unerring pointer to the One..."who came from the Father, full of grace and truth" (John 1:14), was crucified (Luke 23:23), suffered (Luke 24:26), died (Romans 5:8), and was buried (Luke 23:53). On the third day, He rose again in fulfillment of the scriptures (Luke 24:46, Acts 10:40). He ascended into heaven (Acts 1:9) and is seated at the right hand of the Father (Hebrews 12:2). He will come again in glory (II Thessalonians 1:10) to judge the living and the dead (Acts 10:42), and his Kingdom will have no end (Luke 1:33)."