Why Doctrine Begins with the Bible
Establish the starting point for every doctrine: God has spoken, Scripture is profitable for doctrine, and the Bible—not personality, tradition, or experience—is the standard by which teaching must be tested.
- See why doctrine is not a dirty word but a Bible word.
- Learn the difference between receiving teaching and testing teaching.
- Build every later course on a settled authority.
Scripture is profitable for doctrine
2 Timothy 3:16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:
2 Timothy 3:17 That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.
Doctrine means teaching. Paul does not tell Timothy to avoid doctrine; he tells him that all Scripture is profitable for it. A church that refuses doctrine does not become neutral. It simply becomes vulnerable to unexamined ideas.
Notice also the range of Scripture’s work: doctrine tells us what is true; reproof exposes what is wrong; correction points us back to what is right; instruction trains us to continue in righteousness.
Noble hearers still searched the Scriptures
Acts 17:11 These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so.
The Bereans received preaching with readiness, but readiness was not gullibility. They searched the Scriptures daily to test what they heard. A mature learner can respect a teacher while still recognizing that the teacher is not the final authority.
TrueWords+ should produce students who can open the Bible and verify doctrine for themselves.
Truth has an objective standard
John 17:17 Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.
Jesus did not pray, “Thy word contains truth.” He said, “thy word is truth.” Feelings can be sincere and wrong. Traditions can be old and wrong. Teachers can be gifted and wrong. Scripture gives the church a standard outside itself.
- Why would a church that avoids doctrine actually become easier to deceive?
- How can you respect a pastor or teacher without treating him as infallible?
Work the Scriptures
Read Acts 17:10-12, 2 Timothy 3:14-17, and John 17:17. Write one sentence explaining what each passage contributes to a doctrine of biblical authority. Then explain what should happen when a respected teacher and the plain meaning of Scripture disagree.
Every serious doctrine must begin under the authority of Scripture. Teachers serve the Word; the Word does not serve the teacher.
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