Systematic Theology is sometimes divided into Ten divisions called: • Introduction to Bibliology (The Doctrine of the Bible) • Introduction to Theology Proper (The Doctrine of God) • Introduction to Christology (The Doctrine of Jesus Christ) • Introduction to Pneumatology (The Doctrine of the Holy Spirit) • Introduction to Angelology (The Doctrine of Angels) • Introduction to Anthropology (The Doctrine of Man) • Introduction to Hamartiology (The Doctrine of Sin) • Introduction to Soteriology (The Doctrine of Salvation) • Introduction to Ecclesiology (The Doctrine of the Church) • Introduction to Eschtology (The Doctrine of Last Things). 

By God’s grace, we will look at each doctrine as the Lord permits. Today, we begin with an Overview to the Doctrine of the Bible (Scriptures). I hope that you will find these biblical doctrines interesting and worth studying. It’s my prayer that each reader/ listener will fully understand what the Spirit says to the churches: To know His Word of truth (2 Tim.2:15); To allow that Word to dwell in them richly (Col. 3:16); and To let His Word lodge in your minds, thereby, bringing greater Obedience and Faithfulness—“as you see the Day approaching” (Heb. 10:25), -- Amen. 

INTRODUCTION TO BIBLIOLOGY (The Doctrine of the Bible) 

Opening Remarks: As Seventh-day Adventists, we are Protestants, which means that we believe in “Sola Scriptura,” the Bible alone as the sole authoritative foundation of our faith and doctrines. This is especially relevant in the last days, when, as Ellen G. White said, God will have “a people upon the earth to maintain the Bible, and the Bible only, as the standard of all doctrines and the basis of all reforms”. — The Great Controversy, p. 595. 

QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS. 

[1] What is “Sola Scriptura”? This is a Latin phrase, meaning “Scripture alone,” it expresses a commitment to Scripture as uniquely authoritative in doctrine and life. It asserts the sufficiency of Scripture as the supreme authority in all spiritual matters. Sola Scriptura simply means that all truth necessary for our salvation and spiritual life is taught either explicitly or implicitly in Scripture. Other Related Latin Expressions: • Sola Fide -- “faith alone.” • Sola Gratia -- “grace alone.” • Soli Deo Gloria -- “to God alone be glory.” • Solus Christus -- Christ alone, indicating that salvation is accomplished by the sacrifice and mediation of Christ alone. “The Bible stands alone. Nothing can be added to it. Nothing can be taken away. No matter what is said or written about it, the Bible is subject to no one but the God who inspired it. Any person who wants to know God and what He desires for humankind must follow the Bible. It is the ultimate word.” [Jon L. Dybdahl, Ed., Andrews Study Bible Notes, (Berrien Springs, MI: Andrews University Press, 2010), ix]. 

 [2] What is the Bible? The Bible is the Word of God. The Old and New Testaments makes up the Bible, God’s written Word. The Bible is the infallible revelation of God’s will; the standard of character, the test of experience, the authoritative revealer of all doctrines, and the trustworthy record of God’s acts in history. 

 [3] What phrases are used as a reference to the Bible? (a) Word (James 1:21–23; 1 Pet 2:2). (b) Word of God (Luke 11:28; Heb 4:12). (c) Word of Christ (Col 3:16). (d) Word of truth (James 1:18). (e) Holy Scriptures (Rom 1:2; 2 Tim 3:15). (f) Book (Ps 40:7; Rev 22:19). (g) Book of the Lord (Is 34:16). (h) Law of the Lord (Ps 1:2; Is 30:9). (i) Book of the Law (Neh 8:3; Gal 3:10). (j) Oracles of God (Rom 3:2; 1 Pet 4:11). (k) Sword of the Spirit (Eph 6:17). (l) Scripture of truth (Dan 10:21). 

 [4] Who wrote the Bible? The Bible was written by many authors: (a) Moses wrote Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy, and Psalm 90. (b) Joshua wrote the book named after him. (c) Job may have written his own story. (d) Samuel may have written Judges, Ruth, and 1 Samuel. (e) 5 David wrote most of the Psalms (2 Sam. 23:2). (f) Sons of Korah wrote Psalms 42, 44-49, 84-85, 87. (g) Asaph wrote Psalms 50, 73-83. (h) Heman wrote Psalm 88. (i) Ethan wrote Psalm 89. (j) Hezekiah wrote Psalms 120-123. 128-130, 132, 134 – 136 (Isa. 38:20). (k) Solomon wrote Psalms 72, 127, Proverbs 1 – 29, Ecclesiastes, Song of Solomon. (l) Agur wrote Proverbs 30. (m) Lemuel wrote Proverbs 31. (n) Jeremiah wrote Jeremiah, probably Lamentations, and possibly 1 and 2 Kings. (o) Ezra wrote Ezra and possibly 1 and 2 Chronicles and 2 Samuel. (p) Mordecai may have written Esther. (q) Luke wrote Acts as well as the Gospel of Luke. (r) John wrote the Gospel of John, 1 John, 2 John, 3 John, and Revelation. (s) Paul wrote Romans, 1 & 2 Corinthians, Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, 1 & 2 Thessalonians, 1 & 2 Timothy, Titus, Philemon, and Hebrews. 

 NOTE: The books of Old Testament prophecy were written by the prophets whose names they bear. The New Testament Epistles and Gospels, were also named after their authors – (with a very few exceptions). 

 [5] What Old Testament events are often referred to in the New Testament? (a) Creation (Gen. 1:1; Heb, 11:3) (b) Man made in God's image (Gen. 1:26; 1 Cor. 11:7) (c) God resting (Gen. 2:2-3; Heb. 4:4) (d) The institution of marriage (Gen. 2:24; Matt. 19:4-6) (e) The fall (Gen. 3:6-8; Rom. 5:12-19) (f) The murder of Abel (Gen. 4:8; 1 John 3:12) (g) Enoch’s translation (Gen. 5:21-24; Heb. 11:5) (h) The ark of Noah (Gen. 6:14-16; 7:1-12; Luke 17:26-27; 2 Pet. 3:6) (i) The call of Abraham (Gen. 12:1; Heb. 11:8) (j) The meeting of Abraham and Melchizedek (Gen. 14:18-20; Heb. 7:1-4) (k) The destruction of Sodom (Gen. 19; Matt. 11:24; Luke 17:32) (l) Isaac's birth (Gen. 19:26; Gal. 4:23) (m) The offering up of Isaac (Gen. 22:10; Heb. 11:17-19) (n) The burning bush (Exod. 3:2; Luke 20:37; Acts 7:30) (o) The Exodus (Exod. 12-14; Acts 7:36; Heb. 11:29; 1 Cor. 10:1) (p) The giving of manna (Exod. 16:15; John 6:31) (q) The giving of the law (Exod. 20; Gal. 3:19) (r) The serpent of brass (Num. 21:8-9; John 3:14) (s) Elijah and the drought (1 Kings 17; Luke 4:25; James 5:17) (t) The healing of Naaman (2 Kings 5:14; Luke 4:27) (u) Daniel in the lions’ den (Dan. 6:22; Heb. 11:33) (v) Jonah in the belly of the fish (Jon. 1:17; Matt. 12:40; 16:4) 

 [6] What Old Testament passages are often referred to in the New Testament? (a) “Be ye holy, for I am holy” (Lev. 11:44; 1 Pet. 1:16). (b) “I will never leave thee nor forsake thee” (Josh. 1:5; Heb. 13:5). (c) “Be ye angry and sin not” (Psa. 4:4; Eph. 4:26). (d) ”There is none righteous, no not one” (Psa. 14:1; Rom. 3:10). (e) “Whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth” (Prov. 3:12; Heb. 12:6). (f) “God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes” (Isa. 25:8; Rev. 21:4). (g) “Death is swallowed up in victory” (Hos. 13:14; 1 Cor. 15:54). (h) “I will pour out my Spirit upon all flesh” (Joel 2:28; Acts 2:17). (i) “Whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved” (Joel 2:32; Rom. 10:13). (j) “The earth is the LORD’s and the fulness thereof” (Psa. 24:1; 1 Cor. 10:26). (k) “My son, despise not the chastening of the Lord” (Prov. 3:11; Heb. 12:5). (l) “Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord” (Psa. 118:26; Matt. 21:9). (m) “Charity covereth a multitude of sins” (Prov. 10:12; 1 Pet. 4:8). (n) “How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel” (Isa. 52:7; Rom. 10:15). (o) “I will remember their sin no more” (Jer. 31:34; Heb. 10:17; Heb. 8:12) 

 [7] How important is the Bible? What should be our attitude with regard to the Bible? (a) The Bible should be the standard of teaching (1 Pet 4:11). (b) The Bible should be believed (John 2:22). (c) The Bible should be appealed to (1 Cor 1:31; 1 Pet 1:16). (d) The Bible should be read (Deut 17:19; Isa 34:16). (e) The Bible should be read publicly to all (Deut 31:11–13; Neh 8:3; Jer 36:6; Acts 13:15). (f) The Bible should be known (2 Tim 3:15). (g) The Bible should be received with meekness (James 1:21). (h) The Bible should be searched (John 5:39; 7:52). (i) The Bible should be searched daily (Acts 17:11). (j) The Bible should be laid up in the heart (Deut 6:6; 11:18). (k) The Bible should be taught to children (Deut 6:7; 11:19; 2 Tim 3:15). (l) The Bible should be taught to all (2 Chr 17:7–9; Neh 8:7-8). (m) The Bible should be talked about often/ continually (Deut 6:7). (n) The Bible should not be handled deceitfully (2 Cor 4:2). (o) The Bible should not only heard but obeyed (Matt 7:24; Luke 11:28; James 1:22). (p) The Bible should be used against our spiritual enemies (Matt 4:4, 7, 10; Eph 6:11, 17). (q) The Bible should be received not as the word of men, but as the word of God (1 Thess 2:13). 

 DEVOTIONAL IMPLICATION: What is the significance of these Study Guides on the subject of the Bible? “God’s word is light. In fact, the very first thing that God created in our world by His spoken word was light (Gen. 1:3). The psalmist said: “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path” (Ps. 119:105). Of course, there is much light in the Bible that is clear and simple to understand. But any serious Bible student knows that what is clear and simple often also has great depth. The light of a clear blue sky appears to be a simple, beautiful canopy. But we know that it is very deep—as deep as the universe itself. As we follow that light deeper, whether into the universe or into the Bible, we always discover deeper truth about the Creator of all things.” [Jon L. Dybdahl, Ed., Andrews Study Bible Notes, (Berrien Springs, MI: Andrews University Press, 2010), ix]. 

Beloved, these Bible Study Guide will help us on that journey. They will help us to know and understand God better. They will help us understand the light of His Word, the depth of His Love, the purposes of His revealed will in our lives, and the divine endless truth that will change our lives forever, as we wait for His soon return. 

ACTION STEP: What response do you think this lesson should inspires us to do? [1] Believe that Scripture — the Old and New Testaments, which make up the Bible, are God’s written Word. [2] Believe that although the Bible was written by prophets and apostles, the Bible originated not with their wills, but with God’s (2 Pet. 1:20–21). “All Scripture,” Paul wrote, “is given by inspiration of God” (2 Tim. 3:16). [3] Believe that its doctrines are holy, its precepts are binding, its histories are true, and its decisions are immutable. [4] Believe that this Book contains the mind of God, the state of man, the way of Salvation, the doom of sinners, the happiness of believers, and truths about how to receive Eternal Life. [5] Believe that God gave to the world His living Word, Jesus Christ, and His written Word, the Scriptures. After Jesus (God’s living Word), returned to heaven, the Bible (God’s written Word), remained on earth as God’s eternal guide for mankind. Here we see the will of God for all mankind: “The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.” (2 Peter 3:9, NKJV) [6] Believe that Christ is its grand object --He is the focus of the Bible; He is ‘the Gospel’s Voice’ – (the voice of God speaking with each one of us) – to repent, to ‘prepare the way of the Lord and make His paths straight’ because He is coming, and He wants us to be ready. 

 MY DECISION TODAY: [1] I want to read the Bible; [2] I want to ask the Holy Spirit to reveal the scriptures to me; [3] I want to study and share the Bible with those I come in contact with; [4] I want to obey the Bible: “But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man observing his natural face in a mirror; for he observes himself, goes away, and immediately forgets what kind of man he was.” (James 1:22–24, NKJV) 

CLOSING HYMN: Give Me the Bible – (SDAH 272). 

 Have a Blessed Day: “Therefore lay aside all filthiness and overflow of wickedness, and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls.” (James 1:21, NKJV)