Study 1: The Bible
We begin where God begins, with His Word. In a confused world, where many voices ask for our trust, we need to know whether God has spoken clearly, truthfully, and sufficiently. This first study helps us slow down, open the Scriptures, and consider the simple but life-shaping question: Is the Bible truly the Word of God?
Many of us come to that question with a mixture of curiosity, hope, hesitation, and perhaps a little fear. That is understandable. But if God has spoken, then we are not left to drift through opinion, memory, tradition, or feeling alone. We are being addressed by the living God.
Before you begin
This study is not asking us merely to admire the Bible, or to place it politely on a shelf among other books. It is asking whether Scripture is God speaking. If it is, then we are dealing with something holy, searching, authoritative, and good. We are dealing with the voice of our Maker.
So let us come humbly. It is possible to read the Bible defensively, selectively, or merely curiously. But it is far better to come saying, “Lord, if Thou hast spoken, help me to hear.”
This study at a glance
God has spoken
Christianity does not begin with our search for God, but with God revealing Himself to us.
Scripture is inspired
The Bible presents itself as God-breathed, trustworthy, and profitable for our souls.
Christ honours Scripture
The Lord Jesus treated the Scriptures as true, authoritative, and decisive.
Read these passages first
It is helpful to open the Bible itself before reading too much explanation. The Word of God is not merely the subject of this study, it is also the means by which God teaches us.
Core passages
- 2 Timothy 3:14-17
- 2 Peter 1:19-21
- John 17:17
- Psalm 19:7-11
Passages to compare
- Matthew 4:1-11
- Matthew 5:17-18
- John 10:35
- John 14:26
Why start with the Bible?
Because everything else depends on it. If the Bible is only a human record of religious experience, then its claims may be interesting, moving, or historically significant, but they are not binding. But if the Bible is the Word of God, then it speaks with divine truth, divine authority, and divine purpose.
We often try to settle great questions by leaning on our feelings, our upbringing, the customs around us, or the voices that sound most confident. Yet none of these is a sure foundation. Feelings change, traditions differ, and human reasoning is limited. We need revelation. We need God to tell us the truth.
What does Scripture say about itself?
The Bible claims that its words are not merely human reflections on divine things. Scripture is “given by inspiration of God”. That means it is God-breathed. Human authors truly wrote, each in his own historical setting and manner, yet the God who cannot lie superintended what was written so that His Word was given faithfully.
This matters greatly. The authority of Scripture does not rest finally upon the church, the scholar, the preacher, or the reader. It rests upon God Himself, who is truth and speaks truth. Because He is truthful, His Word is truthful. Because He is holy, His Word is pure. Because He is wise, His Word is sufficient for what He intends it to do.
Its source
Scripture comes from God, and therefore carries His authority.
Its character
Scripture is true, pure, trustworthy, and spiritually fruitful.
Its purpose
Scripture makes us wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.
Why does the Lord Jesus matter so much here?
Because the Lord Jesus did not treat the Scriptures lightly. He appealed to them in temptation, in controversy, in public teaching, and in private prayer. He did not speak as though the Bible were a rough guide needing correction from modern insight. He spoke of it as truth. He said, “the scripture cannot be broken.”
This is crucial. If we say we want Christ, but we do not want the Bible He honoured, trusted, quoted, and fulfilled, we are trying to divide what God has joined together. The Jesus of Scripture and the Scriptures He affirmed cannot be separated.
How this fits with the 1689 London Baptist Confession
In harmony with the opening chapter of the 1689 Confession, we may say that Holy Scripture is the certain, sufficient, and infallible rule of saving knowledge, faith, and obedience. In other words, we do not turn to the Bible merely for private inspiration, but because God has given it as the sure guide for what we are to believe about Him and how we are to live before Him.
That does not make the Christian life colder. It makes it safer. We are not left to invent our own spirituality, nor to build our lives on passing impressions. The Lord has spoken clearly enough for us to know the way of salvation, to behold Christ, and to walk in truth.
Why this matters personally
Many people live with a quiet uncertainty: “How do I know what is really true?” Others live with a more painful uncertainty: “How can I trust anything after all I have seen, heard, or suffered?” The Bible does not mock those questions. It meets them by directing us away from ourselves and toward the God who speaks truth.
If the Bible is God’s Word, then we are not abandoned to confusion. We are being called into light. That means we need not master everything at once. But it does mean that we must not ignore what God says. To neglect His Word is not a small thing. To receive it humbly is the beginning of wisdom.
When we are doubtful
We must bring our doubts to Scripture, not use our doubts as a reason to stay away from it.
When we are teachable
The Lord often gives light gradually, as we read, pray, and submit ourselves to what He has said.
You may be wondering
How is the Bible different from other religious books?
The Bible is not simply a collection of spiritual reflections. It presents itself as divine revelation, unfolding one coherent redemptive message across many books and centuries, centred finally in the Lord Jesus Christ. Its authority rests on God who speaks, not merely on human sincerity.
What if I still struggle to believe it is God’s Word?
Then be honest about that struggle, but do not turn away. Keep reading. Ask the Lord for light. Many people begin with questions. The issue is not whether you have questions, but whether you are willing to let God answer them in His own way.
Does translation matter?
Yes, because words matter. God has chosen to reveal truth in words, and therefore accuracy matters. We should want faithful translations that handle the text carefully and reverently.
What should my attitude be when I read the Bible?
We should come with humility, teachableness, prayerfulness, and a willingness to obey. The Bible is not given merely to satisfy curiosity, but to bring us into the truth of God and to point us savingly to Christ.
Reflection and response
These questions are here to help you pause and think honestly before the Lord.
- Why do I think truth matters?
- What have I tended to trust most: my feelings, other people, tradition, or God’s Word?
- What difference would it make to my life if the Bible is truly God speaking?
- Do I read the Bible as a book to evaluate, or as a word from the Lord to receive?
- What questions do I most need answered as I begin this course?
A simple prayer before moving on
Keep going
When we begin with Scripture, we are beginning on solid ground. The next study helps us consider the God who speaks in that Word.
