A. Inspiration

1. All of the Bible is given by inspiration of God and is thus without error. It is the very Word of God. It does not merely contain the Word of God, as if it contained the erroneous words of men mingled with the perfect words of God. The doctrine of inspiration is the first principle from which all biblical doctrines are derived. Its truth is revealed to man by God. [2 Sam 7:28; 2 Sam 23:2; Psalm 12:6; Psalm 25:5; Psalm 111:7-8; Psalm 119:43; Psalm 119:89; Psalm 138:2; Dan 10:21; John 17:17; Acts 3:18; 1 Cor 2:4; 1 Cor 2:12-16; 2 Tim 2:15; 2 Tim 3:15-17; Heb 1:1-2; 2 Peter 1:20-21; 2 Peter 3:15]

2. There is no part of Scripture that contradicts any other part of Scripture. [Psalm 19:7-9; 2 Cor 1:18-20; Heb 6:17-18]

B. Preservation It has been God’s special care to providentially preserve the Bible whole and unblemished through every age. [Deuteronomy 31:11; Psalm 12:5-7; Psalm 111:7-8; Psalm 119:152; Isa 40:8; Isa 59:21; Acts 15:21; Rom 3:1-4; Eph 2:20]

C. Scripture Alone

1. Only the Bible is to be received as authoritative, to the exclusion of all other writings, because it is the only inspired Word of God. In it God has given His church everything necessary for life and godliness. It is forbidden to add unto or take away anything from the Word of God; the doctrine within it is most perfect and complete in all respects. God has not given any new revelations to His people since the close of Scripture, and there is no unwritten tradition equal or superior in authority to the Scriptures. [Deuteronomy 4:2; Deuteronomy 11:18-21; Deuteronomy 12:32; Jos 1:8; Psalm 19:7-11; Prov 30:5-6; Isa 40:6-8; Matt 15:5-9; Luke 16:31; Gal 1:10-17; 2 Tim 3:15-17; 2 Peter 1:3-4; Rev 22:18-19]

2. Let all men and all doctrines, including this Confession, be judged by this standard alone. Whatever is taught in any book or by any man that is contrary to the Bible is to be rejected. [Deuteronomy 13:1-4; Isa 8:20; John 7:24; Acts 17:11; Gal 1:8-9; 1 John 4:1]