authority of Scripture
The idea that all the words in Scripture are God's words in such a way that to disbelieve or disobey any word of Scripture is to disbelieve or disobey God. (2)
absolute authority
The highest authority in one's life; an authority that cannot be disproved by appeal to any higher authority. (2A)
Scripture
The writings (Gk. graph?) of the Old and New Testaments, which have historically been recognized as God's words in written form. Another term for the Bible. (2A)
God-breathed
Translation of the Greek word theopneustos (sometimes translated "inspired by God"), which the Bible (2 Tim. 3:16) uses metaphorically to describe the words of Scripture as being spoken by God. (2A.1)
inspiration
Refers to the fact that the words of Scripture are spoken by God. Because of the weak sense of this word in ordinary usage, this text prefers the term "God-breathed" to indicate that the words of Scripture are spoken by God. (2A.1)
neoorthodoxy
A twentieth-century theological movement represented by the teachings of Karl Barth. Instead of the orthodox position that all the words of Scripture were spoken by God, Barth taught that the words of Scripture become God's words to us as we encounter the
self-attesting
The self-authenticating nature of the Bible by which it convinces us that its words are God's words. (2A.4)
circular argument
An argument that seeks to prove its conclusion by appealing to a claim that depends on the truth of the conclusion. (2A.5)
dictation
The idea that God expressly spoke every word of Scripture to the human authors. (2A.6)
inerrancy
The idea that Scripture in the original manuscripts does not affirm anything that is contrary to fact. (2D.1)
faith and practice
Some people, who deny the inerrancy of the Bible, claim that the Bible's purpose is only to tell us about these two subjects. (2D.2.a)
infallibility
The idea that Scripture is not able to lead us astray in matters of faith and practice. (2D.2.a)
textual variants
Occurrences of different words in different ancient copies of the same verse of Scripture. (2D.2.c)