The Holy Scriptures

As the Church of the Nazarene, we have created our theological journey throughout the history of the church. All along that road, Scripture has been paramount in the life of our church. Scripture has not only been part of our reformed inheritance from the 16th century (“Sola Scriptura”), but the Bible has also constituted our Arminian and Wesleyan legacy. Jacobus Arminius wrote, “Only in Scripture we have the infallible word of God, and nowhere else.”

Scripture tells us about the history of salvation, which extends from Genesis to Revelation, from the creation of the world until the end of time. It offers us God's self-revelation through His mighty acts as well as through the Word made flesh, His Son Jesus Christ. God's main purpose throughout Scripture is to offer humanity the hope of redemption from sin and death. Along with that purpose, there is perfect harmony between the prophets, the words of Jesus, and the apostles around the Bible's essential message.

Plenary Inspiration

In regard to our definition of this fourth article of faith, our identity and belonging as Nazarenes can be broken down into a few fundamental aspects. One has to do with our acceptance of plenary inspiration of the 66 books that make up the Old and New Testaments.

Plenary inspiration means that the Bible in its organic entirety is the Word of God. This implies our acknowledgement that all 40 biblical authors, belonging to various social strata, wrote in different literary genres from within their own contexts, cultures, and backgrounds. But also, we acknowledge that all Scripture was inspired by the Spirit (2 Timothy 3:16). This is a marvelous integration of diversity and unity with a redeeming purpose.

This interpretation about its inspiration also combines in correct balance the divine-human element of the Scripture, and shares the same dual nature of the Word made flesh. This “christological analogy” gives evidence of another distinctive aspect of the following declaration of faith: “inerrantly revealing the will of God” (Manual, Article of Faith IV). Understanding this is of utmost importance.

A Record of God’s Will

Here lies the recognition that in this dynamic process, God, through His Holy Spirit, ensured the existence of an accurate and truthful record of His will, including all things pertinent to our redemption in Christ.

Scripture’s relevance within the Christian faith as the standard of faith and conduct proves fundamental. Through Scripture we know God, who reveals himself to establish what we should believe (our doctrine, our declaration of faith), including the way in which we should live (our code of ethics).

What Good Is the Bible?

However, perhaps the most repeated questions relating to the Bible and its message have to do with its applicability and relevance to everyday life. We might ask ourselves,

• What good is the Bible?

• In spite of the historical gap that separates us from the time when it was written, does the Word have answers for us today?

• Can we trust its message?

The author of Hebrews left us a clear and simple declaration, “The word of God is alive and active” (Hebrews 4:12). The first affirmation—the Word is alive—highlights its validity, its faithfulness, and its relevance to our present situations. This means that Scripture has no expiration date and will never be a thing of the past. It is more current than tomorrow's newspaper. As a result, we can trust it.

Scripture Is Efficient

No less important is the second affirmation; it tells us about Scripture’s efficiency. This means that the Word gives results, has power, offers relief and direction, and transforms lives.

The Word of God is not a science book nor is it a history book. It was not written to dissipate human curiosity. Instead, it has the answers to all human beings' existential questions pertaining to the meaning of life. This means that beyond just reading Scripture, it is imperative we obey it daily. John Wesley said, “The Spirit of God not only once inspired those who wrote (the Bible), but continually inspires, supernaturally assists, those that read it with earnest prayer."¹

Benefits of Obeying the Word

Throughout the Old and New Testaments, references about the benefits of obeying the Word of God abound:

• Those who delight in it reap a solid, firm, and growing life (Psalm 1).

• The person who obeys its commandments brings light to his or her path (Psalm 119:105).

• The one who is led by divine council finds the right path to reach the purpose for which he or she was created (Psalm 119:121).

• Those who abide by its teachings find the way out of temptation (Matthew 4:1-11).

• Individuals who keep the Word live in communion with God (John 14:15- 23).

Proverbs 4:20-22 is a clear invitation to listen, read, obey, and keep the Word of God as the center of a victorious Christian life:

My son, pay attention to what I say; turn your ear to my words. Do not let them out of your sight, keep them within your heart; for they are life to those who find them and health to one’s whole body.

Meaning for Life

The action verbs used in these verses refer to our relationship with the Word. They show an increasing intensity and the invitation turns into an imperative. This ends with the immediate results of finding meaning for our lives, and healing from all kinds of ailments, both spiritual as well as physical.

All through the history of humanity, millions of people have been inspired by the moral and ethical teachings of the Holy Scripture. Many have been redeemed by its message. As they obeyed its precepts, they discovered the secret to a full and abundant life as intended by our Creator.

Finally, we also need to acknowledge that the influence of the Word of God transcends the individual realm and reaches the sphere of the community of faith, questioning us. From this perspective, we must ask ourselves, “What place does the Word occupy in our work as the church today? In what measure do our models of worship and liturgy, preaching, leadership, or pastoring pass through the filter of the Word and are molded by it? ”

As we travel along new roads as a denomination, holding steady to our inheritance in relation to the centrality of Scripture will help us to remain in the counsel of God. This perspective helps us find pertinent and biblically-sound answers as we face the new challenges of our generation.

1. Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament (London: Epworth Press, 1941), p. 794.

Jorge L. Julca is rector of Seminario Teológico Nazareno del Cono Sur in Buenos Aires, Argentina, and regional education coordinator on the South America Region.

Please note: All facts, figures, and titles were accurate to the best of our knowledge at the time of original publication but may have since changed.