Bible Doctrines - Updated American Standard Version

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Biblical Doctrine—What Is It? How Is It Determined and by Whom?

The term “biblical doctrine” refers to the body of authoritative teaching derived directly from the inspired Scriptures, encompassing God’s revealed truth concerning His nature, purposes, and commands. Doctrine (from the Latin doctrina, meaning “teaching” or “instruction”) is not merely a theological abstraction but the very framework by which God communicates His will and reveals His character. For Christians committed to the authority of Scripture, doctrine is not optional or peripheral—it is essential. It informs faith, defines truth, shapes behavior, and guards against error. The importance of sound doctrine is repeatedly underscored in both the Old and New Testaments (Deuteronomy 32:2; Proverbs 4:2; 2 Timothy 3:16–17; Titus 1:9).

Scripture itself provides the only legitimate source for doctrine. As Paul instructed Timothy, “All Scripture is inspired of God and beneficial for teaching, for reproving, for setting things straight, for disciplining in righteousness, so that the man of God may be fully competent, completely equipped for every good work” (2 Timothy 3:16–17). Doctrine, therefore, must arise from exegesis—not tradition, human philosophy, ecclesiastical councils, or mystical experiences. The authority rests in God’s Word alone, and sound doctrine is the faithful exposition of what God has already revealed.

The Nature and Function of Biblical Doctrine

Doctrine is not invented by the church but discovered through submission to the Bible’s text. It is descriptive of divine truth, not prescriptive in the sense of being created by human decree. Throughout Scripture, the faithful are exhorted to uphold and guard sound teaching. Paul urged Titus to “speak the things that are consistent with sound teaching” (Titus 2:1), and he warned Timothy that “a time will come when they will not put up with the healthy teaching” (2 Timothy 4:3). The apostles viewed doctrine as both a sacred deposit to be preserved and a tool for combating error (Jude 3; 1 Timothy 6:3–5).

In the Hebrew Scriptures, doctrine is rooted in the torah—God’s instruction and law. Moses declared, “Let my teaching (Hebrew leqach) drop as the rain, my speech distill as the dew” (Deuteronomy 32:2). This teaching encompasses not only legal instruction but divine revelation concerning God’s will, promises, and redemptive acts. In the New Testament, the Greek term didachē (“teaching” or “doctrine”) frequently appears in reference to apostolic instruction grounded in Christ’s words and the Hebrew Scriptures.

Doctrine provides the boundaries of the Christian faith. Without it, belief becomes subjective, and spiritual life is driven by emotion or personal opinion. The apostle John, for instance, defined fellowship with God in doctrinal terms: “Anyone who goes ahead and does not remain in the teaching of the Christ does not have God” (2 John 9). Biblical doctrine thus serves as the standard for distinguishing truth from falsehood, faith from apostasy, and genuine Christianity from all forms of counterfeit religion.

How Is Biblical Doctrine Determined?

Sound doctrine is determined not by ecclesiastical tradition, mystical insight, or majority vote, but through a disciplined, grammatical-historical method of interpretation that seeks to discover the original intended meaning of the inspired text. This approach, rooted in reverence for divine authorship, treats Scripture as God’s Word in human language and seeks to understand it within its historical, linguistic, and canonical contexts.

The necessary tools for establishing doctrine include:

1. Contextual analysis – Every passage must be read in its immediate, literary, and canonical context. No verse stands in isolation. Paul’s teachings about justification, for example, must be understood within his broader argument in Romans and Galatians.

2. Original language study – The nuances of Hebrew and Greek vocabulary and grammar are essential for accurate interpretation. For example, understanding the Greek term dikaiosynē (“righteousness”) clarifies key doctrines such as justification and sanctification.

3. Historical and cultural background – Understanding the historical setting and cultural assumptions of the biblical authors helps avoid anachronistic interpretations. For example, grasping Jewish sacrificial systems clarifies Christ’s atonement in Hebrews.

4. Scriptural harmony – No doctrine can contradict the totality of Scripture. Clear passages must interpret the less clear. The Bible, though composed over centuries by multiple human authors, possesses a unified message because its ultimate author is God (2 Peter 1:21).

5. The didactic priority of certain texts – While all Scripture is inspired, not all passages are equally doctrinal in nature. Prescriptive, teaching-oriented texts (such as the Pauline epistles) take precedence over descriptive narratives when forming doctrine.

The determination of doctrine, then, requires careful exegesis under the guidance of the Holy Spirit—not through direct inspiration today, but by submitting to the Spirit’s work through the inspired text (John 16:13 applied specifically to the apostles; see also 2 Peter 1:19–21).

Who Determines Doctrine?

Doctrine is not determined by popes, councils, denominational headquarters, or charismatic leaders. It is revealed by God and recognized by faithful teachers who labor to handle Scripture accurately. Paul charged Timothy: “Pay constant attention to yourself and to your teaching. Persevere in these things, for by doing this you will save both yourself and those who listen to you” (1 Timothy 4:16). Church leaders must be “able to exhort by the wholesome teaching and to reprove those who contradict” (Titus 1:9).

In the early church, doctrine was delivered through apostolic authority. The apostles were chosen eyewitnesses of Christ, inspired to deliver God’s message with infallibility (John 14:26; Acts 1:21–22; 1 Corinthians 2:12–13). Their writings became the New Testament canon, completing God’s self-revelation. Today, no new doctrine is being revealed. Instead, believers are called to “contend earnestly for the faith that was once for all time delivered to the holy ones” (Jude 3).

Faithful Christians must evaluate all teachings by the written Word. Like the noble-minded Bereans, they are to “examine the Scriptures daily to see whether these things were so” (Acts 17:11). All human teachers are fallible and must be tested against the standard of Scripture (1 John 4:1). This includes pastors, elders, and religious authorities. Even Paul praised the Bereans for testing his message.

While local church elders are charged with guarding doctrine and teaching faithfully (1 Timothy 3:2; 2 Timothy 2:15), their authority is derived from the Word, not above it. No officeholder may invent or revise doctrine. Doctrine is stewarded by the congregation but authored solely by God.

The Danger of False Doctrine

Scripture abounds with warnings against false teachers who distort God’s truth for gain, prestige, or deception (2 Peter 2:1–3; 1 Timothy 4:1–2). Such individuals are said to “hold to a form of godliness but prove false to its power” (2 Timothy 3:5), often cloaking error in the language of spirituality. Paul warned the Galatians that anyone—“even if we or an angel from heaven”—who preached a different gospel was “accursed” (Galatians 1:8). False doctrine is not a secondary issue; it corrupts the soul, misrepresents God, and leads to death (2 Peter 2:17; 2 John 9–11).

The church’s task is to refute error, proclaim truth, and equip believers with sound teaching that leads to godliness (1 Timothy 6:3). This is not legalistic dogmatism, but faithful stewardship of divine revelation. True doctrine produces spiritual maturity, holiness, and assurance of salvation (Ephesians 4:11–14).

Conclusion

Biblical doctrine is the unchanging, God-given truth revealed in Scripture concerning who God is, what He has done, and what He requires. It is determined not by human invention but by careful study of the inspired text using sound principles of interpretation. It is recognized and taught by faithful ministers but belongs to the entire church as a sacred trust. All Christians are called to know, guard, and obey sound doctrine, for it is the foundation of enduring faith. “If you remain in My word,” Jesus said, “you are truly My disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free” (John 8:31–32).

Examples of Bible Doctrine:

The Trinity: God exists as three persons—Father, Son, Holy Spirit—in one essence.
Salvation by Grace: Salvation is a gift through faith in Jesus, not earned by works.
Inerrancy of Scripture: The Bible is without error in its original manuscripts.

Examples of Theology:

Soteriology: The study of salvation, exploring how and why Christ’s atonement works.
Eschatology: The study of end times, analyzing biblical prophecy and events like the rapture.
Pneumatology: The study of the Holy Spirit’s nature, role, and work in the world.

Explanation: Bible doctrine refers to the specific teachings or beliefs derived directly from Scripture, often presented as clear, foundational truths for Christian faith and practice. It focuses on what the Bible explicitly states or implies about core beliefs. Theology, while rooted in Scripture, is the broader, systematic study of God and spiritual matters, often involving analysis, interpretation, and application of doctrines. Theology explores the “why” and “how” behind doctrines, connecting them to philosophy, history, and culture, and may incorporate reasoning beyond direct biblical statements. For instance, doctrine states the Trinity; theology examines its implications for worship or its historical development.