Bibliology (Scripture)

Examining the doctrine of Scripture—its inspiration, inerrancy, authority, canon, and interpretation.

Apologetics | Bibliology (Scripture)

How should a Christian student handle a university course taught from a higher-critical perspective?
ByRev. Ian M. Thomas March 28, 2026

Reading Time: 4 minutesQuestion 60081 A Christian student entering a university biblical studies department for the first time can find the experience genuinely disorienting. Lecturers who have devoted their academic careers to the subject treat the multiple authorship of Isaiah, the post-exilic composition of Daniel, and the legendary character of the patriarchal narratives not as contested positions but…

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Bibliology (Scripture) | Historical Theology

What are the major Greek manuscript families, and what are their key differences?
ByRev. Ian M. Thomas March 28, 2026

Reading Time: 4 minutesQuestion 01169 The New Testament has been transmitted in over 5,800 Greek manuscripts, along with thousands more in Latin, Syriac, Coptic, Armenian, Gothic, and other ancient languages. This remarkable abundance of manuscript evidence is one of the strongest arguments for the New Testament’s textual reliability compared to any other work of antiquity. But not all…

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Bibliology (Scripture) | Introduction to Doctrine

Why do people prefer teachers who tell them what they want to hear?
ByRev. Ian M. Thomas March 28, 2026

Reading Time: 9 minutesQuestion 0046 There is a scene that plays out in churches, conferences, and online platforms with alarming regularity. A preacher stands before a crowd and delivers a message that makes everyone feel wonderful about themselves. Sin is barely mentioned. Repentance is reframed as “self-improvement.” The hard edges of Scripture are smoothed down until the gospel…

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Bibliology (Scripture) | Introduction to Doctrine

How did Christians learn doctrine before they had complete Bibles?
ByRev. Ian M. Thomas March 28, 2026

Reading Time: 6 minutesQuestion 0037 This question helps us appreciate both the remarkable providence of God in preserving His truth and the reality of how the early Church actually functioned. It also reminds us not to take for granted the complete Bible we hold in our hands today. The Situation of the Early Church When the Church was…

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Bibliology (Scripture) | Introduction to Doctrine

Why can’t I just read the Bible without theology?
ByRev. Ian M. Thomas March 28, 2026

Reading Time: 4 minutesQuestion 0040 The short answer is: you can’t. And this isn’t a criticism—it’s simply the reality of how human beings engage with any text, including Scripture. Everyone Has Theology The moment you open your Bible and read, “In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth” (Genesis 1:1), you bring theology with you. What…

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Bibliology (Scripture) | Introduction to Doctrine

How is studying doctrine an act of love?
ByRev. Ian M. Thomas March 28, 2026

Reading Time: 5 minutesQuestion 0020 This might seem a strange question at first. Doctrine often gets a bad reputation—it’s seen as dry, academic, divisive, the province of theologians arguing about angels on pinheads while the real work of loving people goes neglected. But this is a terrible misunderstanding. Rightly understood, studying doctrine is one of the most loving…

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Bibliology (Scripture) | Ecclesiology (Church) | Introduction to Doctrine

Why did the early church devote themselves to the apostles’ teaching first (Acts 2:42)?
ByRev. Ian M. Thomas March 28, 2026

Reading Time: 5 minutesQuestion 0025 The book of Acts gives us a snapshot of the earliest Christian community in Jerusalem, immediately after the Day of Pentecost. Three thousand people had just been baptised. The church had suddenly grown from a small band of disciples to a substantial movement. And Luke tells us how they lived: “And they devoted…

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Bibliology (Scripture) | Introduction to Doctrine

Why did Paul always start his letters with doctrine before practical application?
ByRev. Ian M. Thomas March 28, 2026

Reading Time: 6 minutesQuestion 0023 Anyone who has spent time reading Paul’s letters will notice a consistent pattern. Take Romans: the first eleven chapters are dense theological exposition—the righteousness of God, justification by faith, the place of Israel, the sovereignty of God in salvation. Then chapter 12 begins: “I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of…

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Bibliology (Scripture) | Introduction to Doctrine

What happens when experience is valued over doctrine?
ByRev. Ian M. Thomas March 28, 2026

Reading Time: 5 minutesQuestion 0041 When we elevate experience above doctrine, we step onto dangerous ground. This isn’t merely an academic concern for theologians to debate in ivory towers—it strikes at the very heart of how we know God, how we discern truth from error, and how we navigate the Christian life with confidence. The Apostle Paul warned…

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Bibliology (Scripture) | Introduction to Doctrine | Pneumatology (Holy Spirit)

Does having the Holy Spirit mean I don’t need to study doctrine?
ByRev. Ian M. Thomas March 28, 2026

Reading Time: 5 minutesQuestion 0039 This question reflects a misunderstanding that some sincere Christians hold; the idea that because we have the indwelling Spirit, we can bypass careful study and simply rely on direct spiritual insight. It sounds humble and spiritual, but it actually contradicts what Scripture itself teaches. The Spirit-Led Life and the Word Yes, every believer…

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Bibliology (Scripture)

How should a Christian student handle a university course taught from a higher-critical perspective?

What are the major Greek manuscript families, and what are their key differences?

Why do people prefer teachers who tell them what they want to hear?

How did Christians learn doctrine before they had complete Bibles?

Why can’t I just read the Bible without theology?

How is studying doctrine an act of love?

Why did the early church devote themselves to the apostles’ teaching first (Acts 2:42)?

Why did Paul always start his letters with doctrine before practical application?

What happens when experience is valued over doctrine?

Does having the Holy Spirit mean I don’t need to study doctrine?

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