An Apostolic Declaration for the Third Millenium

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An Affirmation of the Authority of Holy Scripture

Apostolics receive Holy Scripture as authoritative in all manners of
faith, life,  and ministry.  "All Scripture is God-breathed and is
useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting, and training in
righteousness, so that the man of God might  be thoroughly equipped for
every good work" (2Tm 3:16).  The writings of Holy Scripture in the Old
and New Testaments witness to the revelation of God in human history
which culminates in Jesus Christ.  God revealed himself in word and deed
to the authors of Holy Scripture and inspired them by the Holy Spirit to
write their witness to the presence, power, and reality of God.  "That
which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen
with our eyes, which we have looked at and our hands have touched-this
we proclaim concerning the Word of life" (1Jn 1:1).

Apostolics receive Holy Scripture as authoritative because God confirms
his Word in the Apostolic community.  The promises of God found in his
Word are fulfilled in Jesus Christ (2Co 1:20).

The authority of Holy Scripture is inherent in the Apostolic Church. 
The authority  of  Holy Scripture is not dependent upon human ability 
to demonstrate its correspondence with science and history.  The
authority of Holy Scripture is not dependent upon human ability to 
prove its logical coherence.  The authority of Holy Scripture is
established by the Holy Spirit who uses this Word to bring salvation, a
salvation which persuades the Church that Holy Scripture is indeed the
Word of God (Rm 10:17).

The authority of Holy Scripture is apparent within the Apostolic Church.
It is within the Apostolic Church that Christ is experienced through the
Holy Spirit, the Spirit which leads and guides the Church into truth (Jn
16:13).  The Spirit witnesses to Christ afresh, compels Apostolics to
proclaim the Word of God, and convinces the Apostolic Church that Holy
Scripture is indeed the Word of God.

We affirm that Holy Scripture is the inspired, authoritative, and
infallible Word of God.  We affirm that Holy Scripture is a true and
accurate witness to the revelation of God in Jesus Christ.  We affirm
that Holy Scripture is the authority for the faith, life and ministry of
the Church. We affirm that God, and God alone, establishes the authority
of his Word by the power of the Holy Spirit in the Church.

Copyright 1999, Steven A. Starcher