The Iglesia Ni Cristo belief about the Bible

IGLESIA NI CRISTO

(CHURCH OF CHRIST)

Doctrines, Beliefs and Practices

ABOUT THE BIBLE

“We believe that the Bible is the word of God and the sole basis of our faith and service to God”

How True the Bible is the Word of God?

HOW TRUE THE BIBLE IS 

THE WORD OF GOD?

“I don’t believe in the Bible because 

it is only written by men”

The Canon of the New Testament

THE CANON OF THE NEW TESTAMENT

ThE books of the New testament were compiled at the end of the first century and the New Testament canon is consists of only 27 books. How the New Testement books were compiled? Who gathered them? and when? Why are we sure that the canon of the New Testament is consists of only 27 books?

Reliability of the Old Testament

THE RELIABILITY OF THE

OLD TESTAMENT

TEXT

WHEN we talk about credibility and reliability of the Old Testament text, what we are establishing here is the textual accuracy and the historical reliability of the Scriptures. Textual accuracy of the Old Testament text has shown in at least in four major ways:

(1)   The accuracy of the textual transmission (the accuracy of the copying process down through history).

(2)   Bibliographical evidences.

(3)   Internal evidences.

(4)   External evidences.

Historical reliability is being an accurate source for the historical events it reports. The Bible has been shown to be historically reliable and credible in at least two major ways:

(1)      Through historical and even geographical accuracy of biblical accounts (the confirmation of the Bible by hard evidences uncovered through archeology.

(2)      Through documentary evidences uncovered through archeology.

Are the Old Testament documents reliable? 

Let us now examine the evidences that prove the integrity, credibility and reliability of the Old Testament text.

Are Aocryphal Books Canonical?

WHAT IS APOCRYPHA AND 
ARE APOCRYPHAL BOOKS CANONICAL?

THE Old Testament canon is consists of 39 books only. These 39 books are those recognized as “canonical” or those books which are regarded as divinely inspired. However, there were great numbers of Jewish literature that composed and circulated during the intertestamental period (the period between the Old testament and the New Testament which is about 400 years) and up to the first century A.D.

These extra-canonical books or Jewish literatures are known as “Apocrypha.” The Roman Catholic Church inculded these to their Old Testament and declared them as canonical and equal of the 39  books of the Old testament. This is the reason why the Old Testament of the Roman Catholic Church is consists of 46 books.

What is the meaning of the term “Apocrypha”? Why these extra-canonical books are called Apocrypha? Is the Roman Catholic Church right to include these books to the Old Testament canon?

The Canon of the Old Testament

THE CANON OF THE OLD TESTAMENT

 

THE word “canon” has come to mean (1) “rule of faith” or the standard, authoritative teaching by which all doctrines were measured; and (2) a list or index. The English word “canon” was derived from the Hebrew qaneh, meaning “reed” or “stalk.” The Greek took over this Semitic word, thus “kanon” in Greek. The root meaning of the word (“reed”) denotes a rule, a measuring stick or an instrument with which to make straight lines.

Because the word “canon” could also means a list or index, the phrase “Canon of Scriptures” is the list of books that belong to the Holy Scriptures or those said to be “canonical.” 

How many books that belong to the canon of the Old Testament or those said to be canonical? How many books that belong to the canon of the contemporary Bible? How many books that belong to the Jewish canon? Why limit the number of the canonical books to the number the Jewish canon and the canon of the Septuagint gave?

Origin and History of the Word "Bible"

HOW THE SACRED SCRIPTURES CAME TO BE CALLED “THE BIBLE” AND THE ETYMOLOGY OF THE TERM

TODAY, we call the Holy Scriptures the “Bible.” However, what is the meaning of the word Bible? What is the origin of the word? Why and when the Bible was called as such? Let us answer these questions in this article.

 THE UNIQUENESS OF THE BIBLE

The Bible is Indeed the "Book of Books"

The Bible is unique, possessing
characteristics and attributes that cannot be
found in any other books.

THE BIBLE IS the “book of books.” Even though there are many “sacred books” used by different religions, the Bible is above all these “sacred books.” The Bible is unique, possessing characteristics and attributes that cannot be found in any books of different religions. What is the uniqueness of the Bible that makes it different from other religious books?

We Believe That The Bible Is God's Word

“What God Was, the Word Was” 

The bible is the word of god

The Bible is the Sacred Scripture
of the glesia Ni Cristo (Church Of Christ)
and the sole basis of her faith.

Today we call our Sacred Scriptures “the Bible.” The Bible forms the foundation upon which every teaching and practice of the Iglesia Ni Cristo or the Church Of Christ are built. The Bible-centered method is one of the defining characteristics that make this Church unique.However, the attitude of some more liberal groups concerning the Bible departs even further from the proper reverence that should be accorded the Scriptures, and some who even profess to be Christians, calling the Bible only one of many “sacred texts.”

These same people consider the religious books of other religions, such as those of Buddhism and Hinduism, to be equally valid “expressions of God’s voice” and worthy of equal consideration and respect as the Bible. They consider all the “sacred texts” to be God’s various ways of speaking His truth to man, no matter how much the “truths” these books teach differ from and contradict one another and the Bible.

Still others give the Bible no respect at all, as they try to deconstruct it and attempt to read into the motives of the different writers, assigning them various social and political agendas. For them, there is no such thing as a sacred text. They see the Bible only as a human text that can be analyzed and criticized like any other literary works.

There are those who classify the Bible as a mere collection of myths, that is, something beyond the realm of truth. Others believe that the Bible is a mere work of man and just a product of human imagination.

However, in the Iglesia Ni Cristo (Church of Christ), the Bible is considered indispensable. It is the ultimate authority and guide to the way the Church members think, feel, and act. Why do God’s words written in the Bible hold such power over their lives that they untiringly invite people to listen to and follow His words? The answer to this question rests on the distinctive attribute of the divine word that is also present in God Himself.