Advent Christians have always considered themselves “people of the Book,” holding a deep trust in and reverence for the Bible as “the only divine and infallible standard of faith and practice.” The section of the survey titled “Scripture and Revelation” shows that this commitment to the Word of God is as strong today as it was at the beginning of the movement.
The first question — “Do you believe the Bible is God’s Word or contains God’s Word?”— came under some criticism for not making a clear and helpful distinction. This is one of the questions that could be improved in future surveys to bring greater clarity. The difference between saying “the Bible is God’s Word” and “the Bible contains God’s Word” is significant, especially in terms of theology, biblical authority and interpretation.
1. “The Bible is God’s Word”
This statement reflects a high view of biblical inspiration and authority. It means:
- Every part of the Bible, from Genesis to Revelation, is fully inspired by God.
- The entire text is considered God-breathed (see 2 Timothy 3:16) and therefore authoritative, trustworthy and without error in its original form.
- There is a strong emphasis on inerrancy — the belief that the Bible is free from error in what it affirms.
- This view is commonly held in evangelical, conservative and fundamentalist Christian traditions.
Implication: All parts of the Bible must be taken seriously as divine revelation, even the difficult or culturally distant passages.
2. “The Bible contains God’s Word”
This statement reflects a more nuanced or critical view of inspiration. It implies:
- The Bible includes divine truth, but not every part of the text is necessarily God’s direct word or equally authoritative.
- Some passages may reflect human culture, error or limited understanding, especially in historical or scientific areas.
- This view allows for more critical interpretation (e.g., distinguishing between timeless truths and culturally bound practices).
- It is often found in liberal, progressive or mainline Protestant theology.
Implication: Readers may need to discern which parts are truly divine revelation and which are human expressions.
Why This Matters
- This distinction influences how people read, interpret and apply the Bible.
- It affects views on doctrine, morality, ethics and social issues.
- It also shapes approaches to biblical scholarship and theology.
Of the respondents, 103 (97.2%) affirmed that the Bible is the Word of God, while only three (2.8%) indicated that the Bible contains God’s Word.
Nearly all (99.1%) of pastors affirmed the statement: “Do you affirm the Bible as the inerrant, infallible and inspired Word of God?” Only one pastor denied biblical inerrancy.
Interestingly, there was unanimous agreement with the statement: “Do you believe that the Bible is authoritative in all matters of faith and practice?” Even the very few pastors who deny inerrancy still affirm the supreme authority of Scripture in the Christian life.
“Which of the following best describes your approach to interpreting the Bible?” generated the most diverse set of responses. Sixty pastors (57.1%) take a historical/grammatical approach to interpretation. A literal approach is the second most common, used by 40 pastors (38.1%). Only three pastors (2.9%) use an allegorical approach, and two (1.9%) use a rationalistic approach.
The doctrine of sola scriptura was addressed in the final question, with 104 pastors (98%) answering yes to: “Do you accept the doctrine of sola scriptura (the Bible alone is the ultimate authority for Christian faith and practice)?” Only two pastors denied this.
This part of the survey revealed a nearly unanimous consensus regarding the reliability and authority of Scripture among Advent Christian pastors. Overall, our pastors remain deeply committed to our movement’s longstanding trust in Scripture as divinely inspired and wholly sufficient. Advent Christians are still people of the Book.
