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Theological Test - Question 1

We posted the questions from a recent Ligonier theological test survey, and now we want to answer the questions to see how our readers answered.  We also show the results Ligonier found in their survey.

The first question was “The Bible is the one and only inspired and authoritative word of God.”  The right answer is that this is true, so Christians should answer “strongly agree”.

The question implies that there are other inspired and authoritative sources of God’s word.  Mormons claim they have it, Jehovah Witnesses claim they have it, and Muslims claim they have it.  So, how can we know that the Bible is the ONLY true, inspired and authoritative word of God?

Well, there are several ways we can know, and an exhaustive answer would be too long to provide here.  The best way to determine it is to study what theologians call “Bibliology”.  We have done a study ourselves that we’ll put online soon.  Nonetheless, here are a few ways we can know that the Bible, and ONLY the Bible, is the inspired and authoritative word of God.

 

  1. Scripture is internally consistent.  It attests to its own truth; Scripture affirms Scripture.  This is true despite the fact that many books were written centuries apart and by many different authors.
  2. Scripture is free from error.  Not only does it agree with itself, external evidence also affirms its truthfulness.
  3. Prophecies made centuries before their occurrence prove the truthfulness of Scripture.  No other religious book has such correct prophecies.  Indeed, Scripture tells us that this is how we know a prophet is false, when their prophecies do not come true.

 

Of course, much more could be said, but these are just a few reasons why the Bible is the sole source of God’s word.

So, how did others do?  According to Ligonier, the general survey results are as follows:

Strongly Agree:  69%

Somewhat Agree:  6%

Don’t know:  4%

Somewhat Disagree:  7%

Strongly Disagree:  13%

Ligonier listeners did much better:

Strongly Agree:  93%

Somewhat Agree:  < 1%

Don’t know:  < 1%

Somewhat Disagree:  <1 %

Strongly Disagree:  6%

How did you do?  Let us know!

Continue the test...