Bible Doctrines - Student Handout

I. Introduction to Biblical Theology

A. Doctrine Defined - "Teaching or Instruction, that which is taught."
B. Key Verse for this Course - Luke 1:4
C. References to Doctrine
1.Matt. 7:28 2.John 7:16,17 3.1 Tim. 4:6
II. The Negative Side of Doctrine
1.The Ditch of Legalism
2.The Ditch of Fanaticism
3.With every Bible Doctrine - the truth is somewhere between legalism and fanaticism - a balanced
approach.
Scriptures Dealing with the Negative Side of Doctrine
1.Matt. 15:8-9 2.Eph. 4:14-15 3.1 Tim. 4:1
III. Three Guidelines for Determining Sound Doctrine
1. Number One - Does it Agree with the Scriptures
2. Number Two - Does it Agree with the Holy Spirit
3. Number Three - Does it Agree with Your Spirit
Avoiding Extremes
1. Pascal (French Philosopher)
a. In Essentials - Unity
b. In Non-essentials - Liberty
c. In All Things - Charity

IV. The Foundational Doctrines of Hebrews 6:

A. Repentance from dead works
B. Faith toward God
C. The doctrine of baptisms
D. Laying on of hands
E. Resurrection of the dead
F. Eternal judgment

V. Bibliology - "The Study of the Bible"

A. The Authority of the Scriptures
B. From the Commentary of the Open Bible

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 The oneness or unity of the Bible is a miracle. It is a library of 66 books written by over 35 different
authors, in a period of approximately 1,500 years. Represented in the authors is a cross section of
humanity, educated and uneducated, including kings, fishermen, public officials, farmers, teachers and
physicians. Included in the subjects are religion, history, law, science, poetry, drama, biography and
prophecy. Yet, its various parts are as harmoniously united as the parts that make up the human body. For
35 authors with such varied backgrounds to write on so many subjects, over a period of 1,500 years in
absolute harmony, is a mathematical impossibility. It could not happen. Then how do we account for the
Bible? The only adequate explanation is; Holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Spirit.
C. Inerrancy and Inspiration of the Scriptures
1.Inerrancy - "Written without Error"
a. We believe the Bible contains no mistakes in the original language in which it was written. It is
absolutely infallible, completely without error.
b. Inerrancy and infallibility are very similar terms - if there is any difference in meaning, it would be:
(1) Inerrancy emphasizes the truthfulness of the Scriptures
(2) Infallibility emphasizes the trustworthiness of the Scriptures
2.Inspiration - "God-Breathed"
a. 2 Tim. 3:16 - The phrase - "..given by inspiration of God.." comes from a Greek word which literally
means "God-breathed."
b. 2 Peter 1:19-21
D. REVELATION - ILLUMINATION - INSPIRATION
1.REVELATION - "Is that act of God by which He directly communicates to man truth not known,
before - truth that could not have been know before without Divine aid."
2.INSPIRATION - "The Power of the Holy Spirit coming upon the minds and spirits of holy men which
qualified and enabled them to make an infallible record of Divine Truth." (talking about the recording of
the scriptures - (2 Peter 1:21)
3.ILLUMINATION - "The Divine quickening of the human spirit and mind which enables us to
understand that which has already been revealed" (the teaching contained in the Bible)
E. THE BIBLE HAS ONE CENTRAL THEME
1. The Person and the Work of the Lord Jesus Christ
2. All the different parts of the Bible point to Jesus Christ - Luke 24:44
a. The O.T. is the PREPARATION FOR JESUS COMING
b. The Gospels are the MANIFESTATION OF JESUS ON the EARTH
c. The Book of Acts is THE PROCLAMATION OF THE MESSAGE OF JESUS
d. The Epistles are THE EXPLANATION OF WHAT JESUS HAS DONE FOR US
e. Revelation is THE CONSUMMATION OF HIS KINGDOM

VI. THE MYSTERY OF GOD

A. Anytime you study the subject of the Trinity or the Deity of Jesus Christ, there will be certain
aspects of these truths that are incomprehensible.
B. John 1:1,14 - these two verses contain four major Biblical Truths concerning the Trinity and the
Deity of Christ.
1.IN THE BEGINNING WAS THE WORD: Teaches us about the pre-existence of Christ.
2.AND THE WORD WAS WITH GOD: The word WITH implies more than one person.
3.AND THE WORD WAS GOD: Talking about the Deity of Christ.

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 4.THE WORD WAS MADE FLESH: Talking about the Humanity of Christ.

VII. THE PRE-EXISTENCE OF JESUS

A. John 1:1 - "In the beginning WAS THE WORD..." (Logos - Jesus) (KJV)
Bethlehem was not the 1st time Jesus as the Son of God appeared on this earth. In the O.T. we find that as
the Son of God, Jesus appeared many times.
B. We call these appearances Theophanies or Christophanies:
1.THEOPHANY - "An appearance of God"
Theos (God) and phaino (to appear)
2.CHRISTOPHANY - "An appearance of Christ"
Christos (Christ) phaino (to appear)
3.These are pre-Bethlehemic manifestations of Christ on the earth:
a. Gen. 18:1-33 b. Gen. 22:1-19 c. Gen. 32:24-30 d. Josh. 5:13 - 6:2 e. Exd. 3:2

VIII. THE TRINITY

A. JOHN 1:1 - "AND THE WORD WAS WITH GOD"
1.THE TRINITY - Latin word Trinus (3-fold)
2.TRINITY DEFINED: The best way to define the trinity and what we believe is to look at what the
trinity is not and what we do not believe
a. Tritheism - Believes in the existence of (3) Gods.
b. Unitarianism - denies there are (3) separate persons who are co-equal & co-eternal.
c. Modalism - that the trinity is (3) aspects or manifestations of one person.
3.Trinitarian - we believe there is One God eternally existent in three persons.
a. That the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are each distinct in office yet so perfectly one in character and
harmony that they constitute the one Godhead.
b. The members of the Godhead are (1) in essence and nature yet they are distinct in person and
function.
B. O.T. references that reveals the concept of the Trinity
Gen. 1:26 Gen. 3:22 Gen. 11:7 Is. 6:8
C. New Testament References to the Trinity
1.Luke 1:35 2.Matt. 3:16 3.Acts 10:38 4.John 14:26 5.Matt. 28:18-20

IX. THE DEITY OF JESUS CHRIST

A. John 1:1 - "..the Word was God."
B. The Scriptures Declare His Deity
1.Matt. 16:13-17
2.Exd. 3:13-15 God said His name 'I AM' - was His name forever
In the Gospel of John we can find numerous scriptures where Jesus took that name unto himself.
John 8:24 John 13:19 John 18:3-8 John 14:9 John 5:17-19
Col. 1:15

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 C. THE EQUATION FACTOR - verses in which Jesus equated Himself with God
D. THE WORSHIP FACTOR
1.Jesus was worshipped by various individuals throughout His life and ministry.

E. THE EXCHANGE OF TITLES

1.Names God is referred to in the O.T. that Jesus is referred to in the N.T.
2.Creator - Savior - Shepherd - Judge - Redeemer - King - Lord – Light

X. THE HUMANITY OF JESUS CHRIST

A. John 1:14 - Incarnation - "Enfleshment"
I Tim. 3:16 - "And without controversy, great is the mystery of Godliness, God was manifest in the
flesh..."
B. THE VIRGIN BIRTH - Why Was It Necessary For Jesus To Be Born of a Virgin?
If Jesus the Son of God could have become incarnate through natural conception - He would have inherited
his natural father's fallen human nature. As a result, He would have been subject to the devil and to death
and everything associated with the devil. The Redeemer had to be one over whom Satan had no legal
claims or authority, and this could only happen if Jesus was born of a virgin.
Gen. 3:15 - God's 1st promise of the Incarnation
Hebrews 10:5 - the fulfillment of what God promised in the garden of Eden

XI. THE HYPOSTATIC UNION

A. The human nature and the divine nature, each in its completeness, are organically and indissolubly
united in the one unique person of Jesus Christ
Best Definition - Neither the human nature or the Divine nature act independently of each other - but in
every thought, word and action, both natures are so inseparably united that the thought, word or action is
the product of one single personality.

XII. THE KENOSIS OF CHRIST

A. HE EMPTIED HIMSELF - Phil. 2:6-8 (The Kenosis of Christ)
When Jesus came to the earth He was no less God - He laid aside all of His rights and privileges as God so
that He could be tempted in all points like as we are, so that He could experience humanity, live on this
earth as a man and conquer every temptation/sin - then ultimately become the supreme sacrifice for the sins
of the world - defeat the devil, strip him of his power, resurrect victorious over death/hell and the grave...,
do all of that as man so that we as men and women could ultimately experience new life in Christ and walk
in that same victory over death/hell and the grave.
B. WHAT DID JESUS EMPTY HIMSELF OF?
Jesus chose to subject Himself to certain human limitations, and when He came to this earth as a man - He
surrendered His right to being:
a. OMNIPOTENT - "God is All Powerful" - Unlimited in power & authority.
b. OMNIPRESENT - "God is Everywhere Present" - present everywhere at the same time.
c. OMNISCIENT - "God is All Knowing" - having complete or infinite knowledge.
C. JESUS HAD HUMAN ATTRIBUTES

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 D. SCRIPTURES INDICATE HOW MUCH JESUS EMPTIED HIMSELF WHEN HE CAME TO
THIS EARTH - (How dependent He was upon the Father and the Holy Spirit)
E. What Does Kenosis Teach Us?
1.That Christ was always Divine. (Micah 5:1-2, John 1:1-3)
2.That Christ could not cease being God in nature. (1 Tim. 3:16)
3.That Christ retained His divinity when becoming incarnate in the flesh. (Matt. 1:23)
4.That Christ was truly human as well as Divine and lived while on the Earth a normal and perfect human
life as an example to all men who desire to please God. (1 Peter 2:21)
5.That in doing so, He laid aside His natural and divine attributes or at least limited their use, and became a
perfect example of yieldedness to God and His Spirit to overcome the world, the flesh, and the devil. (Heb.
10:5-9; Acts 10:38)
6.That He did His works solely by the anointing of the Spirit and not by the free-exercise of the attributes
of His deity while becoming man. (Acts 10:38) (God's Plan for Man, by Finis Dake, pgs. 389, 390)
F. THE INCARNATION IS FUNDAMENTAL TO THE CHRISTIAN FAITH

XIII. THE DEATH OF CHRIST

A. Three Kinds of Death:
1.Physical Death - Separation of the human spirit and soul from the physical body - James 2:26
2.Spiritual Death - Separation or Alienation of the spirit of man from God - Gen. 2:17
3.Eternal Death - Eternal separation of the spirit of man from God - Rev. 20:14 - (2nd Death)
B. SPIRITUAL DEATH NEVER MEANS:
1.Finality
2.cessation
3.annihilation
4.termination
5.nonexistence
6.SPIRITUAL DEATH SIMPLY MEANS: "Separation" or "Alienation"
C. A BIBLICAL PORTRAYAL OF THE DEATH & RESURRECTION OF CHRIST
1.Jesus was lifted up on the cross identifying himself with sin - John 3:14
2.Jesus cried out - "My God, My God, why hast Thou forsaken me." Indicating that at this point in time He
was suffering more than physical pain and anguish. Matt. 27:46; Mark 15:34; Isaiah 53:4-12
3.Jesus was made sin for us - 2 Cor. 5:21; Is.. 53:4-6,10-12
4.Jesus was the Just suffering for the unjust - I Peter 3:18
5.Jesus was numbered with the transgressors - Isaiah 53:12
6.Jesus became an offering for sin - Hebrews 10:12
7.Jesus' physical body died - Matt. 27:50; Mark 15:37; Luke 23:46; John 19:31-35
8.Jesus descended into hell - Matt. 12:40; Acts 2:27-31; Eph. 4:8
9.Jesus had a confrontation with the devil and demons - Col. 2:15, Heb. 2:14
10.Jesus arose victorious over death - hell and the grave - Rev. 1:18; Matt. 28:18-19 - 1 Cor. 15:3&4

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 11.Jesus ascended into the heavenly holy of holies - John 20:17; Heb. 9:11-28
12.Jesus preached to the spirits in prison - I Peter 3:19
13.Jesus released the Old Testament Saints - Eph. 4:8 - Matt. 27:50

XIV. THE PERSON AND THE WORK OF THE HOLY SPIRIT

A. THE HOLY SPIRIT IS A PERSON
B. 1. John 16:7 - The 7-fold ministry of the H.S. in the life of the believer
1. COMFORTER - "Paraklete" - one called to ones side to help.
2. COUNSELOR
3. HELPER
4. ADVOCATE
5. INTERCESSOR
6. STRENGTHENER
7. STANDBY
2. John 16:8-15
3. John 20:19-23 and Luke 24:36,45-49 and Acts 1:4-8
c. KEY WORDS:
(1) The promise of My Father
(2) Upon you
(3) Tarry in Jerusalem
(4) Endued with power from on high
4. Notice Acts 2:1-4 - This is the fulfillment of Luke 24:49 and Acts 1:4-8
C. Acts 2:38&39
D. Five Individual Accounts of Believers Receiving the Baptism With the Holy Spirit
1.NUMBER ONE - Acts 2:1-4 - "The Day of Pentecost" (The initial outpouring of the Holy Spirit)
2.NUMBER TWO - Acts 8:5,12 - "The Samaritans Received"
3.NUMBER THREE - Acts 9:4-6,17 - "Saul Receives"
4.NUMBER FOUR - Acts 10:44-48 - "The Gentiles Receive"
5.NUMBER FIVE - Acts 19:1-6 - "The Ephesians Receive"
E. Do All Speak with Tongues?
1.We believe the Baptism with the Holy Spirit with the initial evidence of speaking with other tongues is
available to every believer.
2.The Baptism with the Holy Spirit is not speaking with tongues:
a. Tongues is the initial evidence.
b. Speaking with tongues is the doorway into the rest of God's supernatural power and ability.
F. Much of the confusion and controversy is because of a simple failure to understand the different
categories of tongues
1.All Tongues are the same in essence but different in purpose and use.
2.CATEGORIES OF TONGUES:

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 a. The Devotional Aspect - The initial evidence of the infilling - Private side of tongues. (Acts
2/10/19 - I Cor. 14:2,14-18)
b. The Public Aspect - "Divers Kinds of Tongues" - the Gift of Tongues - Public side of the operation
of tongues (I Cor. 12:10 - I Cor. 14:22,26-28)
c. The Ministry Gift - I Cor. 12:28 - Those who have a specialized ministry in tongues and
interpretation - also public demonstration.
3.Much of the controversy has been a result of people not realizing the difference between the private
aspect of tongues and the public gift. People have confused the evidence with the gift.
4. Howard Carter: "We must not forget that the speaking with other tongues is not only an initial
evidence of the Holy Spirit' s presence, it is a continual experience for the rest of one's life to assist in the
worship of God. It is a flowing stream that should never dry up and that will enrich your life spiritually."

XV. WATER BAPTISM

A. Is Water Baptism a Prerequisite for Salvation?
B. What is the Correct Formula?
C. What is the Correct Mode?

XVI. THE FALL AND DEPRAVITY OF MANKIND

A. The Fall of Man and the consequences of Sin
B. Gen. 1:26-28 & Gen. 2:7,15-17,25
1.Mankind was created In the Image & Likeness of God.
2.Man was created "A Free Moral Agent"

5.Man was created "In Perfect Innocence"

6.Man was created "Tripartite in Nature"
C. What Happened When Mankind Fell?
1.As a result of their sin, the sin nature came into the world - the nature of Satan began to manifest:
This is what we mean when we refer to the Depravity of Mankind - that mankind's spiritual, moral,
mental and physical natures became perverted and corrupted by the fall.
2.Eph. 2:1-3 - the fall effected man spirit, soul, and body.
3.Romans 3:10-18 - vivid description of the depravity of mankind.

XVII. THE DOCTRINE OF SALVATION (Soteriology)

A. John 3:16-19 - The Doctrine of Salvation in its simplicity
1.The sin question has already been settled through Christ's atoning sacrifice.
2. John 16:9 2 Cor. 5:19 Titus 3:3-7
The salvation that God provides is not based on the works or the merit of man - man cannot do anything
that will counter the effect of his sin or the nature he has been born with.

XVIII. THE DOCTRINE OF SANCTIFICATION

A. What do we mean by sanctification?

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 B. Very Simply: "Separation From" - "Separated Unto"
Separation from evil - Separated unto God - set apart for service unto God.
C. Sanctification is both Instantaneous and Progressive
D. Why do many Christians fail to walk in victory and fail to overcome sin?

a. Undeveloped Spirits
b. Unrenewed Minds
c. Uncontrolled Flesh
E. Who and What is involved in the work of Sanctification?
1.God - I Thess. 5:23
2.Jesus - I Cor. 1:30
3.Holy Spirit - 2 Thess. 2:13
4.The Word - John 17:17
5.Personal Obedience - 2 Cor. 7:1

XIX. THE DOCTRINE OF THE CHURCH - (Ecclesiology)

1.Matt. 16:18 - '..I will build My church.."
2.The Word Church has Two Distinct Meanings
a. local congregation
b. Universal Church
3.What Constitutes Membership in Christ's Church?
4.The Similarities Between the Church and a physical body
a. I Cor. 12:22-17
5.Mission of the Church is 3-fold
a. Evangelism
b. Edification
c. Worship
6. To fulfill its Mission - The Church must be Equipped
a. Eph. 4:11-12 - set in the Church ministry gifts.
b. Three lists - Eph. 4:11 - I Cor. 12:28 - Rom. 12:4-8
c. Fivefold Ministry Gifts - (those ministers who are directly involved in the ministry of equipping)
(1) Apostles
(2) Prophets
(3) Evangelists
(4) Pastors
(5) Teachers
d. We are all ministers in one sense of the word

XX. THE NATURE OF GOD THE FATHER

A. The Number One way we become acquainted with our Heavenly Father is through the Word
1. Ps. 136:1-26 2. Matt. 7:11 3. John 17:23 4. I Peter 5:7 5. 2 Cor. 6:l7&l8

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 B. We also become acquainted with the Heavenly Father as we spend time fellowshipping with Him -
spending time in His presence

XXI. ESCHATOLOGY - "Doctrine of the End Times"

A. There are (4) sequential main events that take place during this period of time that is called "The End
Times"
1.The Rapture of the Church
2.The Millennial Reign of Christ
3.The Final Judgment
4.The Eternal State
B. A basic overview of the major events of the last days
1.THE RAPTURE OF THE CHURCH (The Blessed Hope)
a. I Thess. 4:17 - "caught up together" (to catch away/snatch away) from that the Latin word - Rapture
(the catching away of the Church unto Christ)
2.Many theories:
a. Pre-trib
b. Mid-trib
c. Post-trib
3.Scriptures that support Pre-Trib Doctrine:
a. I Thess. 5:9
b. 2 Thess. 2:1-8
c. Rev. 3:10
d. Titus 2:13
4.What will take place during the Rapture?
a. I Thess. 4:13-18 - a graphic picture
b. I Cor. 15:51-54 - parallel passage
C.THE MILLENNIUM
1.Refers to the reign of Christ on this earth that will last for 1000 years.
2.Rev. 20:1-7 - Christ will return to this earth, fight the battle of Armageddon - bind Satan and cast him
into the bottomless pit - set up His kingdom on this earth - headquarters at Jerusalem - all the saints will
rule and reign with Him.
3.During this dispensation - Both the Lord Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit will be resident upon the earth.
D.THE FINAL JUDGMENT
1.Rev. 20:11-15 - The Great White Throne Judgment
2.2 Cor. 5:10 - The Judgment Seat of CHRIST
3.THE ETERNAL STATE - (The New Heavens and the New Earth)
a. Rev.2l and 22

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 +GLOSSARY OF TERMS
Bibliology The doctrine of the Bible
Theology The doctrine of God (in the narrow sense); from 2 Greek words, theos (God) and logos
Anthropology The doctrine of man
Hamartiology The doctrine of sin
Soteriology The doctrine of salvation
Pneumatology The doctrine of the Holy Spirit
Christology The doctrine of Christ
Ecclesiology The doctrine of the Church
Eschatology The doctrine of prophecy and end-times
Doctrine Teaching or instruction; that which is taught
Innerancy Written without error – also expresses the thought of infallibility
God-breathed – The power of the Holy Spirit coming upon the minds and spirits of holy men
Inspiration
which qualified & enabled them to make an infallible record of divine truth.
Revelation The act of God by which He directly communicates to man truth not known before.
The Divine quickening of the human spirit and mind which enables us to understand that
Illumination
which has already been revealed in the Bible
Pre-existence of
The time period before Jesus’ incarnation
Christ
Theophany An appearance of God
Christophany An appearance of Christ
Tritheism The belief of the existence of three separate Gods
Unitarianism The belief of the existence of one singular God
Modalism The belief that there is one God who manifests Himself as three different personalities
One God eternally existent in three persons – The Father, Son and Holy Spirit are each
Trinitarian distinct in office, yet so perfectly one in character and harmony that they constitute the one
Godhead
God coming in the flesh – refers to the birth of Christ – the second person in the trinity
Incarnation
assuming human form in the person of Jesus Christ, who is completely God and man
Prototokos Priority to all creation – sovereignty over all creation
The human nature and the divine nature, each in its completeness, are organically and
Hypostatic Union
indissolubly united in the one unique person of Jesus Christ
Kenosis To empty, to lay aside, to temporarily suspend
Spiritual Death Separation or alienation from God – Gen. 2:17
Physical Death Separation of the spirit and soul of man from the physical body – James 2:26
Also called the “second death” where the unrepentant sinner cast into the lake of fire – eternal
Eternal death
separation of the human spirit from God – Rev. 20:14
Omnipresent Everywhere present at all times
Omniscience All-knowing
Omnipotent All-powerful
Righteousness Rightness, just, upright, righteous conforming to the laws of God

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Justification The act of declaring one righteous; reckoning someone the righteousness of God
Trichotomy The belief that man is a tri-part being
Dichotomy The belief that man is a two-part being
Original sin The 1st sin of Adam; the sinful nature possessed by humanity since Adam
Depravity The sinful nature of unregenerate man that came upon all men because of Adam’s sin
Sanctification Separated from – separated unto – set apart for service to God
Ekklesia To call out of – translated into English means Church
Vicarious A substitution; Christ died as a substitute for sinners
Atonement A covering, in the Old Testament, its usage was “a covering of sin”
Propitiation The turning away of wrath by a sacrifice, appeasement of a holy God
The enmity which existed between God and man because of sin is removed through the
Reconciliation
redemptive work of Christ
A releasing or liberation from captivity, slavery, or death by the payment of a price, called a
Redemption
ransom
A change of mind, purpose, or view, a sincere and thorough changing of the mind and
Repentance
disposition in regard to sin
Regeneration Being born again, or born from above, by faith; the act of the new birth resulting in salvation
The placing of a son in a new position, i.e. the born again person is put “in Christ”; God
Adoption
accepting mankind into His family as His children, through their faith in Christ

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