Bible is God's inspired and inerrant Word; foundation of all Armstrongist doctrine
Armstrongism affirms the inerrancy and infallibility of the Bible as God's inspired Word. The 66 books are free from error in their original autographs and form the authoritative foundation for all Christian belief and practice. Herbert W. Armstrong insisted on the reliability and trustworthiness of Scripture against modern higher criticism and liberal theology.
Biblical inerrancy is non-negotiable for Armstrongism: doubting the accuracy of Scripture is seen as rejecting God's Word itself. The Bible is the objective standard against which all doctrines must be tested. While Armstrong's own writings are highly valued, they are subordinate to Scripture and are presented as clarification and application of biblical teaching rather than additions to or corrections of Scripture's message.
Key Distinctions
- Inerrancy scope:
- verbal plenary inerrancy — every word of Scripture is inspired and without error in the original autographs
- Hermeneutic approach:
- grammatical-historical — literal meaning in its original context
Scripture References
Sources
- Herbert W. Armstrong, Mystery of the Ages
- Philadelphia Church of God doctrinal statements