[16] All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, [17] that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work. 2 Tim 3:16-17
When Paul wrote all (πᾶσα in the Greek), he meant ALL. Every word, every dot and iota of scripture is breathed out by God and is profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness. Each and every human author was divinely inspired by God to write exactly what was written. God’s sovereign hand has not just been over the writing of scripture, but the preservation and translation of scripture. It is quite the miracle that our scriptures have been preserved and passed down through the centuries. The earliest fragments and earliest transcripts all attest to the accuracy of the Scriptures we have today.
The world attacks the sufficiency, authority, and accuracy of Scripture. God’s people affirm the sufficiency, authority, and accuracy of Scripture. The sufficiency, authority, and accuracy of Scripture are a baptist distinctive held throughout the generations of baptist life.
The 1689 Baptist Confession of Faith:
The Holy Scripture is the only sufficient, certain, and infallible rule of all saving knowledge, faith, and obedience,1although the light of nature, and the works of creation and providence do so far manifest the goodness, wisdom, and power of God, as to leave men inexcusable; yet they are not sufficient to give that knowledge of God and His will which is necessary unto salvation.2 Therefore it pleased the Lord at sundry times and in diversified manners to reveal Himself, and to declare (that) His will unto His church;3 and afterward for the better preserving and propagating of the truth, and for the more sure establishment and comfort of the church against the corruption of the flesh, and the malice of Satan, and of the world, to commit the same wholly unto writing; which makes the Holy Scriptures to be most necessary, those former ways of God’s revealing His will unto His people being now completed.
The Philadelphia Confession of Faith (1742):
The Holy Scripture is the only sufficient, certain, and infallible rule of all saving knowledge, faith, and obedience, although the light of nature, and the works of creation and providence do so far manifest the goodness, wisdom, and power of God, as to leave men inexcusable; yet are they not sufficient to give that knowledge of God and his will which is necessary unto salvation. Therefore it pleased the Lord at sundry times and in divers manners to reveal himself, and to declare that his will unto his church; and afterward for the better preserving and propagating of the truth, and for the more sure establishment and comfort of the church against the corruption of the flesh, and the malice of Satan, and of the world, to commit the same wholly unto writing; which maketh the Holy Scriptures to be most necessary, those former ways of God’s revealing his will unto his people being now ceased.
The Abstract of Principles (1858):
The Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments were given by inspiration of God, and are the only sufficient, certain and authoritative rule of all saving knowledge, faith and obedience.
The Chicago Statement (1978, this one was an evangelical statement that included baptists):
Holy Scripture, being God’s own Word, written by men prepared and superintended by His Spirit, is of infallible divine authority in all matters upon which it touches: it is to be believed, as God’s instruction, in all that it affirms; obeyed, as God’s command, in all that it requires; embraced, as God’s pledge, in all that it promises.
The Baptist Faith and Message (2000):
The Holy Bible was written by men divinely inspired and is God’s revelation of Himself to man. It is a perfect treasure of divine instruction. It has God for its author, salvation for its end, and truth, without any mixture of error, for its matter. Therefore, all Scripture is totally true and trustworthy. It reveals the principles by which God judges us, and therefore is, and will remain to the end of the world, the true center of Christian union, and the supreme standard by which all human conduct, creeds, and religious opinions should be tried. All Scripture is a testimony to Christ, who is Himself the focus of divine revelation.