The Bible — Stump, Chapter 5

Biblical inerrancy

The claim that Scripture, properly interpreted, does not teach error. Disagreements often concern what a passage intends to teach and whether a modern scientific reading imposes a purpose the text never had.

Biblicism

A cluster of assumptions that treats the Bible as the central or sole source of Christian doctrine, assumes its plain meaning is accessible, and gives limited authority to tradition or interpretive communities.

Hermeneutics

The theory and practice of interpreting texts. It asks how genre, historical context, language, authorial purpose, and readers’ assumptions shape meaning.

Methodism

In this study-guide context, Methodism is a Protestant tradition whose emphasis on Scripture exists alongside tradition, reason, and experience as sources or guides for Christian reflection.

Sola scriptura

The Reformation principle that Scripture is the highest and final authority for Christian doctrine. It does not necessarily mean ignoring tradition, creeds, or scholarship; the key is whether those authorities are subordinate to Scripture.

Divine writing (p. 62)

A model of inspiration in which the Bible’s words are understood as God’s own words communicated through human authors. This tends to encourage a strong expectation of verbal authority and inerrancy.