The document provides an introduction to basic Bible doctrines. It defines doctrine as teachings or instructions, and notes that Christian doctrine is found in the Bible, which is the final authority. It explains that doctrine should be studied so that Christians have assurance they are walking rightly with God, can identify false teachings, and speak God's word with confidence. False doctrine comes from man, Satan, or takes away from the fundamentals of the faith, so Christians must avoid teaching or spreading heresy. The study of theology helps systematically understand teachings about God by examining topics like the Bible, God, man, salvation, and eschatology.

1. BASIC BIBLE DOCTRINES
A survey of fundamental Christian doctrines as found in the Bible.
Introduction to Bible Doctrines
Word choices: ​approved / ashamed / assurance / authority / authority / avoid / burden / change / discover /
divide / doctrine / doctrine / doctrine / everyone / free / fundamentals / gauge / Godspeed / Gospel / identify /
ignorant / instruction / inspiration / light / organize / pastors / path / private interpretation / reprove / searched /
sound / Systematic / teachers / teaching / turn away / us / warnings / widespread
I. What is doctrine?
The word ​doctrine ​means _______________ or _______________.
II. Where do we find Christian doctrine?
A. God’s Word (2 Timothy 3:16):
All scripture is given by _______________ of God, and is profitable for _______________, for
reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness
B. The Bible is the final _______________ in faith, practice, and doctrine.
C. Doctrine in the Bible can be known by _______________ (2 Peter 1:20):
Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any _______________
____________________.
D. Furthermore...
1. God gives us _______________ to help in the church (Ephesians 4:11).
2. God gives us _______________ to help protect us from false doctrine (Acts
20:17-30).
3. God expects each of __________ to be alert to false doctrine (2 Timothy 3:16).
III. Why should the Christian study Bible doctrine?
A. God does not want us to be _______________ (Romans 1:13, 11:25; 1 Corinthians 1:8, 1
Thessalonians 4:14, 2 Peter 3:8).
B. Early Christians followed the Apostles’ _______________ (Acts 2:42).
C. Our role is to _______________ what that doctrine is.
D. The Lord told us to ​study ​(2 Timothy 2:15):

2. 1. To show ourselves _______________ of God.
2. So that we need not be _______________.
3. So that we could rightly _______________ the word of truth.
E. Why should the Christian study Bible doctrine?
1. When a Christian has right doctrine, they can speak with the _______________ of
the Word of God (Mark 1:22; c/w 1 Peter 4:11, 1 Samuel 8:7).
2. A Christian can more easily _______________ false doctrine and false teachers (c/w
2 Timothy 3:10).
3. Doctrine is a _______________ of where we are spiritually (e.g. 1 Timothy 4:16).
4. We have _______________ that we are walking rightly before God (c/w 2 Timothy
2:15).
F. Right doctrine is sound doctrine (Titus 2:1):
But speak thou the things which become _______________ doctrine: [i.e. doctrine that is whole,
perfect, not defective]
IV. What is false doctrine?
A. There are:
1. Doctrines of ​God ​(John 7:16)
True doctrine that sets us _______________ (John 8:31-32).
2. Doctrines of ​Man ​(Mark 7:7, Colossians 2:20-23).
That _______________ us (Matthew 23:3-4).
3. Doctrines of ​Devils ​(1 Timothy 4:1).
That deceive us into the wrong _______________ (1 Timothy 4:1).
B. God gives serious _______________ against teaching false doctrine (1 Timothy 6:3-4,
Galatians 1:7-9).
C. God has serious words against those who _______________ His words (Deuteronomy 4:2,
Revelation 22:18-19).
D. If someone speaks not the word of God… (Isaiah 8:20)
To the law and to the testimony: if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no
_______________ in them.
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3. E. The time will come… (2 Timothy 4:3-4)
3 For the time will come when they will not endure sound _______________; but after their own
lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; [4] And they shall
_______________ _______________ their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.
F. In the NT times, false doctrine was _______________ (Titus 1:10-11).
G. We are to _______________ those who promote false doctrine (1 Timothy 6:3-5):
H. False Doctrine takes away from the _______________ of the faith:
E.g. Jesus is God in the flesh
E.g. The virgin birth
E.g. Jesus is the only way
E.g. Jesus rose again
E.g. Jesus’s sacrifice was sufficient
I. False doctrine attacks the _______________ of Christ (Galatians 1:6-7):
1. It is therefore our duty to address it (Ephesians 5:11):
And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather
_______________ them.
2. Additional verses about avoiding heretics (Romans 16:17, 1 Corinthians 5:11, 16:22,
Galatians 1:8-9, 2 Timothy 3:5, Titus 3:10).
3. We are not to bid _______________ to those who teacher other doctrines (2 John
10-11):
10 If there come any unto you, and bring not this doctrine, receive him not into your
house, neither bid him God speed: [11] For he that biddeth him God speed is partaker of
his evil deeds.
4. So, God, through Paul, commends the Bereans (Acts 17:11):
These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with
all readiness of mind, and _______________ the scriptures daily, whether those things
were so.
V. Theology : The Study of God (theos [God] + logos [study, word])
A. Theology helps us _______________ the Scriptures (c/w 1 Corinthians 14:40)
B. Two main types of theology:
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4. 1. _______________ Theology (the “-ology”s)
2. Practical Theology (everyday Christianity)
C. Systematic Theology (What we will look at in this course):
1. Bibliology (Doctrine of the Bible)
2. Theology Proper / Christology / Pneumatology (Doctrines of God, Christ, and the
Holy Spirit)
3. Theological Anthropology / Hamartiology (Doctrines of Man and Sin)
4. Soteriology (Doctrine of Salvation)
5. Angelology / Demonology (Doctrines of Angels and Demons)
6. Ecclesiology (Doctrine of the Church)
7. Eschatology (Doctrine of Future Things)
[END]
Resource information: ​This lesson was prepared by Ptr. J. F. Smith, DMin, Faith Missionary Church and Bible
Institute, Gruetli-Laager, TN, USA, email: ​jerryfranksmith@gmail.com​.
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