Grenada, Mississippi

Our Beliefs

• In all matters in belief, worship, and practice the Bible is our guide. What it teaches is what we, as United Methodists, believe and practice. We may not do this perfectly, but we strive to do so with God's help.

2. Why do we call the Bible holy?

• It fills us with awe and gratitude to realize that God has spoken to us. He has spoken through the outstanding characters and major events of the Bible. He has spoken through warnings and promises. He has spoken through the great verses and exalted passages.

3. Where did the Bible come from?

• The Bible consists of sixty-six books. It is divided into two parts, the Old Testament and the New Testament. The word "testament" means covenant. God made covenants with Abraham and Moses to bless the people if they would obey him. Prophets were raised up to keep reminding the people of the covenants. The process of writing the Bible took a long time.

4. What is the Canon?

• After wide circulation and extensive use of the books of the Law of Moses and of the Prophets, the general feeling that they were inspired of God became more or less fixed. Then were added; Proverbs, Psalms and other books which awakened in people the sense of authenticity. But it was not until around A.D. 90 that a council of Rabbis at Jamnia, near Joppa, officially acted to identify all the books we call the Old Testament. In A.D. 367 the New Testament was finally agreed upon.

5. Would it be possible for other writings to be added to the present list of books in the Bible?

• From time to time certain people have claimed special revelations, which went beyond the Bible. But when God wanted to reveal himself and his plan for his children, he chose to do it over a long line of folks and through all sorts of historical events. He wanted his children - - in successive generations - - to participate in the vast processes of revelation. This is what we find in the Bible.

6. How do we feel about the many translations of the Bible?

• Long before the printing press, the text of the Bible was preserved by the community of faith. The Bible is the Church's book. And without the community of faith in Israel and in Christianity we would not have the Bible today. That is where the original tests were copied many times. That is where these texts were preserved. Most English speaking United Methodists would agree that the most stately translation of the Bible is the King James Version. And they would probably agree that the Revised Standard Version is the most accurate.