📘 WHAT DOES THE BIBLE SAY?
A Simple Foundation for New Believers
Six Chapters • Straight from Scripture • King James Version
Written by CHUCK TRUSTY
Pastor | Dardanelle, Arkansas
How to Use This Booklet
Welcome to the family of God! This booklet was written for you — the new believer — and for any believer who wants the foundations laid plainly. It asks one question six times, about six subjects, and answers each time the same way: not with opinions, but with Scripture.
- Chapter 1 — What does the Bible say about the Bible?
- Chapter 2 — What does the Bible say about salvation?
- Chapter 3 — What does the Bible say about prayer?
- Chapter 4 — What does the Bible say about worship?
- Chapter 5 — What does the Bible say about the church?
- Chapter 6 — What does the Bible say about Christian living?
Read one chapter a week with your Bible open, look up every verse for yourself, and mark the "Simple truth" lines — they are the handles to carry each lesson by. All quotations are from the King James Bible, and every chapter uses the same rule you will learn in Chapter One: let the Bible explain the Bible.
Author's Note — "I have made every effort to avoid injecting my own brand of theology into these lessons. These pages are not intended to explain what I say, but what the Bible says. My goal is simple: to let God's Word speak in its own words, in its own context." — C.T.
📘 CHAPTER ONE — What Does the Bible Say About the Bible?
⭐ Introduction
Every believer needs one unshakable foundation upon which to build their lives: What does the Bible say about the Bible?
Before we talk about salvation, prayer, worship, the church, or Christian living, we must settle this one truth:
Why do we trust the Bible? Why do we believe it? Why do we build our lives on it?
This chapter gives simple, bullet-proof answers — straight from Scripture, supported by original language, and grounded in real history.
I. The Bible Claims to Be God's Word
(What we believe)
2 Timothy 3:16 — "All scripture is given by inspiration of God… and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:"
After the first phrase telling us where the Bible comes from, the rest of the verse explains that Scripture teaches us, corrects us, and trains us.
The key word in this verse is inspiration — the Greek word theopneustos, meaning God-breathed: breathed out by God Himself.
The Bible is God's breath in written form. It is not possible to speak without breathing out (exhaling). This is the idea behind "God-breathed" — God actually spoke the words of Scripture, and holy men wrote down what God breathed out as He spoke.
This is exactly what the word theopneustos means: Theo = God; pneō = to breathe out.
This is not a theological argument — it is simply a factual explanation of the word itself. When a person speaks, they must breathe out. When God "breathed out" Scripture, He was speaking. The Bible is God's spoken words, written down by men He guided.
Simple truth: If God breathed it, we can trust it.
II. The Bible Was Written in Real History
(Why context matters)
The Bible was written by real men, in real places, facing real situations, during real historical events. It was written over 1,500 years, in three languages (Hebrew, Aramaic, Greek), across three continents.
This matters because the Bible is not myth. It is rooted in culture, customs, geography, and history — and understanding the culture helps us understand the meaning.
Illustration — The Owner's Manual. The Bible is like the owner's manual for life. When you buy a phone, the manual tells you how it works, how to set it up, and how to take care of it. If a store clerk gives you instructions that contradict the manual, then you have a foundation for your disagreement — the manual is the authority. In the same way, the Bible is our authority. It tells us who God is, who we are, how life works, and what God expects. When someone's opinion contradicts Scripture, we go with the Owner's Manual. That is why context matters — we want to know what the Author actually said, not what someone else thinks He said.
Simple truth: The Bible is anchored in real history, not imagination.
III. The Bible Interprets Itself
(Why we believe it)
Isaiah 28:10 — "For precept must be upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a little:"
God teaches truth by comparing Scripture with Scripture. This means hard verses are explained by clear verses, the Bible is its own commentary, and the Bible never contradicts itself.
Author's Note — "Commentaries can be helpful, but they are NOT Scripture. A commentary is simply a scholar's interpretation of what he thinks a passage means. Because of that, we must always remember that human explanations — no matter how educated — can still be influenced by opinion. Proverbs reminds us that 'there is a way that seemeth right unto a man.' What seems right to a person is not the same as what God has said. This is why we let the Bible explain the Bible. Scripture is the final authority — not commentaries, not opinions, and not personal interpretations."
Example — "Work Out Your Own Salvation"
Philippians 2:12 — "Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling."
Some misunderstand this to mean "earn your own salvation," "work for your salvation," or "save yourself." But is that what Paul really meant?
Author's Note — "I want to avoid inserting my own theology here, so let me simply point out the two opposing views people often bring to this verse: (1) that a person must work in order to earn salvation, and (2) that salvation is God's gift and cannot be earned by human effort. Instead of choosing a side based on opinion, we will apply our rule: use a clear verse to explain a complex verse. Let's see what God has said about these two ideas by comparing Scripture with Scripture."
So, we apply our rule: if you don't understand a verse, look for another verse that says the same thing more simply. And the Bible gives us the perfect simple verse:
Ephesians 2:8–9 — "For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast."
The simple verse explains the harder verse. "Work out" means to live out the salvation you already have — it does not mean to earn it. At first glance, Philippians 2:12 seems to contradict Ephesians 2:8–9, but Scripture never contradicts Scripture. Since salvation is a gift and cannot be earned, Philippians 2:12 cannot mean "work for salvation." It means to live out the salvation God has already placed within you. We do not work to be saved; we work because we are saved.
⭐ What We Learn From Comparing Them
"Work out" = bring to the surface what God has already put inside you. Just like you "work out" a math problem (you don't create the answer — you reveal it), or you "work out" a muscle (you don't create the muscle — you strengthen it).
This concept teaches us not to panic when a verse seems confusing, not to jump to conclusions, and not to build doctrine on only one verse. Let the Bible explain the Bible. It reinforces our booklet's theme: "What does the Bible say?" — not "What do people say the Bible says?"
- It protects believers from doubt. When someone hits a confusing verse, the enemy whispers: "See? The Bible contradicts itself. Maybe it's not true." This simple truth shuts that down immediately.
- It teaches humility. Understanding Scripture is a growth process, not a one-time download. It's OK not to know everything yet — keep reading, keep growing, keep comparing Scripture with Scripture.
- It reinforces the authority of Scripture. The Bible is right — even when I don't understand it yet. That's foundational.
- It gives a natural pattern: hard verse → simple verse → comparison → clarity → reassurance.
⭐ Second Example
John 1:18 — "No man hath seen God at any time; the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared him."
But another verse says:
Exodus 33:11 — "And the LORD spake unto Moses face to face, as a man speaketh unto his friend…"
The simple explanation comes from comparing Scripture: John is speaking of God in His full glory; Exodus is speaking of God revealing Himself in a veiled, human-friendly form. The simple verse clarifies the harder one.
And if there is something we don't yet understand, that does not mean there is something wrong with the Bible — it simply means our understanding is still growing. God's Word is perfect. Our understanding is in progress.
Simple truth: The Bible explains the Bible.
IV. The Bible Is Preserved by God
(Why we trust the KJV)
Psalm 12:6–7 — "The words of the LORD are pure words: as silver tried in a furnace of earth, purified seven times. Thou shalt keep them, O LORD, thou shalt preserve them from this generation for ever."
Preservation means God didn't just give His Word — He kept His Word.
Simple truth: If God gave His Word, He also kept His Word.
⭐ A Quick Word About Bible Versions
New believers often ask, "Which Bible should I use?" This is an important question, and the answer does not need to be complicated.
The King James Bible is a translation — not an interpretation. The translators took each word from the original Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek and gave its closest meaning in English. They translated words, not ideas. They were not giving commentary or opinion — they were defining in English what God originally said.
Transliteration. Sometimes the translators used transliteration, which means carrying the sound of a word into English when no single English word fully expressed its meaning. Examples include baptize, Christ, Satan, and amen.
The Greek word baptizō literally means "to dip" or "to immerse," but no English word carried the full meaning without adding or removing something from the definition. So, instead of choosing a word that might limit or distort the actual meaning, the translators preserved the original sound and allowed the Bible itself to define the word.
Why did English Bibles transliterate it? The word baptize was already used in English Bibles long before 1611 (Wycliffe, Tyndale, Geneva), so the KJV translators simply continued the established English usage. And because no single English word carried the full meaning of baptizō: "dip" is too narrow, "immerse" is correct but incomplete, "wash" is too broad, "cleanse" is not specific, and "submerge" is too mechanical.
Transliteration preserved the sound of the original word so that preachers could teach the meaning, the word carried its full theological weight, and no English word distorted or limited the meaning. Translation gives the meaning; transliteration gives the sound.
Modern Versions. Many modern versions use a "thought-for-thought" method. Instead of translating the words, they translate what they believe the idea means. This can change doctrine. Examples: Mary called a "young woman" instead of a "virgin"; "hell" replaced with "the grave"; references to the blood of Christ softened or removed completely. These are not small differences.
The KJV preserves the exact words God gave — not someone's interpretation of those words. That is why the KJV is the safest and most trustworthy Bible for a new believer.
V. The Bible Is Understandable
(Why new believers can read it confidently)
Psalm 119:130 — "The entrance of thy words giveth light; it giveth understanding unto the simple."
This means you do not need a degree, a commentary, or a scholar — and you don't need to be a scholar. To understand the Bible, you need the Bible, the Holy Spirit, a humble heart, and a willingness to learn.
⭐ Koine Greek — The Language of the Common Man
The New Testament was written in Koine Greek, which means "common Greek." It was the everyday street language spoken by fishermen, farmers, soldiers, and ordinary people. God did not choose the scholarly Classical Greek. He chose the simplest, most universal form of Greek so everyone could understand His Word.
This shows us that God wanted the New Testament written for ordinary people, that the Bible is not an academic book — it is a people's book — and that God chose the simplest language available to communicate the greatest message ever given.
What other Greek forms existed?
- Classical Greek — formal, literary Greek used by philosophers (Plato, Aristotle); complex grammar and vocabulary; not used by common people; not used in the New Testament.
- Koine Greek — simplified, everyday Greek spread by Alexander the Great; used from 300 BC to AD 300; the language of the New Testament; easy to read and understand.
- Septuagint / Liturgical Greek — the Greek translation of the Old Testament; still Koine, but with Hebrew influence; used in synagogues; familiar to Greek-speaking Jews.
So the New Testament writers used the simplest, clearest, most universal form of Greek available. That was not an accident — that was God's design.
Simple truth: God wrote the Bible for people — not for professors.
VI. The Bible Is the Final Authority for the Believer
(Why we build our lives on it)
Matthew 4:4 — "But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God."
This means our lives should NOT be built upon feelings, culture, tradition, opinions, or experiences — but upon every word of Scripture, which is our authority.
Proverbs 16:25 — "There is a way that seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death."
This principle was true long before the first word of the Bible was written. Without the guidance of God's Word, we would naturally choose a path that feels right — but ends in spiritual ruin.
⭐ Why This Explanation About the Authority of Scripture Is Strong
Author's Note — "We want to avoid inserting any brand of theology. As a new believer, I want you to consider the actual meaning of Matthew 4:4 and Proverbs 16:25. If left to our own logic, mankind could never determine truth. And even with the Bible — which is without question God's Word — without the Holy Spirit guiding a willing heart, all the education in the world would not be enough to lead us into God's truth."
- It connects the doctrine to a Scripture principle. Proverbs 16:25 warns that the end of the "seems right" path is destruction. We are using this truth to show: human instinct is not reliable — but God's Word is.
- It shows the timelessness of the principle. Even before the Bible existed: God's way was right in the Garden of Eden; man's way seemed right in the Garden of Eden; man's way led to death in the Garden of Eden. The Bible simply reveals what has always been true.
- It reinforces the need for Scripture. Without the guidance of the Bible, we would live and die in a way that seemed right — but ended in spiritual death. It's simple. It's clear. It's bullet-proof.
Simple truth: If the Bible says it — that settles it.
VII. The Bible Is Profitable for Daily Living
(Why we obey it)
2 Timothy 3:16 — "All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:"
Scripture teaches us what is right (doctrine), shows us what is wrong (reproof), shows us how to get right (correction), and shows us how to stay right (instruction).
Discernment — Learn Truth, Not Error. Many people make the mistake of trying to learn everything they can about false religion. But the safest way to recognize what is wrong is to become firmly grounded in what is right. Our journey through life is not to be viewed as a giant list of every possible belief where we cross out what is wrong and accept whatever is left. God never intended us to study error in order to avoid it — He intended us to know the truth so clearly that error becomes obvious.
John 8:32 — "And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free."
Truth frees us. Error loses its power when truth is known. The Bible does not tell us to study every error — it tells us to know the truth so well that error cannot deceive us.
Simple truth: The Bible is not just true — it is useful.
VIII. The Bible Reveals Jesus Christ
(Why the Bible matters most)
John 5:39 — "Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me."
Hebrews 11 is often called "the faith chapter," and for good reason. Over and over it uses the phrase "by faith" or "through faith." This teaches us something essential: faith is how we see what God has said.
Hebrews 11:1 explains that faith is the "evidence" of things we cannot see with our eyes. Hebrews 11:6 says that without faith it is impossible to please God. This means: without faith, we cannot see God's hand in Scripture; without faith, we cannot understand spiritual truth; without faith, the Bible remains a closed book; without faith, we cannot recognize Jesus in the pages of Scripture.
But WITH faith — even a small amount — the entire Bible opens up. Faith is the key that unlocks everything God has revealed. Faith is how we connect to God. Faith is how we recognize Jesus Christ in the Scriptures. This is exactly what Jesus meant in John 5:39 when He said the Scriptures "testify of Me."
From Genesis to Revelation, the Bible points to His coming, His sacrifice, His resurrection, His kingdom, and His return. Faith allows us to see Him there.
Author's Note — "Understanding the Bible ultimately requires faith. There is plenty of evidence that Scripture is trustworthy, but accepting it as God's Word is a spiritual matter. Faith is how mankind connects to God. Without faith, a person cannot fully receive the Bible as God's Word or as the final authority for life. As a new believer, I encourage you to prayerfully read Hebrews 11 — the 'faith chapter.' Notice how often the phrase 'by faith' or 'through faith' appears. Everything God's people understood, obeyed, and accomplished began with faith."
Simple truth: The Bible is not just a book — it is a revelation of a Person.
⭐ Chapter Summary
- The Bible is God-breathed.
- The Bible was written in real history.
- The Bible interprets itself.
- The Bible is preserved.
- The Bible is trustworthy.
- The Bible is understandable.
- The Bible is our final authority.
- The Bible is profitable.
- The Bible reveals Jesus.
