The Holy Scriptures lie at the foundation of the Seventh-day Adventist understanding of purpose, message, and mission. We respect the Bible as the message of God transmitted through human writers. Although the format of the Scriptures manifests itself in human language, background, and historical setting, its content consists of divine messages conveyed to humanity as a whole, and especially to believers in God. Above the diversity reflected in human language stands the unifying truth that ties together the whole into the Word of God.

The Scriptures provide authentic, reliable reports of the Creator God and His activities in bringing into existence the world as well as its inhabitants. They provide knowledge of origins, give meaning to life, and disclose the ultimate destiny of humanity.
Above all, the Scriptures bear testimony to Jesus Christ who is the ultimate revelation, God among us. Both Old and New Testaments bear witness to Him. For these reasons the Holy Scriptures stand as the infallible revelation of God's will, the norm for Christian values and life, the measure of all things within human experience, and the sole reliable guide to salvation in Christ.

*This statement was approved and voted by the General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists Administrative Committee (ADCOM) and was released by the Office of the President, Robert S. Folkenberg, at the General Conference session in Utrecht, the Netherlands, June 29-July 8, 1995.

The Holy Scriptures, Old and New Testaments, are the written Word of God, given by divine inspiration through holy men of God who spoke and wrote as they were moved by the Holy Spirit. In this Word, God has committed to man the knowledge necessary for salvation. The Holy Scriptures are the infallible revelation of His will. They are the standard of character, the test of experience, the authoritative revealer of doctrines, and the trustworthy record of God's acts in history. (2 Peter 1:20, 21; 2 Tim. 3:16, 17; Ps. 119:105; Prov. 30:5, 6; Isa. 8:20; John 17:17; 1 Thess. 2:13; Heb. 4:12.)

You can search the Bible online at www.Bible.com. You can search many different Bible versions as well as many different languages.

Passage/Verse Search (specific Bible passage): http://bibleresources.bible.com/passagesearch.php

Word Search (specific word in the Bible): http://bibleresources.bible.com/keywordsearch.php

www.bible.com

For years we have been known to be the “People of the Book.” Why? Because from our humble beginnings our pioneers searched Scriptures, parted away from traditions and well established believes which had no Biblical foundation and focused on what God was saying through the Bible. At times, they got it wrong, but they did not give up, they kept on searching, even if unpopular at times, because they wanted to know the will of God and His plans for His people. We have been a church that believes the Bible to be the Word of God, loves it, treasures it, and reads it. The Bible is our only rule of faith and doctrine, we also believe in the following two concepts:

Sola Escritura: The Scriptures are our only rule of faith and doctrine.

Tota Escritura: We believe all of Scripture to be inspired by God and its principles to be relevant in the world in which we live today.
Jesus had something to say about anyone who exchanges His Word for traditions, He said: “Therefore, in vain do they worship Me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.' For laying aside the commandment of God, you hold to the tradition of men, as the washing of pots and cups, and many other like things you do." And He said unto them, "Full well you reject the commandment of God, that you may keep your own tradition.” (Mark 7:8,9).
The Apostle Paul also warned us against the temptation to put aside God’s Word for traditions and human-made doctrines, he said: “Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, following the tradition of men according to the rudiments of the world, and not in accordance with Christ.” (Colossians 2:8)
The youth and young adults in the Greater New York Conference are committed to being “the Young People of the Book.” In order to be just that we must:

1. Read a portion of the Bible daily.
2. Pray asking God to help us understand what we read.
3. Pray asking God for strength to help us to obey what God says through the Bible.
4. Look in the Bible for answers and solutions to our daily lives.
5. Accept the authority of the Bible above any other book written
6. Place the writings of the Bible above any human, church, and popular traditions.
7. Share the Message of Hope and plenty of benefits found in the Bible with our family, friends, neighbors, and co-workers.
8. Never argue with anyone about the doctrines found in the Bible, rather encourage others to search and find the answer. We are not here to win an argument on doctrine; we exist to lead others to the benefits found in the Book with a spirit of love.