The Bible is the inerrant Word of God, verbally inspired in the whole and in the parts, the all-sufficient rule of faith and practice.

Every holy Writing which comes from God is of profit for teaching, for training, for guiding, for education in righteousness:
So that the man of God may be complete, trained and made ready for every good work. 2 Timothy 3:16

Being conscious in the first place that no man by himself may give a special sense to the words of the prophets.
For these words did not ever come through the impulse of men: but the prophets had them from God, being moved by the Holy Spirit. 2 Peter 1:20-21

Although philosophical in nature, the Bible is not a philosophy text.  Nor is it a scientific treatise.  However, there is no discrepancy between ascertained facts of science and the Bible.  The Bible is not a history text, although it has repeatedly been proven historically accurate. 

The Bible was given to man from God to reveal Jesus Christ as the Son of God and man's only Savior.  In John 14:6  Jesus emphatically proclaimed "I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me."  The Bible is the Story of Jesus Christ from Genesis to Revelation.   Jesus' own words in John 5:39 implore potential believers to "Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me."

The Bible is as high above all other books as the heavens are above the earth. It has been said of the Bible, “Read it to be wise, believe it to be safe, and practice it to be right.”

1. THE BIBLE IS THE INSPIRED WORD OF GOD

All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:
That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works. 2 Timothy 3:16-17

"All scripture is given by inspiration of God." Evangelical Christianity stands upon this statement of fact. The Bible claims to be the inspired Word of God.  By "inspiration" we mean that the Holy Spirit exerted His supernatural influence upon the writers of the Bible.  According to 2 Peter 1:21, that means that although men are flawed, the text of the Bible canon is not because it was authored by the Holy Spirit.  Further evidence of the Bible's inerrancy can be found in John 16:12-15, when Christ told His disciples that He would leave "many things" unrevealed, and the Holy Spirit would come and choose certain persons through whom He would reveal His perfect will unto man.

2. THE BIBLE IS A DIFFICULT BOOK

But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.
But he that is spiritual judgeth all things, yet he himself is judged of no man.
For who hath known the mind of the Lord, that he may instruct him? But we have the mind of Christ. 1 Corinthians 2:14-16

The Bible is a difficult book because it is a message from an infinite, all-powerful God to finite mankind, with all of our limitations.  As such, you cannot approach the Bible as you would  other writings.  For example, you can study the great philosophers with the natural mind.  However, according to  Ephesians 5:18, since the Bible is from God and therefore spiritual in nature,  you must be born of the Spirit before you can receive its teachings.

John 16:12-15 instructs that you should always approach the Bible praying that the Spirit will be your teacher.   Pray that the Holy Spirit will guide you to a better understanding of God's Word, lest it remain a difficult, closed book .

3. THE BIBLE IS A BOOK OF ONENESS

For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost. 2 Peter 1:21

The unity of the Bible is a miracle.  Composed of 66 books written over a period of approximately 1,500 years, the Bible is an unparalleled literary masterpiece.  Its 35 different author's represent a cross section of humanity -- educated and uneducated -- kings, fishermen, public officials, farmers, teachers and physicians.  And yet the Bible's various parts are as harmoniously united as the diverse parts that make up the human body.

The probability that such a multitude of authors with such varied backgrounds would write on so many subjects over so great a period of time would seem to be a mathematical impossibility.  So how can we account for the Bible?  The only adequate explanation is: "Holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Spirit."

4. THE BIBLE CLAIMS SPECIAL POWER

For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. Hebrews 4:12

"For the Word of God is quick and powerful…."

The Bible claims dividing power as a sword.  Either the Bible will separate man from sin (Psalms 119:11) or sin will separate man from the Bible (Isaiah 59:2).

James 1:22-25 intones that the Bible has reflecting power as a mirror.  As explained in Romans 3:23, the Bible enables us to see ourselves as God sees us, as sinners.

Fortunately for us, the Bible claims cleansing power as water (Ephesians 5:26).  For example, in Psalms 51:2, David prayed that God would "wash him from iniquity" and cleanse him from sin.

In 1st Peter 1:23, the Bible claims reproductive power as seed. We are the children of God because we have been born into the family of God by the incorruptible seed of God. This is the new birth (John 3:1-7).

Furthermore, in 1st Peter 2:2 the Bible claims nourishing power as food . The Bible is spiritual food for the soul. No Christian can remain strong in the Lord and not study the word of God, as found only in the Bible.

5. THE BIBLE COMMANDS THE BELIEVER TO STUDY THE SCRIPTURES

Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. 2 Timothy 2:15

"Study to show thyself approved unto God" is a command.  As you study the Bible, you will discover that it does not just contain the Word of God.  The Bible IS the Word of God.  Also keep in mind that the Bible contains the words of God, as well as others, to include angels, men, Satan, and demons.

Whereas God is truth and cannot lie, according to John 8:44, Satan "is a liar and the father of it."  In addition, man is natural and  limited, and does not always speak the truth.  For example, in Matthew 22:15-46 the Pharisees, the Herodians and the Sadducees were all trying to entangle Jesus in His teachings so that they could accuse Him of breaking God's law.  As such, their words were spoken with evil intent, revealing the thinking of the natural man, juxtaposed to God's truth spoken by Jesus.

As you study the Bible, ask yourself these questions:

(1) Who is speaking in the passage?  Is it God, an angel, man or a demon?

(2) To whom is the author speaking? Is the message addressed to the nation Israel, to the Gentiles, to the church, to men in general or to some individual man or being in particular?

(3) How can this Scripture be applied to my own life to make me a better Christian?

excerpt from Porter Barrington's Master Outlines.

See Also:
Is the Bible reliable?
Bible Contradictions?
What Does The Bible Say
Online Bible
Read the Bible in One Year