The Bible is “the word of God” (1 Thessalonians 2:13). However, there are “false teachers” (2 Peter 2:1 LSB), as well as “false doctrines” (1 Timothy 1:3), and “false prophets” that we need to “beware of” (Matthew 7:15). Regarding anything that is taught about the Bible, we do well to ask, “Does scripture really say that?“

BIBLE PRINCIPLES

“Examine all things; hold fast to that which is good” (1 Thessalonians 5:21 LSB). “The Greek word for “test” (δοκιμάζω) implies a rigorous examination, akin to testing metals for purity” (Bible Hub Study Bible). This involves some effort and work on the part of the individual, but eternal life is well worth it.

“Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world” (1 John 4:1 LSB).“Testing the spirits involves discernment and evaluation of teachings and prophecies” (Bible Hub Study Bible). We’re to believe everything that is taught about the Bible, even by Bible scholars, but we’re told to “test” the teachings. What do we test the teachings against? — We have an example for us in the scriptures:

“These people were more receptive than those in Thessalonica. They were very willing to receive the message, and every day they carefully examined the Scriptures to see if those things were so” (Acts 17:11 ISV). “The Bereans’ daily examination of the Scriptures highlights their diligence and commitment to truth. This practice of daily study is a model for believers, emphasizing the importance of regular engagement with God’s Word. The Bereans did not take Paul’s teachings at face value but sought to verify them against the Hebrew Scriptures, which were the authoritative texts for them” . Most people do not want to out forth the time and effort to ‘examine the scriptures carefully every day’, and prefer to have someone else tell them what to think. Unfortunately, this, no doubt, is one of the reasons most people are on the figurative “road to destruction” (Matthew 7:13-14).

The scriptures themselves, in God’s Word, advise us, regarding anything that is taught about the Bible, we always do well to ask, “Does scripture really say that?“

EXAMPLES

Let’s look at some examples to illustrate the point of ‘examining all things by the scriptures’.

Example 1

Catholics claim: “Those that build their foundations on wood, grass or straw will be burned when we are purified to go to purgatory. Yet they will saved though only as men are saved by passing through fire. All people who go to purgatory will be saved though suffering (fire).”

THE BIBLE SAYS: Paul was using word pictures, such as metaphors, in the account at 1 Corinthians 3:10-17. He uses simile in verse 15 saying “the person will be saved, but ONLY AS THROUGH FIRE.” (Catholic New American Bible [NAB])

The fire is figurative for spiritual cleansing and difficulty prior to death, not after! Even the Catholic New American Bible (NAB) footnote on this verse admits: “THE TEXT OF V 15 HAS SOMETIMES BEEN USED TO SUPPORT THE NOTION OF PURGATORY, THOUGH IT DOES NOT ENVISAGE THIS.”

Example 2

“Within the One Being that is God, there exists eternally three coequal and coeternal persons, namely, the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit”—The Forgotten Trinity, by James White, page 23

Where does the Bible say such a thing? — A comprehensive search of the Bible’s 31,100 scriptures reveals that it doesn’t!

Example 3

“Under God’s Kingdom arrangement, 144,000 anointed ones will serve alongside our High Priest, Jesus, as kings and priests. (1 Pt. 1:3,4; 2:9).—Watchtower Study Edition, 9-1-2026, “How the Priesthood Reveals Jehovah’s Love”, paragraph 9

When we actually read 1 Peter 1:3,4; 1 Peter 2:9 for ourselves, even from the Jehovah’s Witnesses own New World Translation, we find that the scriptures themselves say nothing about any “144,000 anointed ones”.

Example 4

“Which book of the Bible provides the most extensive and detailed teaching on the Trinity? . . . there is an Old Testament book that has more to say about the Trinity than the Gospel of John and Revelation combined–the two New Testament books that say the most about the Trinity. That book is Isaiah” —“Does the Book of Isaiah Teach the Trinity?”, Reasons to Believe (RTB) blogsite, by Hugh Ross, July 20, 2020

Now, after such a bold claim as this, one would think that the RTB article would provide abundant evidence from the book of Isaiah to back this up. So, what does Hugh Ross, in this blog site article, do? He says:

“I have collected . . . in a single document everything that Isaiah says that is relevant to the Trinity . . . copious specific references to different aspects of the triune God”—Ibid.

This sounds impressive, doesn’t it? One would expect to see exactly what is claimed there would be, “copious specific references to different aspects of the triune God.” What the article does have is a long series of quotations of scriptures from the book of Isaiah, under heading of:

“Isaiah Passages on the Trinity”—Ibid.

However, there are no explanations about anything in any of the scriptures that are quoted in the RTD blog site article, only the scripture quotes. We cite, without quoting, these scriptures here:

Isaiah 1:4; 2:3,4; 4:2; 6:5,8; 7:14; 8:13,14; 9:6,7; 10:17; 11:1-3; 12:2; 16:5; 17:7,10; 19:19,20; 22:21-25; 24:15,16; 25:8,9; 26:4,7; 26:13; 28:16; 28:21; 33:2; 33:17; 33:22; 35:2,4; 40:3-5; 40:9-11; 40:25; 41:14; 42:1-4; 42:6,7; 42:19; 43:3; 43:10,11; 43:14; 44:3; 44:6; 44:24; 45:5; 45:6; 45:14,15; 45:18; 45:21; 45:24; 46:9; 47:4 48:12; 49:4-9; 49:26; 50:4-9; 52:13-53:12; 55:3,4; 59:16; 59:19,20; 60:9; 61:1-3; 62:11,12; 63:8-11; 63:14-16

Since none of these scriptures says anything about the Trinity doctrine, or any aspect of it, one wonders where do Trinitarians get such ideas from the book of Isaiah? Apparently, they imagine them right into the texts! Since some of these scriptures flatly contradict the Trinity doctrine, we are amazed that they are quoted in the article, as if they support the dogma.

Example 5

“My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth.” (Psalm 121:2 CSB), quoted on the front of the church bulletin by Crossway on June 28, 2026, distributed to Southern Baptist Churches..

When we look at the CSB translation itself, we find that the scripture actually reads: “My help comes from the LORD, the Maker of heaven and earth” (Psalm 121:2 CSB). 

Notice how “LORD” actually appears in all caps in the CSB translation itself, to inform the reader that the translators have substituted the generic “LORD” for “Yahweh”, the name of God which is what  in the Hebrew text itself. The printers of the Crossway bulletin have dishonestly printed “Lord” in place of “LORD”, no doubt to cover up the fact that “Yahweh” is the unique God, who is never described as a Trinity in the scriptures.

Regarding some Bible teachings, when we ask and investigate, “Does scripture really say that?”, we find out that it doesn’t!

Example 6

“In 1914, Jesus started the war against Satan the Devil and his deamons and cast them down to the earth. (Rev. 12:7-9) Although the battle itself took place in heaven, those on earth have certainly felt the effects of that battle. ‘Woe for the earth and for the sea,’ the Bible says, ‘because the Devil has come down to you, having great anger, knowing that has a short period of time.’ (Rev. 12:12) Since 1914, Satan’s attention has been focused on the earth, and as a result, world conditions have gone from bad to worse.”—Watchtower Study Edition, April 2026, ‘The God of  Truth’ Always Fulfills His Purpose, paragraph 8

Although the scriptures say no such thing, the year 1914 is asserted to the definite time when the events described in Revelation 12:7-9,12 took place,

These few examples we’ve looked at have illustrated that it always pays to check the scriptures for ourselves!

CONCLUSION

Although “All scripture is inspired by God and is useful for teaching” (2 Timothy 3:16 NAB), the fact is that, “there is no one on earth so just as to do good and never sin” (Ecclesiastes 7:20 NAB). That is, all humans make mistakes.

Therefore, we each individually should check all Biblical assertions out for ourselves, so that we are not “deceived” (2 Timothy 3:13 NIV). Therefore, we do well in asking, “Does scripture really say that?”