The first four beliefs of Believers of the Way United establish the foundation for how we understand Scripture, creation, and the human person. We begin with the conviction that YHWH has spoken — not through mechanical dictation, but through inspired thoughts, revelations, and divine truth communicated to the hearts and minds of chosen writers. The Word of God is not trapped on paper or confined to one manuscript tradition; it is the living self-expression of YHWH, revealed through Scripture, confirmed by His Spirit, and applied to His people in every generation.
From that foundation, we confess that YHWH alone created the heavens, the earth, and all living things by His sovereign word and will. Creation is not a side doctrine; it is the beginning of worship, accountability, Sabbath, and human dignity. Because man and woman are both created in the image of YHWH, both bear divine worth, moral responsibility, intelligence, creativity, and calling. These truths remind us that right belief must lead to right living: we honor YHWH by receiving His Word, recognizing Him as Creator, and treating every person as one made in His image.
1. THOUGHT INSPIRATION
The belief that the Scriptures are divinely inspired not through mechanical dictation of every word, but through the thoughts, ideas, and revelations that YHWH communicated to the minds and hearts of the biblical writers — each expressing divine truth through their own language, culture, and personality, while remaining fully guided by the Spirit of YHWH in all matters of faith, doctrine, and practice.
Old Testament
Genesis 41:38-39 — Exodus 4:10-12 — Numbers 12:6-8 — Deuteronomy 18:18 — 2 Samuel 23:2 — Job 32:8 — Psalm 19:1-4 — Psalm 119:18 — Proverbs 2:6 — Isaiah 1:1 — Isaiah 6:8-9 — Jeremiah 1:4-9 — Jeremiah 20:9 — Ezekiel 2:1-3 — Ezekiel 3:10-11 — Daniel 2:19-23 — Amos 3:7-8 — Micah 3:8 — Habakkuk 2:2-3 — Zechariah 7:12
New Testament
Matthew 22:43 — Luke 1:1-4 — Luke 24:44-45 — John 14:26 — John 16:13 — Acts 1:16 — Acts 28:25 — Romans 15:4 — 1 Corinthians 2:9-13 — 1 Corinthians 14:37 — 2 Corinthians 3:3 — Galatians 1:11-12 — Ephesians 3:3-5 — 1 Thessalonians 2:13 — 2 Timothy 3:16-17 — Hebrews 1:1-2 — Hebrews 4:12 — 1 Peter 1:10-12 — 2 Peter 1:20-21 — Revelation 1:1-2
2. THE WORD OF GOD
The belief that the Word of God is not confined to 66 books, not limited to ink and paper, not bound to any particular translation or manuscript tradition, but is the living, active, and eternal self-expression of YHWH himself — communicated through Scripture, confirmed by the Spirit, and applied through revelation to the hearts and minds of his people in every generation.
Old Testament
Genesis 1:3 — Deuteronomy 8:3 — Deuteronomy 30:14 — 1 Samuel 3:1 — 1 Samuel 3:21 — Psalm 19:7-9 — Psalm 33:6 — Psalm 33:9 — Psalm 119:89 — Psalm 119:105 — Psalm 119:160 — Proverbs 30:5-6 — Isaiah 40:8 — Isaiah 55:10-11 — Isaiah 66:2 — Jeremiah 15:16 — Jeremiah 23:29 — Ezekiel 37:4-6 — Amos 8:11-12 — Habakkuk 2:2
New Testament
Matthew 4:4 — Matthew 24:35 — Luke 8:11 — Luke 11:28 — John 1:1 — John 1:14 — John 5:39 — John 6:63 — John 8:31-32 — John 17:17 — Acts 17:11 — Romans 10:17 — 1 Corinthians 2:10-13 — Ephesians 6:17 — Colossians 3:16 — 1 Thessalonians 2:13 — 2 Timothy 2:15 — Hebrews 4:12 — James 1:22-25 — 1 Peter 1:23-25
3. CREATION
The belief that the heavens, the earth, and all living things were created by YHWH alone — not by chance, not by evolutionary process without divine direction, but by the sovereign word and will of the one true God who spoke all things into existence and declared them good. Creation is the foundation of YHWH’s lordship, the basis of the Sabbath, and the ground of human dignity and accountability.
Old Testament
Genesis 1:1 — Genesis 1:3-5 — Genesis 1:6-8 — Genesis 1:9-13 — Genesis 1:14-19 — Genesis 1:20-23 — Genesis 1:24-25 — Genesis 1:26-28 — Genesis 1:31 — Genesis 2:1-3 — Genesis 2:7 — Genesis 2:15 — Job 38:1-7 — Psalm 19:1-4 — Psalm 24:1-2 — Psalm 33:6-9 — Psalm 104:1-5 — Psalm 104:24-30 — Nehemiah 9:6 — Isaiah 40:26-28
New Testament
John 1:1-3 — Acts 14:15 — Acts 17:24-26 — Romans 1:19-20 — Romans 8:19-22 — 1 Corinthians 8:6 — 1 Corinthians 11:9 — Colossians 1:16-17 — Hebrews 1:2-3 — Hebrews 11:3 — Revelation 4:11 — Revelation 10:6 — Revelation 14:7 — Romans 11:36 — Ephesians 3:9 — 2 Corinthians 4:6 — 2 Peter 3:5 — 1 Timothy 4:3-4 — James 1:17 — John 1:10
4. MAN AND WOMAN IN THE IMAGE OF GOD
The belief that both man and woman are created in the image of YHWH — the tselem Elohim — endowed with dignity, intelligence, moral capacity, creativity, and dominion. Neither gender is inferior before YHWH. Both are equally bearers of the divine image, equally accountable to their Creator, and equally called to reflect his character in the world.
Old Testament
Genesis 1:26-27 — Genesis 2:7 — Genesis 2:18 — Genesis 2:21-23 — Genesis 5:1-2 — Genesis 9:6 — Deuteronomy 4:32 — Psalm 8:3-6 — Psalm 100:3 — Psalm 139:13-16 — Proverbs 22:2 — Ecclesiastes 7:29 — Isaiah 43:7 — Isaiah 44:2 — Isaiah 45:12 — Jeremiah 27:5 — Ezekiel 28:12-13 — Job 10:8-12 — Malachi 2:10 — Zechariah 12:1
New Testament
Matthew 19:4-6 — Mark 10:6-9 — Luke 3:38 — Acts 17:26-29 — Romans 8:29 — 1 Corinthians 11:7 — 1 Corinthians 15:49 — 2 Corinthians 3:18 — 2 Corinthians 4:4 — Galatians 3:28 — Ephesians 4:24 — Colossians 3:9-10 — James 3:9 — Hebrews 2:6-8 — Romans 5:12-14 — 1 Corinthians 11:8-9 — 1 Timothy 2:13-14 — Revelation 4:11 — Philippians 2:3 — 1 Peter 3:7
Foundations of the Way is a seven-part teaching series designed to walk readers through the fundamental beliefs of Believers of the Way United. These articles provide a clear introduction before readers explore the full Scripture references and doctrinal statements.