But I think the Bible refers to itself
Didn’t mean to intrude in your response to Aspen. you raised some good thoughts that perhaps align with “the false doctrines of men” or the “the doctrine of God” which Jesus said was not the Son’s but The doctrine of the Father who sent Him.
Not disagreeing but if I understood you correctly: you said the word doesn’t always mean Jesus...but sometimes the Bible refers to itself ...if by “Bible” you mean “the word of God” sometimes refers to itself” consider:
John 16:12-14
[12] I have yet many things to say unto you, but ye cannot bear them now. [13] Howbeit when he,
the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for
he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come. [14]
He shall glorify me: for he shall receive of mine, and shall shew it unto you.
John 15:26
[26] But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the
Spirit of truth, which
proceedeth from the Father,
he shall testify of me:
Does the Word of God that proceeds from the Father testify, not of itself but of Jesus Christ. Does not the word of God that proceeds from the Father testify not of itself, but of Life. Jesus said the ‘Spirit of Truth’ will receive of mine and show you things. Things they were not able to bear yet.
What does this “spirit of truth”
have to do with the false doctrines of men that we should beware of? That persuade away from the simplicity of Christ.
1 John 4:5-6
[5] They are of the world: therefore speak they of the world, and the world heareth them. [6] We are of God: he that knoweth God heareth us; he that is not of God heareth not us. Hereby know we the spirit of truth, and the spirit of error.
Spirit of truth
Spirit of error..
As much as the spirit of truth is ‘spirit’; so is the spirit of error also spirit(the spirit warned against). the false spirit we are warned against in 2 Corinthians 11:3-4 But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ. [4] For if he that cometh preacheth another Jesus, whom we have not preached, or if ye receive another spirit, which ye have not received, or another gospel, which ye have not accepted, ye might well bear with him .
Another Jesus
Another spirit
The spirit of error
1 John 4:1 Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.
^isn't another Jesus already here?