Scripture Reading

1
Scripture Reading
Deut 41-8
Ye shall not add unto the word which I command
you, neither shall ye diminish from it, that ye
may keep the commandments of Jehovah your God
which I command you.
2
By what authority? Mt. 2123-27

• All authority has been given to me Mt. 2818
• Authority - the right to determine,
  adjudicate, or otherwise settle issues or
  disputes the right to control, command, or
  determine (2) a body or person with such rights
  American College Dict

3
The Chain of Authority

God Gen 11
Christ Mt 2818
HS Jn 14-16
Apostles Mt 1818
2 Tim 316-17 2 Jn 9
4
How Do We Learn of Gods Authority?

• It is not learned in nature
• Ps 191 Heavens declare glory
• Ps 119105 But His word directs us
• It is not found in creeds Mt. 158-9
• It is not impressed in man (instinct)
• It is expressed Heb. 11
• Scripture is authoritative 1 Pet 411

5
The Use of Human Reasoning in Understanding the
Bible

• God created man with ability to reason
  understand Rom 121
• Gods message addressed to ability
• Man must use reason to understand
• Isa 118 Acts 171-4 184 2425
• Promise Truth is understandable John 832
  Eph 34 517

6
How is Authority of Scripture Expressed?

• 2 Tim 215 Rightly divide - to cut straight,
  to divide right - make proper distribution of
  that word, adapting the instructions to the
  circumstances and wants of his hearers, and
  giving to each that which will be fitted to
  nourish the soul for heaven (Barnes Notes, II
  Tim., p. 225)

7
Rightly Dividing

• Col. 214 2 Cor 36-9 OT from NT
• 2 Pet 21-2 Heb 411f milk/meat
• Acts 2026-27 Whole counsel of God
• 1 Tim 41f 2 Tim 41f Reject error
• Gal 26 Show no favoritism to men
• Thoughts from Psalms 119

8
Gods Three Methods of Teaching

• Commands, expressed statements
• 1 Jn 51-3 Rev 2214
• Approved Apostolic Examples 1 Cor 111
• Divine Implications (Necessary Inferences) -
  Speaker implies hearer infers Eph 45 water
  baptism

9
These Are Gods Way- Not Mans

• Concept not widely accepted
• Emphasis during Campbells day
• But not Restoration concept
• Bible speaks in these 3 avenues to express
  Gods authority
• Will prove from scriptures themselves that 3
  avenues express authority

10
Establishing Bible Authority

• But how may scriptural authority be
  established? In order for a thing to be in
  harmony with the scriptures there must be either
  first an express command or statement second an
  approved example, and third a necessary inference
  in the word of God for it (Roy Cogdill,
  Cogdill-Woods Debate, p. 13). With much of
  brother Cogdills speech I am in complete
  agreement..no one calls in question.. (ibid, p.
  27).

11
But Some Do Question It...

• I have listened closely to the three ways of
  establishing authority - command, example,
  inference. And I am persuaded that this needs
  closer examination. I believe that Bible auth-
  ority rests solely on the revelationary nature of
  the scriptures, and that in dealing with
  necessary inference and approved examples
  involves the use of the mind, and therefore,
  interpretation (Reuell Lemmons, Arlington
  Meeting, p. 405).

12
Some Deny Necessary Inferences...

• The New Testament pattern ends where revelation
  ends, that is where the specific mandate
  (command, tr) ends and where God allows human
  judgment to take over. Any time we have to to
  beyond the limits of the specific revelation (or
  mandate) to infer, deduce and go through a
  process of reasoning to reach a conclusion, it is
  human and can be no part of the divine pattern..
  (F L Lemley, FF, 9/17/74, p.597)

13
Some Deny Examples as Binding...

• Those within the Restoration Movement who have
  written on the subject usually have assumed that
  at least some of the New Testament examples are
  binding. In contrast, the New Testament seems to
  provide no basis for this conclusionthe New
  Testament contains no rules for distinguishing
  important from unimportant examples (Milo
  Hadwin, The Role of New Testament Examples as
  Related to Biblical Authority, p. v, foreward)

14
Some Reject Commands...

• Those in New Hermeneutic Movement refer to
  Bible as a love letter without any commands at
  all.
• So to some, Bible is only what each one allows
  it to be, not what God chooses to declare.
• But John 644-45 hear, learn, come

15
God Expects Faith Rom 1017

• Reason (Rom 121) applies equally to
• Commands (which apply Mt 275 Jn 1327 )
• Examples (upper room Acts 208)
• Necessary Inference Mk 1228
• Man is not a senseless robot
• Or lost in darkness Ps 119105
• God communicates to man Heb. 11

16
Our Appeal Is To The Scriptures

• 1 Pet 411
• 2 Tim. 316-17
• 1 Jn 52-3
• Speak where the Bible speaks Be silent where
  the Bible is silent
• Do Bible Things in Bible Ways Call Bible things
  by Bible Names