The Doctrine of Scripture

Prolegomena

First Things

If we’re going to begin a class studying the dogmatics of the Christian Faith, there are probably a few things that we should get out of the way up front, so that we might save ourselves quite a bit of headache later on down the line.

What is Biblical Theology?

Biblical Theology is the Study of God according to the words of the Bible. When we study Biblical Theology, we’re just studying the Bible as it is presented to us. We are studying it in the context of itself, and studying it in the context of how, where, and when it was written.

What is Dogmatic Theology?

When we study Dogmatic Theology we are studying God according to the doctrines of Scripture as they have been treated by the Apostles, The Fathers, the Councils, and your favorite Bible commentator. That is to say, we are studying Dogmas.

What are Dogmas?

Dogmas are principles of the Christian faith or definitions of doctrine given by an ecclesiastical organization.

What is Systematic Theology?

Systematic Theology is the study of Dogmatics in an organized or systematic fashion. That is: We start at whatever we consider to be the most foundational doctrine, and build out, in order, from there.

The Source of Authority

When studying theology, we must first set out for ourselves our source of authority. If we do not have a source of authority, we do not have anything to turn to regarding the truth claims we make. This is true of any area of study, but especially true of studying the Christian Faith.

How many sources can there be?

Different types of Christians believe in different sources of authority. Can you name some?

Roman Catholics - The Pope, Tradition, And Scripture

Eastern Orthodox - Councils & Fathers, Traditions

Protestants - The Bible

What are some deficiencies that these views have?

Men can Err. In the case of the Pope: Traditions have changed drastically over time (EG, penance, the eucharist, the Liturgy). Scripture is guarded by the Magisterium of the Church, so that it does not matter how a Scripture reads, it means only ever what the Church says it means. The Pope himself can declare any doctrine Ex Cathedra and it is dogmatically binding. (All Hail Pope Fart Ass).

The Orthodox: They contradict each other, and refer only to fathers and councils that agree with their position, and anathematize all others. They are all wildly different in their precise theology, their traditions, and even their scriptures; yet they are all somehow the only true church.

Protestants have no guard rails. They have Nuda Scriptura, that is The Naked Scripture. Chances for misunderstanding abound. They are doctrinally all over the place.

What then should our authority be?

Our authority should be the Scriptures.

For a doctrine to be a true doctrine of the faith, it need only agree with the Scriptures.

However, our Doctrine of the Scriptures should be very wary of becoming the view of Nuda Scriptura, and should instead look to history and the church to have fences and guard rails, as it were, to keep us from chasing after vain myth and superstition.

We should view Scriptures in light of:

The Creeds

The Confessions

The Councils

Traditions

This view is what we call Sola Scriptura.

Sola Scriptura is Latin and means “By Scripture Alone.” This is reformation shorthand for the idea that Scripture Alone is the sole infallible source of authority in all matters of doctrine and faith.

Thus we see that Scripture is the Source and Norm of Christian doctrine.

Scripture is the Norma Normans, that is The Norm that Norms.

The Creeds, confessions, and traditions, and councils, are the Norma Normata, the Normed Norms.

Getting Into It

We must study the doctrine of Scripture first before any other doctrine, because the Scriptures are where we chiefly learn about God.

There is such a thing as Natural Theology, but you can only learn so much about God from the trees.

At the end of the day, the only person who can tell us about God is God Himself.

We believe that Christianity is a revealed religion. This has several implications for us today:

Perspicuity. When you speak to someone about something, you use words and common language.

The implications are that you intend to be understood, and;

That the recipient can understand you. Thus;

Scripture can and should be understood.

We cannot judge the Scriptures.

The Lord tells us about Himself. It is not our place to determine whether or not He has told us the truth, or whether or not He has told us enough.

We are not to accept or reject ideas of Scripture based on our own beliefs and experiences.

We are not to understand transcendental truth in ways contrary to or outside of Scripture.

When it comes to interpreting scripture, we must simply endeavor to restate what the text is teaching in our own words.

While a Biblical text can have multiple meanings (allegorical, literal, historical, etc), none of those meanings ever contradict.

The Bible will also never contradict itself.

If you have two passages that seem to contradict in some way, you can resolve the issue by interpreting the harder passage in light of the clearer passage.

The Scriptures are Inspired.

Everything written in the Holy Scriptures is there by the inspiration of the Holy Ghost.

We deny in this the idea of Divine Dictation. That the Holy Ghost was just dictating the Scriptures.

We also deny the idea of some kind of Divine Possession. That the Holy Ghost took over the authors.

Rather, we would say that the Holy Ghost brought to mind all the things He intended the author to say, and in this way worked Co-Operatively with the author.

Thus the scriptures contain the authors’ voices, experiences, thoughts, and ideas, but there is nothing in Scripture that the Holy Spirit did not intend to be, nor was anything left out that He intended to be included.

2 Peter 1:21 “For no prophecy at any time was produced by the will of man, but holy men moved by the Holy Spirit spoke from God.”

2 Timothy 3:16 “All Scripture is inspired by God and is profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for instruction in righteousness,”

The Word of God is efficacious; it has the power to produce an effect, to make an impression on the heart. The effect is not produced by the mere external contact with the Word, but the Word must be learned and its true sense and meaning must be apperceived by the mind.

The Bible is Sufficient. That is, it contains a perfect account of all that is necessary to achieve its aims.

The Bible is Divided into parts.

What are some parts the Bible is divided into?

What is the purpose of the Bible?

To Educate man unto salvation.

To train man unto holiness.

To magnify God’s Glory.

The Purpose of the Bible

We should use it!

Not just us, but everyone. Everyone should use the Bible.

How do we use the Bible?

We read and study it.

We meditate on it.

Christians do not meditate as the pagans do, wherein we empty our minds. Rather, Moses instructs us to meditate on the Scriptures as a cow chews the cud. We are to chew it constantly and throughout our day.

We are to accept it as true and believe it.

We are to obey it.

We are to teach it.

Various Uses:

To teach us doctrine.

For Reproof - that is, it helps us recognize our error.

For correction. We will often be lead astray. The Bible shows us those areas in our lives in which we need to the correction and improvement of God. It teaches us what is pleasing and displeasing to God.

For instruction in righteousness. It teachings us how to serve God and one another.