Biblical Authority - 3
BIBLICAL AUTHORITY, #3
EXAMPLES
Review: John 16:13-15; 1 Cor. 2:6-13
Introduction: Biblical authority is a fundamental, basic study. The problems faced by the church during the past several decades are a result of: (1) attitudes toward the authority of the Bible, or (2) misapplication of principles of interpreting Biblical authority.
Remember four words:
1. Classification
2. Clarification
3. Castigation
4. Consequences.
These form the four major divisions of the lesson for today.
Two extremes:
(1) Some deny the authority of examples as being of any relevance to us today. They affirm that if no command can be found to substantiate the action, then that action cannot be binding.
(2) Others seek to make example the only means of binding authority today. “Where is the example of a located preacher?” “Where is the example of a meeting-house?” “Where is the example of the Bible being taught according to age groups?”
I. Classification
A. Two classifications:
1. Examples disapproved by God.
a. Judas betraying the Lord (Mt. 26)
b. Ananias and Sapphira (Acts 5:1-11)
c. 3 Jn. 9-11 - Diotrophes’ love of preeminence.
d. Several examples from I Corinthians (every chapter).
2. Examples approved by God.
a. Five different kinds.
(1) Actions right when first done, but improper now. (Acts 2-9 - preaching to Jews only.
(2) Actions temporary but mandatory. (Illustration: 1 Cor. 12:31; 14:1 - instruction concerning spiritual gifts).
(3) Actions temporary but optional. (Illustration: Acts 16:3- Paul circumcised Timothy).
(4) Actions permanent but optional. (Illustrations: Acts 2:44-47; 4:36,37 -Having all things common; 2 Cor. 8:3 Giving beyond power.)
(5) Actions permanent but mandatory (Illustrations: Acts 8:36-39; Acts 20:7 – baptism; Lord’s Supper).
B. By process of sensible elimination, we can see that:
1. Actions which were right then but would be improper now, would not be binding today.
2. Actions which were mandatory then, but were temporary, would not be binding today.
3. Actions temporary and optional surely would not be binding today.
4. There are two of the five approved actions which are to be used as authority for men living today:
(a) Those actions which were permanent and mandatory.
(b) Those actions which were permanent and optional.
5. All examples which are approved by God are not binding in the
sense of laying an obligation upon us!
a. We have approved examples in the N.T. wherein these examples
are not in harmony with one another (Acts 11 - contribution sent by two men; Phil. 4 – sent by one man; Acts 11 – sent to churches; Phil. 4 - sent to preacher.) Are these all obligatory?
b. The only recorded time of day when the Lord’s Supper was eaten is at night. (1 Cor. 11:23; Acts 20:7)
c. Example of Paul preaching till midnight. (Acts 20:7)
II. Clarification.
A. A Biblical event is determined to be permanent and either mandatory or optional by the employment of the science of Biblical interpretation.
1. This is the application of sound rules of study.
2. When a study of a text is made, consider:
a. What does it say?
b. What does the “immediate context” (verses immediately preceding and following) say?
c. What does the “general context” of the Bible say?
B. Emp1oy common sense (Rule # 1 in Dungan’s book on Hermeneutics).
C. The same principles employed in studying statements need to be applied to our study of examples. (actions).
D. The action of Acts 20:7: how do we establish this as a binding example?
1. It is right! Certainly, it met with God’s approval when the disciples met on the first day of the week to “break bread,” (a figure of speech called synecdoche wherein the part is put for the whole), meaning to eat the Lord’s supper.
2. It is permanent! (I Cor. 11:26)
3. It is obligatory!
a. The immediate context shows that they (Paul and his companions) tarried seven days at Troas, apparently to see the church.
b. Acts 2:42 - “continued steadfastly” in breaking bread.
c. Mt. 26:29; Luke 22:18 - the Lord’s supper would be observed again on that day when the Kingdom of God would come. Day of Pentecost - first day of the week (Lev. 23).
d. 1 Cor. 11:20 - church at Corinth to observe Lord’s Supper when they came together.
e. 1 Cor. 16:1,2-the church at Corinth came together on “the first day of the week.” (lit. “first day of every week.” cf. Acts 14:23 - “elders in every church”) Example: “Remember the sabbath day.” Which one?
f. This same text tells us that the “churches of Galatia” were instructed in the same thing.
III. Castigation
A. Some “castigate”, i.e., criticize, the use of examples in establishing authority.
1. They maintain that examples, when used for authority, have a divisive tendency.
2. They say, further, that the authority of examples is “weaker” than the authority of commands, etc.; that they do not carry as much weight.
3. But, there are some commands which are also divisive (sing, Eph.5:l9)!
B. Others think that, because the exercise of principles of interpretation is so needed in the application of examples, it is better to stay with the direct commands.
* But these principles are just as necessary in determining which commands are binding upon us today!
IV. Consequences of Repudiating Biblical Examples as Authority
A. It is a repudiation of the Restoration plea! “Call Bible things by Bible names; do Bible things in Bible ways.”
B. A capitulation to the modernists, who denounce the Bible as being a “pattern” or “blueprint” for us to follow.
C. A loss of the distinctiveness of the New Testament church.