"Scripture And" or "Scripture Alone"?

2 Timothy 3:16 says that all scripture is “God breathed” or “inspired by God”, but what exactly does this mean to the layman who has no knowledge of the ancient biblical languages? 

In short it means we need to spend a little more time on and pay a little more attention to the Bible. But that would not be enough of a pontification for someone like me. Yet, before I begin my ranting and raving, let me just point to the widow who gave her two copper coins, remember her?

Mark 12:41-44 English Standard Version (ESV)

41 And he sat down opposite the treasury and watched the people putting money into the offering box. Many rich people put in large sums. 42 And a poor widow came and put in two small copper coins, which make a penny.[a] 43 And he called his disciples to him and said to them, “Truly, I say to you, this poor widow has put in more than all those who are contributing to the offering box. 44 For they all contributed out of their abundance, but she out of her poverty has put in everything she had, all she had to live on.”

This is not merely about money. It’s about sacrifice. Have you read a novel, biography or a Christian self-help book this year? And have you read your Bible even half way through this year? If your answer is no to the first and yes or almost to the second, stop now and read something more pertinent to your life. You are the widow in the story above. You read your bible even though you are not a big reader.

If your answer is no to both, or no to the second, or even yes to both, then keep reading. You are the various other people who either gave nothing, or comparatively little of their “treasure” to God. But don’t feel alone, you are in an unfortunate majority.

Back to the God Breathed scriptures. We can answer the question of what that means another way. By asking if Cujo, by Stephen King is God breathed. It is very well written but is it god breathed? By no stretch of the imagination. Are the writings of Joseph Smith, or the Gospel of Philip, the Apocrypha, God is Not Dead, Heaven is Real, or the Thompson’s Chain Reference? Is the Mathew Henry’s commentary? Are the works of Spurgeon, Luther, Calvin, Billy Graham, C.S. Lewis or Max Lucado?

The answer is indisputably: No.

No matter the eloquence of the writing, the excellence of the teaching or the willingness of the author to have a pliable and receptive heart towards God, they are human. And to err is human, and to be human is to err.

Scripture stands alone in all written works in that it is the words of God as he inspired, yes even used the biblical authors to record them. This is why the final interpretation of Scripture must always come from within scripture, not from the understanding of Greek and Hebrew, not from the pulpit and certainly not from a book written by a man that you do not know, have never met and have done no research on.

“But what about Scholars?” You ask. Well what about them?

Over the last two or three decades there has been a dramatic swing in the political culture of college, or indeed seminary campuses from midway to far left. This swing has embarrassingly exposed the lack of veracity and tenaciousness of the scholarly community at large. With unrestrained abandon scholars in every field are dropping their recorded and dissertated views in favour of more modern and politically correct views, in order to remain both relevant and employed.

In this extreme manner Theology Doctorates are Changing their opinion on any and every topic. Abandoning long held and proven facts about the Holy Scriptures for something that will allow them to explain away the embarrassment of Paul’s “wide-eyed” condemnation of things like homosexuality.

Then where shall our help come from, if not from the learned PHD’s?

The answer for Christians is the doctrine of Sola Scriptura, or Scripture Alone. Scripture alone gives us the perfectly interpreted Word of God. If we do not understand a fundamental Christian doctrine, it is because we do not read our bible. If we believe the “prophecy” that God will shelter you from persecution, or God only wants to shower you in wealth and health, it is because we do not read our Bible. Ditto if we believe evolution is what is being described in Genesis.

Even as a simple-minded teenager outside of God’s arms I grasped this. When my friend asked me how I could not believe in evolution my immediate answer was: “How can I claim to believe in the Bible, if I cannot believe the first few verses recorded in it.”

Inarticulate as it was, my idea rang true. If it is the word of God, then saying the creation account is false is attacking the very foundation of said word. Without the foundation that God was both master and commander of all that happened in the first six days of this planet, we have no basis for anything to follow. It means no true Adam and Eve, which means no progenitor of man’s sin, meaning no need for a global flood, until eventually we get to no need for a perfect Saviour.

We as Christians must be well read in this age. I believe that with all my heart. Unfortunately, we believe that means we should counterweigh and supplement the Bible with endless books and study notes. We read some teaching in the bible and then check how true it is by reading the musings of leftist saboteurs posing as Biblical theologians. We form our opinion based on what they say and then we can refute certain biblical passages that make our modern sensibilities cringe.

No! We cannot study the bible this way. Let’s lay out some rules for those of you serious about studying the bible correctly (without an understanding of Greek and Hebrew):

1. Don’t study the Greek and Hebrew.

Of course, there is nothing wrong with studying the ancient texts, there may be many reasons to do it and all of those are fine. But if you just want to know exactly what a word says, just read the English. I cannot tell you how many times I have heard someone say: “The Greek\Hebrew word here actually means…” only to have the speaker then say a word that means nothing more than the English word found in the text—and this kind of non-research from behind the pulpit!

I have two observations about this. Firstly, in most cases these people cannot even say “good morning” in either Hebrew or Greek, and that makes me suspicious about their ability to tell me exactly what the word “actually means”.

Secondly, the translation they are calling into question has in most cases been agreed upon by a team of multi denominational Scholars, many of whom can actually communicate fluently in the biblical languages, and who had access to the majority of the available texts to use. Some of them even do their personal bible study in the ancient languages. Who do you think you should trust?

2. Start with Text, not with revelation.

Can we hear from God? I believe we can, but I know we can also hear from the Devil, from our emotions and from the desire to please—and from the latter two far more frequently. That is why we should not start our bible study with our revelation or insight, but rather with the word.

You know, the way science used to be done. This is what we know because of what is recorded already, from there I believe this to be true, now I test it in the lab. Bible, revelation, bible.

3. Use clarity as a starting block.

The Bible has some very obscure passages, but it has just as many clear and obvious ones. I’ve heard it said that Eve never sinned, she was only deceived by the snake, this taken from Genesis 3:13 and 2 Corinthians 11:3. In the first it is giving Eve’s own account, which like Adam’s was somewhat slanted in the face of God’s wrath, and the second does not immediately address Eve’s condition but rather draws similarities between her and the Corinthians, who were actually being rebuked for sin in the context. But these verses are not clear enough to use as a springboard for this new teaching.

1 Timothy 2:14 actually gives a far clearer account of what happened to Eve, especially when read along with the full context of the Genesis account. Start with the scriptures that explains the doctrine fully… even if you don’t like what they say.

4. Set aside your emotions and your picket signs.

Allow God to be the one who sets the parameters for life and godliness. Don’t let your feminism, Critical race theory, sexual deviance or humanitarianism dictate the interpretation of scripture. I have gay family members, and I love them immensely but I can only be of spiritual help to them if I understand that God will not allow homosexuals into the kingdom of heaven.

5. Remember that you do not interpret scripture.

Ever heard someone say: “Oh, sure, but remember, anyone can interpret the Bible to say what they want it to say.” It is usually spouted out like some sage-like argument to end all debate.

What utter nonsense!

Firstly no, you cannot just pluck a scripture out of the Bible and make it say what you want it to say. Not without defying logic, ignoring rules of exegesis, and engaging in interpretational gymnastics. That rings true for any text ancient or modern.

The odd thing is that it is usually people who never actually read the Bible who use this argument—prompting me to invite them to try it, because, it’s not as easy as it sounds.

Secondly the Bible is not up for interpretation by man. The Bible interprets the Bible. Obscure passages prove the clearer ones, and every doctrine has a golden thread of truth that runs through the pages of Genesis through to Revelation.

Christians, please, I implore you: read the bible from cover to cover at least once a year—it only takes three chapters a day. This can be part of your bible study or just a spiritual discipline. But we cannot hope to hear God clearly if we do not train ourselves to hear his Word.

Now unless you are Beth Moore you probably hear the audible voice of God as often as I do: never. I am not ashamed of this, no one should be. God has given us a really big book filled with his voice, his words, in order that we may use it to understand his will and know his voice. Is it all sufficient? It claims to be.

2 Timothy 3:16-17 English Standard Version (ESV)

16 All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, 17 that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.

What then, shall we just avoid reading anything but the bible? That would be a rather dramatic solution. Reading is a wonderful thing, just last month I read nineteen novels, biographies and Theology books, and wished I had more time for reading. In fact, reading is one of the most oft remarked upon habits of successful people.

But do we really need books like “Heaven is Real” or “Purpose Driven Life”? So, what if they have changed lives a few names should very quickly make us realise just how silly that argument is:

Joshua Harris, author of the Christian bestseller I Kissed Dating Goodbye and now “not a Christian”.

Marty Sampson, worship leader and song writer for Hillsong and now “faithless”.

Jennifer Knapp, Country musician, Winner of Dove Awards and now outspoken Lesbian.

The list does go on, and on, but you should recognise these three at least. Sales and popularity mean nothing spiritually speaking. In fact, in most cases popularity serves as a warning sign: “Here there be dragons!”

If you are a Christian looking for proof that God is not dead, or that heaven is real, or if you are looking for purpose in life, then at best you are still a spiritual babe that should read more Bible, or at worst you are not yet in the fold. I lean to the latter opinion… except maybe for those only looking for purpose… you may be saved… just… go read your Bible!

Always ask yourself what you are trying to accomplish. If spiritually feeding, then only take in that which is food! When studying the scriptures for scholastic, debate, or just a wider understanding of a certain topic, then by all means supplement what you are reading.

If you are debating a Muslim, it might be prudent familiarizing yourself with the Quran.

When finding solid answers on difficult to explain Christian doctrines like the Trinity you might have to read “The Forgotten Trinity” by James R. White.

But when trying to connect with God just remember: if you are reading ten words in the bible and ten thousand on what some scholar wrote concerning those ten words, you might be approaching the subject backwards.

Final thought: Every minute spend reading about the Bible is a minute spent not reading the Bible.

Ecclesiastes 12:11-14 English Standard Version (ESV)

11 The words of the wise are like goads, and like nails firmly fixed are the collected sayings; they are given by one Shepherd. 12 My son, beware of anything beyond these. Of making many books there is no end, and much study is a weariness of the flesh.

13 The end of the matter; all has been heard. Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man. 14 For God will bring every deed into judgment, with every secret thing, whether good or evil.