Friday: Further Thought ~ By Scripture Alone – Sola Scriptura
Further Thought:
In the chapter on Biblical Interpretation in the Handbook of Seventh-day Adventist Theology, read the sections on The Analogy of Scripture: “Scripture Is Its Own Interpreter”, The Consistency of Scripture, and The Clarity of Scripture, pages 64-66. Read chapter 20, “Bible Teaching and Study”, in the book Education, pages 185-192; “The Primacy of the Word” in Selected Messages, book 3, pages 29-33.
Image © Stan Myers from GoodSalt.com
“The student of the Bible should be taught to approach it in the spirit of a learner. We are to search its pages, not for proof to sustain our opinions, but in order to know what God says. A true knowledge of the Bible can be gained only through the aid of that Spirit by whom the word was given. And in order to gain this knowledge we must live by it. All that God’s word commands, we are to obey. … The study of the Bible demands our most diligent effort and persevering thought. As the miner digs for the golden treasure in the earth, so earnestly, persistently, must we seek for the treasure of God’s word”. — Ellen G. White, Education, p. 189.
“When you make the Bible your food, your meat, and your drink, when you make its principles the elements of your character, you will know better how to receive counsel from God. I exalt the precious word before you today. Do not repeat what I have said, saying, ‘Sister White said this’, and ‘Sister White said that.’ Find out what the Lord God of Israel says, and then do what He commands”. — Ellen G. White, Selected Messages, book 3, p. 33.
Discussion Questions:
|
(19)
God bless you all
I need to learn more about Jesus truth
There are two issues with the notion of Sola Scriptura that I would like to think about as we end this week's study.
If Scripture is so clear and self-illuminating, why do we need so many commentaries, lexicons, lesson studies, sermons, to explain and illuminate our understanding? Perhaps, it is because the Bible was not meant to be the goal, but rather the starting point of our Christian journey. The Bible was never meant to be an end in itself but a guide for a journey through a very difficult terrain.
I will try and explain that idea with an illustration. Last year I went to Iceland and we hired a car for 10 days and drove around Iceland. We were given a map that showed the roads and towns. The names of the places were meaningless to us - they did not roll off the tongue like good Australian town names like Manjimup and Cooranbong. We had names like Akureyri, Reydarfjordur, and worse to contend with. Even now I still have to look them up to spell them and I can only guess at their pronunciation. But now I have been there and have seen and experienced these places. When I see their names now, I have associated with them a whole raft of memories, grand mountains, rugged coasts, beautiful birds and sparkling waterfalls. The map has been converted into experience and I am able to share those experiences in some small way with my friends.
The importance of the Bible and its explanation is the conversion of the word into experience. The Scriptures are not an object of holiness, they are a map to be used and shared as a basis for the experience of the Christian journey.
The second issue is that idea of how we transmit the importance of scripture to our unchurched friends (the world that we are commissioned to preach the gospel).
Lourdes Lilly made the comment on Tuesday:
Her question is a perceptive one and we need to think about it a bit. To a large extent unchurched folk perceive Christians as being condemnatory. And to some extent we have ourselves to blame for that. If the overriding Biblical message ur unchurched friends hear is one of condemnation then what else can be expect them to believe. We are indeed the only Bible that unchurched folk are going to read and they need to hear the compassion of the Bible through our interaction with them if they are going to be led to believe in the Bible itself.
I firmly believe that Lilly’s question is the basis for Humanism, Atheism and Darwinism. They would rather make up rules based on relativism that morph with societal whims than submit themselves to the Creator/God and the absolute rules of His Government.
The problem is that their made up systems leads to only one place; man/woman the machine with no basis for meaning that results in despair and death. Christians on the other hand, worship the very personal Creator/God whose Gov’t of absolutes engulfed by His mercy and grace, leads to definitive meaning based on a priceless value paid for each individual that results in life.
If one sees only the absolutes without the mercy and grace, they know instinctively they will never measure up. They would rather make up a system where they can fit in.
What I appreciate in the material referred to for today's lesson is a two-fold emphasis upon principles. On the one hand, Ellen White unpacks that it is the principles of life that we need to be familiar with and ever learning more about. And at the same time on the other hand, those principles of necessity need to be applied in our life - living principles. These are two distinct though inseparable dimensions.
Every facet of life exists upon principles that are at the same time manifest in varying ways in various situations and circumstances. Because life and its underpinning principles cannot be separated, principles are directly applicable to - and reflective of - every aspect of life and living. Thus, learning the principles that are in harmony with the Kingdom of God and therefore abundant life - and contrasting these with the principles that are instead in harmony with the Kingdom of Darkness and therefore perishing (steal, kill and destroy) - is of critical relevance for our everyday life and for the lives of those with whom we interact. This is a large part of the reason why we were given the Bible and why it is important to pay much attention to the learning it contains (1 Corinthians 10:6-11).
Given that the topic of the use of Ellen White has been raised this week and that I have cited Ellen White in my comments above (and previously) I thought I would take a moment to let those who are interested know where I am coming from when using Ellen White.
Do I cite Ellen White as a reference merely because she has said something and therefore it must be true simply because she has said it? No! Rather, I refer to Ellen White's perspective on a topic when I find that it aligns with what I too have observed and deduced across scripture and across life and life's experiences.
Throughout my years at university, it was drummed into 'us' that you cannot just write your views or opinions in an essay. Neither can you just regurgitate the views of opinions of others. Rather, we were commissioned with the responsibility of developing and expressing views and opinions that were robust (ie 'evidence'-supported), but were also consistent with other recognised 'authoritative authorities' as the wider evidence-base that offered weight to establishing the robustness of our views and opinions. I would refer to more authors than just Ellen White in my comments at times, but I have found that very few authors are considered 'authoritative' within Adventism at large - especially if they are not Adventist authors.
Some people might then say that I am merely looking for things to affirm my views. But that is not who I am or how I operate. I have changed my views considerably across my life to the point that views that I previously held and defended are now the very same views that I challenge. How did this come about? I learned to look at, explore and 'test' the evidence-base underpinning a particular view. And if I learned that the evidence that supported an alternative view was more robust than the evidence supporting the view I had been holding to date, I amended my view accordingly. And I will continue to do so - exploring and examining the evidence in reliance upon the Holy Spirit to guide me into greater and greater awareness and application of Truth.
Concluding the study on the interpretation of the Bible, we summarize it as follows:
We will learn new biblical knowledge if we put it into practice, obeying what we already know.
To learn from the Bible we must be humble before GOD, willing to understand how He wants us to understand.
True knowledge of the Bible can only come through Who is its Author, in this case, among us today, the HOLY SPIRIT, who is here to enlighten us in the studies that we do.
There are other texts besides the Bible and EGW, which we must test if they are reliable, and if they are, they can help us to understand the Bible in relation to what is more difficult. The Spirit of Prophecy texts are available for this purpose. Many other good and faithful authors as well.
In any case, we must always be attentive to the test of reliability for the Bible, which is in Isaiah 8:20, "To the Law and to the testimony, if they do not speak in this way they will never see the dawn."
We can have the experience of learning more and more about the Word of GOD. This is very pleasant, and even better, it leads to eternal life.
There might be some different interpretations of the Bible. That's why we have different churches. But there will be a time, where all will converge into one. An invisible church to which the past names don't matter anymore, but in unity of character, people will strugle because of the Truth! And the Truth is a single word, Jesus!
Forever, O Lord, thy word is settled in heaven. Ps 119:89
Quote from today- 'A true knowledge of the Bible can be gained only through the aid of that Spirit by whom the word was given. And in order to gain this knowledge we must live by it. All that God’s word commands, we are to obey'. Those are some heavy words.
But allow me to use the Covid-19 explanation. Corona disease is the disease caused by the corona virus, the 19 is added because it was first founded in 2019. Thus Covid-19 was coined. As we turn on social medias we are confronted with hundreds of remedies how to prevent, stop or cure the corona virus. In an effort to prevent, stop or cure that disease, have we tried all of what they are saying? Yes/No? why/why not? Answer, because according to our gut feeling or knowledge, those hundreds of people did not had a connection to any (college, university, etc) therefore they are not reputable. Can some of them be true even without a college/university degree? who knows? Many of our forefathers and foremothers never went to higher learning yet we trusted them with our everyday lives.
Some governments have organised scientist who are reputable (attended higher learning) to study different things that can be a cure the disease e.g the use of malaria or cancer drugs to see if they can help with those infected with the virus. Some people now believe these scientist can be trusted because what they said or did before worked and so they can be trusted. But what about when science/scientist failed, what is our approach/response? do we discard the scientist as untrue, dishonest, etc. Many times people asked for evidence base(EB). What is the evidence that those trial drugs will work? EB discussed the continual trial and use of something and the result remains the same between 98-100%. How do we know those drugs will not work unless we try them?
Now we can fit in the bible and Mrs White writing in all that I just stated. Do we see the connection? Why do we trust some people over some? What is the basic of our trust? What the bible says do we believe? yes/no, some of, part of, etc. But what is the proof? Many scientist does not believe the Red Sea parted, do we, were we there? what caused us to believe?
If we get the corona virus, do we believe the trial drug will work for us or our loved ones, why? Do we believe an uneducated young female teenager can be used by God to carry out his work? yes/no, Why/why not?
Joel 2:28 God promised to pour out his spirit on all flesh and our sons and daughters shall prophesy, old men shall see visions. Also not leaving out the servants God shall pour out his spirit. Peter repeated those words. Some stated: these men are full of new wine. Acts 2:16-18. Peter spoke about the pouring out of the Holy Spirit on them. I believe the Holy Spirit used this woman to be a messenger to us in our final time on earth. She encouraged us to study the bible. Do we trust Jesus? Our trust must be found in our daily life, trust must be live. We walk, talk, behave in a certain way different from the world.
Sola Scriptura along with sola Gratia, sola Fides, Solus Christus And soli Deo Gloria were developed during the Protestant era of Christianity. Three are typically specified: scripture over tradition (sola scriptura), faith over works (sola fides) and grace over merit (sola Gratia). Solus Christus is specified as Christ only as mediator, and soli Deo Gloria: glory to God alone...not the church, saints, angels, etc. (Wikipedia; Lutheranreformation.org).
Might this abbreviated description of the reformation’s “solas” influence our current understanding of “sola scriptura”?
Hi Gary
You have hilighted a vitally important point. Sola Scriptura was not a term that meant 'the Bible only' for the Reformers, but was a reaction to/against the dominant church of the time holding that it (alone) had the authority to interpret Scripture and in so doing practiced tradition over Scripture. As history attests, Scripture was in fact being (mis)used by this institution to advance its ‘political’ agenda.
The narrow misconceptualisation of Sola Scriptura is an issue wider than Adventism and is well documented. It appears to have come about and grown from a lack of attention to the context of its origination. Like ’Chinese whispers’, it has been accepted and passed on without being explored.
Protestant - “The Protestant goes directly to the Word of God for instruction, and to the throne of grace in his devotions; whilst the pious Roman Catholic consults the teaching of his church...” Philip Schaff
“Scripture alone” (sola Scriptura) - Scripture is the inspired Word of God. Only the Spirit of God alone is capable of giving its true interpretation. Therefore, those who open the bible must surrender themselves at the foot of the cross to be led by Christ. Also, Christian life is a pilgrimage remember God is not finished with me yet.
Test every spirit - Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world. 1 John 4:1
To the law and to the testimony: if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them. Isaiah 8:20
29 Peter and the other apostles replied: “We must obey God rather than human beings! Acts 5:29
Every reformer died as a martyr not being able to be swayed by the church.
Hold Fast – When you have come across a biblical truth hold fast to it in faith. Unless you are anchored in the truth, you will not be able to convince anyone else its truth.
Clarity – Definition: the quality of transparency or purity, I like the word transparency. Revelation warns God’s people and the world the wrath of God will be poured upon this earth. It is not a secret. It has been clearly spelled out. It is a number of a man and his number is six hundred and sixty and six. How can the bible be clearer than this?
Scripture Interprets Scripture – In the book of Acts 10 Peter is given the vision to eat unclean animals then reading further into the chapter we recognize the vision was referring to taking the message to the gentiles.
Solo Scriptura – Ellen G White in all her writings never once said her writings should be placed above the bible. God’s revelation is constant even today new truth are being revealed unto us based on the need of our community. These revelations are to lead us to Christ. 16In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven. Matthew 5:16 No false prophet can ever give homage to Christ because it is contradictory to the foundation of the evil one. Worship me claims the evil one. Worship God says a true prophet. Points you back to the bible and Christ.
“Pride, self-love, selfishness, hatred, envy, and jealousy have beclouded the perceptive powers, and the truth, which would make you wise unto salvation, has lost its power to charm and control the mind. The very essential principles of godliness are not understood because there is not a hungering and thirsting for Bible knowledge, purity of heart, and holiness of life. The Testimonies are not to belittle the word of God, but to exalt it and attract minds to it, that the beautiful simplicity of truth may impress all.”
“Take the Word of God. It is full of meat and drink. Study the Bible, and you will know more of God than you do now. You will have something fresh to impart to others. You will not go over the same ground again and again.’ — Ellen G. White, Selected Messages, book 3, p. 33.
When I have surrendered to God, it is not I, a simple question would snowball the conversation when I thought I have nothing to discuss to a passionate conversation which we are forced to end because of time. It also reminds me of the eternity to come where we will not have to end due to time restrictions.
In conclusion of our study of "Sola Scriptura", is it adequate to make the man of God "perfect", thoroughly furnished unto every good work"?
What does it say about the word of God when we observe the transformation of common fishermen, tax collectors, etc, without "higher education" or commentaries? The gospel is "the power of God unto salvation", which remains true today.
Notice Psalm 119:97-104, along with the experience of a 12 year old boy in the temple who "astounded/amazed/astonished" the "doctors" who heard him. Notice the power of John the baptist's messages to influence men of every rank. Both were the result of home schooling(scripture and nature) and living a simple life of obedience to the Word of God while isolated(by choice) from the rabbinical schools(which were under the influences of "outside" reasoning).
What are we studying to be? Do we recall what Paul thought of all his former achievements, which had blinded him to the Truth(Phil 3:7,8)?
On Thursday we looked at a "lesser light" who formally made it to 3rd grade. This lesser light has counseled God's people to avoid the higher education of the world, and instead, they were to offer a Bible-centered, practical education that would prepare missionaries to go into the world with a clear message of salvation for sinners and a soon coming Savior. No offering of degrees or even graduation ceremonies, only adequate preparation for their various lines of working and sharing the Gospel as an army of trained young people who would be sent forth to finish the work. That was the plan.
In further comment on this week's lesson, I would recommend reading "Lift Him Up", pg 130, and that beautiful benediction of Paul in Acts 20:32.
To everyone, a blessed Sabbath Rest.
I say 'Amen' - Thank you for sharing your comments, Robert!
I often wonder to what degree the little book entitled "The Great Controversy Between God and Man: It's Origin, Progress and Termination" by a H.L. Hastings, published January 1858, a few months before EGW published the early version of Great Controversy in Spiritual Gifts, had on the title chosen by EGW for her material? When you read both of the 1858 tomes you walk away realizing that even if EGW knew or read of Hastings book (apparently James White did read it, and Uriah Smith comments on it) you appreciate the insight EGW was given.
Here is a link to a digitized book of Hastings:
https://archive.org/details/H.L.HastingsTheGreatControversyBetweenGodAndManItsOrigin/page/n3/mode/2up