The best interpreter of the Bible is the Bible itself. It repeatedly affirms God as its author (2 Timothy 3:16-17; 2 Peter 1:20-21). As is evident in creation, God is the God of order, not confusion. That may not seem obvious to a new reader trying to navigate the Bible’s 66 books. As in dealing with nature, God expects the reader or hearer to become a “worker.”
Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth (2 Timothy 2:15). The discerning worker soon discovers God’s framework for understanding and applying the Scriptures. Take, for example, Hebrews’ opening statement: Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets, but in these last days He has spoken to us by His Son (Hebrews 1:1-2).
Look for a contrast between the Old Testament’s prophetic writings and the Son’s message as recorded in the New Testament. The Old Covenant used dim pictures—“copy and shadow”—to point toward Christ’s spiritual realities in His New Covenant (Hebrews 8 – 10 cf. Colossians 2:17).
Therefore, the New is “not like” the Old (Jeremiah 31:32; Hebrews 8:9). Notice the many physical details in the Law of Moses as compared with Jesus’ spiritual emphasis. “For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ” (John 1:17).
Understanding this biblical framework, we avoid treating the New Testament as just another set of regulations just like Leviticus. Yes, the New Covenant has “laws” (Hebrews 8:10). Jesus is Lord and His will (His law) is to be obeyed (Luke 6:46; 1 Corinthians 9:21). But His commands are not lists to be checked off as legal credits. They reveal “grace and truth” and they are not burdensome (1 John 5:3).
They involve principles. Take for example, Jesus’ command, “To one who strikes you on the cheek, offer the other also” (Luke 6:29). Should we take that in the most literal and rigid sense? Or does it express a principle to be applied appropriately? We recognize the latter because of Jesus’ own reaction to being slapped (John 18:22-23 cf. Acts 23:2-3; 2 Corinthians 11:20). In Luke 6, Jesus shows the principle that is valid in all circumstances: love repays evil with good.
Galatians likens Moses’ Law to a master over slaves or to a guardian over small children. In Christ we become adult sons. Children require rules. Adults understand both rules and reasons, precepts and principles. Do commands apply to free adults?
For example, should believers obey the commands of Acts 2:38, “repent and be baptized”? Yes. But an adult response is not childishly mindless. The believer obeys “from the heart” (Romans 6:17), trusting the Savior and His purpose — “for the forgiveness of sins.”
The literal command is to be dipped in water. The principle includes that and its meaning for newness of life (Acts 2:38; Romans 6:1-4; John 3:5). Likewise, there are clear commands for the Lord’s Supper. Children can eat and drink when told to do so. But merely eating and drinking misses the point (1 Corinthians 11:20). The action has a principle: “Do this in remembrance of Me” (1 Corinthians 11:24). As we come to know Jesus, we serve in the new way of the Spirit, not in the old way of the letter (Romans 7:6).
“The best interpreter of the Bible is the Bible itself”
John Reese
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In this episode of One More Chapter, Brian Rex Davis, Noah Davis, and Bryson Davis continue their study of biblical “principle”, explaining how general teachings give inclusive guidance that can be applied in various ways, while specific commands are authoritative and must shape belief and practice.
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