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-49-
God Hath Spoken
Chapter 10
"ALL SCRIPTURE IS PROFITABLE"
In II Timothy chapter 3, verses 16 and 17, the apostle Paul declares, "All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: that the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works."
Consider as well, II Peter chapter 1, verses 20 and 21: "Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation. For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost."
On The Ignorance of Scripture
Cotton Mather said that ignorance of Scripture is the mother of heresy. Without the Word of God to guide us, to restrain us, and to teach us, we err. For this purpose, the Scriptures were given to us, and it is the testimony of the Bible that "all scripture is...profitable."
In Mark chapter 12, we find the Lord's discourse with the Sadducees. These were the liberal theologians in His day. The Sadducees did not believe in miracles, in angels, or in Heaven. Note verse 24. "And Jesus answering said unto them, Do ye not therefore err, because ye know not the scriptures, neither the power of God?" Our Lord here asks a rhetorical question, scolding them and reprimanding them in the form of a query. "Do ye not therefore err, because ye know not the scriptures, neither the power of God?" Look at verse 27. "He is not the God of the dead, but the God of the living: ye therefore do greatly err."
Consider first the reason for the admonition. The Holy Spirit exhorts us to study the Scriptures and to show ourselves approved unto God: "a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth." Now, if the Bible has errors and contradictions, Jesus could not say, "Ye do err, not knowing the scriptures," because we might err if we know them. And if indeed we are to study the Scriptures that we may be able to rightly divide the word of truth, then the Word of God is not just writings that are subject to our opinion, but is indeed the Word of Truth. Truth ought to be precious to us. Brownlow North used to say that when we come to the Word of God, we must accept a lot of things we do not understand, and a great many we do not like. The Scriptures involve the matter of obedience.
In I Peter chapter 3, note verse 15. Peter says, "But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear." To give an answer to any man who should ask us a reason of the hope that is in us is indeed an awesome thing. Is it truth or is it our opinion that we give? And, is the truth with which we answer given in meekness and fear? The Word of God can supply us with truth, and a holy heart will keep us meek.
We have been expressly exhorted to study the Scriptures so that we may be able to answer them who would ask us a reason for the hope that is in us. Take heed: we stand by faith. And we are to show ourselves approved unto God: workmen who do not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the Word of Truth. There is a right way and a wrong way to interpret the Word of God. Every man's private interpretation cannot be right. One way of interpreting the Scriptures is right, and every other way is wrong.
If they err who are ignorant of Scripture, then they err greatly who do not study the Scripture. The Bible has been given by inspiration of God, and it is the basis of our creed (what we are to believe) as well as our conduct (how we are to behave ourselves). If they err who are ignorant of Scripture, they err greatly who will not study the Scripture. We are called of God to know the Book of God.
Second, note that they err who do not know the sense of Scripture. The fact that a person studies the Bible does not mean that he knows what he is talking about. If a person can rattle off the missionary journeys of the apostle Paul, and knows the battles in the Old Testament and who fought them, it does not mean that person knows the sense of the Scriptures. There is a right way and a wrong way of dividing, i.e. of interpreting, the Word of Truth. We need to beseech God that He will show us the way, and then to thank Him for the truth by laboring to be obedient to it.
If they err who are ignorant of Scripture, and they err greatly who will not study the Scripture, they err who do not understand the sense of Scripture. Beware of everyone who would take a penknife to the Word of God and cut out the plain sense of the text such as by claiming that it was intended for the days of Paul and Peter. This is simple heresy. It is also heresy to argue that Scripture is Paul's interpretation, or that it is simply the opinion of John. The Holy Spirit wrote by the hand of Peter, "Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation" (II Peter 1:20). The Word of God stands. We have no authority above what is written, and we ought to fear God so much that we would not dare to find fault with that which is written.