Sola Scriptura- The Unfailing Bible

DAY 11- 3/11/17- THE INFALLIBILITY OF THE BIBLE
“All your commands are trustworthy.” (Psalm 119:86)

      The Reformers did not use the word “inerrant” but did speak of the “infallibility” of scripture.  Zwingli (of the Reformed/Presbyterian persuasion) wrote an important work on “The Clarity and Certainty of the Word of God” that used this word.  The Westminster Confession also uses the word “infallible” to describe scripture (I.v; I.ix).  The scripture is unfailing to us.  It does not mislead us, it is a reliable and certain standard for our belief about God and the duty God requires of us.  Scripture claims to be “truth” or “true.”  (Psalm 19:7-9; 119:86, 138, 142, 144, 151, 160; John 17:17- “Your Word is truth”; 2 Tim. 3:16; 2 Pt. 1:20-21).  This alone does not mean it is true; but one would expect the true testimony of God to say it is a true testimony.  But Jesus' testimony to the Scripture's truth (Jn. 5:39 17::17, Mt. 5:17-19) should be enough for the followers of Jesus.  There are empirical evidences we could list- prophecies amazingly fulfilled, archaeological evidences that confirm the history that once was doubted, but these fade in comparison to the simple testimony of the Holy Spirit speaking to our hearts convicting and convincing us of its truth.  Calvin said the Holy Spirit's testimony is all we really need.
     There obviously are human elements in scripture.  God uses the grammar, background, and style of each writer.  But just because humans do not tell the truth does not mean that scriptures do not tell the truth.  Humans do not have to be false all the time- they may speak truth- especially when they are inspired to do so by the Holy Spirit. 
       The infallibility the Reformation Leaders taught was one not of impeccability as much as indeceivability (Bloesch). The Spirit accommodated the truth of the Gospel to the mind-set and language of the writers.  The Holy Spirit makes the truth really truth to us.  Without the eyes of faith, the truth of scripture is irrelevant but also not perceived.  Scripture is a trustworthy, enduring, unfailing witness to what God reveals to us.
      Zwingli indicated that God will do what He says.  He related how when God spoke the action was certain.  Thus God spoke and the world began, “Let there be light- and there was light.” Isaac will be born- and he was. 
Or in the New Testament- the leper is cleansed according to Jesus’ word, the centurion’s servant is healed, the storm is stilled with a word, “Peace be still.” Zwingli says that “what God promises He will infallibly/certainly perform… His Word can never be destroyed, undone, or resisted.”

Prayer: Lord, may I trust in your promises.  May I rely on your Word in scripture.  May I doubt all other witnesses before I doubt your witness found in scripture. 

Sola Scriptura- The Unity of Scripture

Day 10 3/10/17- THE UNITY OF THE SCRIPTURE
Had you believed Moses, you would have believed me, for he testified of me.”  (John 5:46)

      There is a supernatural character of the Bible.  It is amazing that it has escaped persecution (Greek, Roman, Chinese and more). One of the most expensive books in English ever is the “Cuthbert” printing of the  Gospel of John ($14.3 million).  The Guttenberg Bible sold for $4.9 million in 1987.  It is the most translated book in the world by far (636 languages and 3,233 partial translations as of 2016).          
      One of the amazing things that the eyes of faith see in scripture is its unity.   It is a book written over 1400 years with over 40 authors of 66 books.  Yet the theme of who God is, who human beings are, and the need for grace and forgiveness runs throughout.  There is no book like it.  There are other sacred books written by one author (like the Koran by Mohammed, or the Analects by Confucius) that you would expect have a unified theme.  There are other books that are written over centuries with diverse views of God (like the Hindu Vedas).  The idea that God is one is found in both Old and New Testaments; the idea of holiness and that God cares about our behavior and sets forth His will is in both;  the idea of love and grace are found throughout.  Genesis and Revelation (the first and last books) have similar ideas of God, man, sin, Satan, paradise, and the tree of life.  What is introduced in Genesis is accounted for in Revelation.   (Ramm). 
       The Bible is a handbook of our faith.  It is the constitution of the church.  It is a map to God and to the duty we owe God.  The Bible is more than just a history book or a history of a people’s faith from which we can learn.  It is a Word for us.  God is not silent- but cares and speaks a Word. Jesus said, “You search the scriptures for in them you think you find eternal life.  But the Scripture testifies about me” (John 5:29).  The Scripture is our Covenant Book.  It is a record but also a promise of how God related, relates, and will relate to His people.  The word “diatheke” does not mean “testament” as much as it means “covenant.” It is a promise to relate- “I will be their God and they will be my people.” Both testaments are a covenant to relate in love to God’s people. 
     There have been over 6 billion Bibles printed, with over 100 million sold or given away each year, and the number is growing.  Where is the competitor to the Ten Commandments or to Jesus’ Beatitudes or Lord’s Prayer? 

Prayer: Lord, you have in your providence, provided a Word for me.  Help me to hear it and apply it to my life. 

Sola Scriptura- Scripture Interprets Scripture

DAY 9 3/9/17- SCRIPTURE INTERPRETS SCRIPTURE- Sola Scriptura
“You have heard it said…but I say to you.”  Matthew 5:21,22, 27,28, 31,32, 33,34, 38,39, 43,44
“You search the scriptures… and these are they that testify about me.”  John 5:39

     The obscure parts of scripture are to be seen in the greater context of the clearer parts of scripture.  John Knox said, “The Word of God is plain in itself.  If there appear any obscurity in one place, the Holy Ghost, who is never contrary to himself, explains the same more clearly in other places; so that there can remain no doubt.”
We do not always need some commentary to help us.  The best Christian books can even distract us from THE book of our faith.  Athanasius declared, “The sacred and divinely inspired Scriptures are of themselves sufficient for the exposition of truth.” 
     Other hermeneutical principles (outlined in Bloesch “Holy Scripture” p. 195) are the Gospels must be interpreted by the Epistles. The incidental should be interpreted by the systematic.  For example, just because one person spoke in tongues once does not mean it should be a rule that all have to speak in tongues.  Bloesch also adds that the Reformers began to speak of the “Freedom of the Word of God.”  That is while we are bound by scripture, God Himself, while not contradicting what He has said, has freedom to speak more.  Luther spoke of the Word being living and active. Barth in the 20^th century speaks of God’s Word as being the living Christ.  While the scripture is sufficient and true in what it tell us about God and our duty to God- the words are means of grace and God is broader than this. Thus the Word is interpreted by the Spirit, but the Spirit does more than just interpret the Word.  The Spirit also comforts, consoles, convicts, counsels- sometimes with the Word and sometimes beyond the Word- but never contradicting the truth already given.  God is not static.  But God is faithful yet living; reliable yet active; trustworthy yet still creative. 

Prayer: Living Word, give me grace to read scripture and understand it.  Open my eyes that I may see wonderful truths in your Word.  

Sola Scriptura- The Clarity of Scripture

DAY 8 3/8/17- SOLA SCRIPTURA- THE CLARITY OF SCRIPTURE
“Understanding your word brings light to the minds of ordinary people” (Psalm 119:130 CEV).
“It seemed good also to me to write an orderly account for you, most excellent Theophilus, so that you may know the certainty of the things you have been taught.”  (Luke 1:3,4)

      Cannot we make the scriptures mean whatever we want them to mean?  Is the scripture so unclear that we cannot make sense of it?  Do we not need the church (or scholars or experts) to interpret scripture for us? 
       The clarity of scripture is an important part of the Sola Scriptura teaching. While there are always people who call what is red “blue”; or call what is straight “circular;” such interpretations should be seen as misinterpretations by a common idea of truth.  But just as the common man could misinterpret scripture, so could a priest or a scholar.    The scripture is not meant to be concealed in some obscure hidden way like a secret message meant to be unlocked.  The scripture is the Word of God speaking to us, showing us.  It is like a map to God, a compass to Him.  It is a lamp to our feet.  It is the light that is meant to be shone in order to reveal God and His will for us.  Calvin especially sought to see the plain and simple grammatical meaning of scripture.  While Calvin certainly paid attention to scholarly works of his day that illuminated context, he did not concentrate on this but on the clear meaning.  In our day there is a feeling among many that only the scholars can understand and interpret scripture. But no scholar can understand it fully. For almost a century, scholars have been encouraged by stipends, grants, and book royalties to think creatively.  Such creativity adds to the variety but takes away from the simplicity of scripture, and thereby the assurance of a standard interpretation.  The scriptures are deep enough for the best trained scholar, but shallow enough for a child to understand parts truly and clearly.  While some will disagree that two and two equals four, and many are hyper critical, that should not take away from the basic meaning of the inspired scripture, or the limits of honesty and integrity in interpretation. Wayne Grudem says, The clarity of Scripture means that the Bible is written in such a way that its teachings are able to be understood by all who will read it seeking God's help and being willing to follow it. In other words: faith, belief, a willingness to listen and follow are a basis for the Holy Spirit's making the scriptures clear and real to us.
     Scripture was meant to be put in the language of the people (the vulgar language) so the people can understand it.  It was not meant to be hidden in Latin and Greek.  Scripture was written originally to a people who could understand it, and we should be able to understand it too.  One of the most important things Luther did was translate the Bible into German. The Geneva Bible was one of the first English translations, influenced by Calvin and Knox. 
     Sermons, for the Reformed, were not meant to be classical Greek oratorical exercises.  Sermons were meant to clearly explain the scripture- as it was said of Ezra, “Making the meaning clear” (Neh. 8:8).  The allegorical style, even used by Augustine, that saw a hidden meaning in every word, was downplayed. Sermons were in the language of the people for the people to understand and apply to their lives.

Prayer: Lord, give me the ability to see thee more clearly, love Thee more dearly, follow Thee more nearly day by day by listening to the clear message of your Word in scripture. 

Sola Scriptura- the scripture's authority

Day 6- 3/6 SOLA SCRIPTURA- THE AUTHORITY OF SCRIPTURE

1 Corinthians 4:6- “Do not go beyond what is written.”
2 Peter 1:21- For prophecy never had its origin in the human will, but prophets, though human, spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.

      What is this idea of Sola Scriptura?  It is the idea that God’s Word Alone is our authority for what we believe and what we do.
       The Bible is the primary way we hear from God today.  It is an ancient book.  Because it is ancient it is proven and tested.  Calvin’s idea of the authority of scripture was found not in the ancient words themselves, but in the Holy Spirit’s illuminating the words to us.  The Holy Spirit inspired the words at the time of their writing- using the author’s language, educational background, writing skills, and context.  But the Holy Spirit makes the ancient words come alive- allowing us to believe them, apply them, live by them.  There is a danger in denying that the scripture is accurate, or denying that we should not pay any attention to it at all.  Such an attitude shows a lack of respect to the Church of the past (both the Biblical church and the church that believed and followed the Bible) and to Jesus who said, "Thy Word is truth."  There is also danger in trying to make the Bible so wooden that it cannot live and breathe into our situation.  The Spirit not only inspires Scripture-- The Spirit also inspires us.  However, words mean something.  The illumination of the Spirit does not contradict the inspiration of the Spirit.  In other words the Spirit is the Spirit of truth (Jn. 4:4), and does not promise one thing and then break the promise.  The Spirit does not make one command then later say the opposite is true.  Just as the Covenants remain, the promises remain, and the words and basic meanings remain.  The words of scripture may have different nuances and emphases as we age, as we face different circumstances, and as the Holy Spirit leads us.  Scripture can speak to us with authority unlike any other book.  It beckons us, convicts us, comforts us, leads us, encourages us, inspires us.  Christians of ages past have affirmed that God speaks to them in scripture.  Calvin says that the scriptures are the spectacles through which we can distinctly and clearly understand God.   

Prayer: Open my eyes that I may see wonderful things in your Law O Lord.  

Erasmus scribing Greek and Latin Bible from sources.

Making the Greek available was important for Luther to translate it into German
and others to translate it into English, French, and eventually thousands of languages.

Sola Scriptura

Day 5- 3/5 SOLA SCRIPTURA- SCRIPTURE ALONE-

Continue in what you have learned and have become convinced of, because you know those from whom you learned it, 15and how from infancy you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. 16All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, 17so that the servant of God^a may be thoroughly equipped for every good work. (2 Timothy 3:14-17)

(Luther at Worms)

Martin Luther at the Worms: “Since your majesty and your lordships desire a simple reply, I will answer without horns and without teeth. Unless I am convicted by scripture and plain reason--I do not accept the authority of popes and councils for they have contradicted each other--my conscience is captive to the Word of God. I cannot and I will not recant anything, for to go against conscience is neither right nor safe. Here I stand, I cannot do otherwise, God help me. Amen."

"a simple layman armed with Scripture is greater than the mightiest pope without it".(Luther)
"The true rule is this: God's Word shall establish articles of faith, and no one else, not even an angel can do so." (Luther Smalcaid Articles II.15)
Scripture alone is the true lord and master of all writings and doctrine on earth.  If that is not granted, what is Scripture good for?  The more we reject it, the more we become satisfied with men’s books and human teachers.(Martin Luther). 

John Calvin- “The difference between us and the papists is that they do not think that the church can be 'the pillar of the truth' unless she presides over the word of God. We, on the other hand, assert that it is because she reverently subjects herself to the word of God that the truth is preserved by her and passed on to others by her hands.” 

“I approve only of those human institutions which are founded upon the authority of God and derived from Scripture.” (Calvin)

The problem of the Reformation is the same problem today.  In the church, people were making up things in the name of scholarship but sometimes with mixed motives and hidden agendas.  One of the breaking points that caused the Reformation was the selling of indulgences in order to build St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome.  The cathedral was to be (and still is today) the biggest Roman Catholic church building.  But it costs a tremendous amount (finished in 1626).  The church had no real power to tax. The church taught that the faithful could take part in the cleansing of their own punishment for sin through an indulgence of the church.  The church had the power to absolve or forgive sins and relieve the temporal power of sin. Some carried this a step forward and said that if people gave toward the building of a church that it would ease the punishment of their sin in this life or the next.  Johan Tetzel a Dominican Friar said, “As soon as a coin in the coffer rings a soul from purgatory springs.”  Of course, the problem here is that the rich can be forgiven much while the poor are out of luck. Favoritism and materialism are clear consequences of such thought.   Luther and Melanchthon winced at this idea of paying for forgiveness.  While The Council of Trent of the Counter Reformation held back such abusive practices; and Vatican I of 1967 restricted it more, the idea of indulgences still reside in the Roman Catholic church. 
       I was in a conference on the 500^th anniversary of John Calvin’s birth and the speaker, who was advocating social change above all else, said it was time to abandon sola scriptura.  The audacity on the 500^th anniversary to discard the wisdom of the ages- the scriptures and the Reformers in a quest to be relevant and popular!  The motto of the Reformation was not “Reformed and Ever Reforming” as some would like to say- but “Reformed and ever Reforming According to the Word of God.”  The standard is not the pope, or the scholars, or the social engineers of our day- but the scriptures.  Disobedience is just that- jettisoning scripture and God’s Word to go our own way.  I am afraid the Reformed church has destroyed itself as it has abandoned the ability to listen to God’s Word and to be gracious and loving toward each other.  There are 14 different Presbyterian denominations in the United States alone. The abandonment of scriptures as the only standard means at best it is a watered down (wishy washy) standard, and at worst can be ignored when we disagree with it. 
Prayer: Your Word, O Lord is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path

5/28/12- Knox and the sufficiency of scripture

¹⁵ and how from infancyyou have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. ¹⁶ All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, ¹⁷ so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work. 

(2 Timothy 3:15-17)

(Ben Sloan with Statue of John Knox in St. Gile's Cathedral in Edinburgh- part of the Presbyterian church of Scotland)

Thoughts: The statue of John Knox above is pointing to the Bible.  That is what Knox did- and it changed the world.  In many ways the Scottish Enlightenment owes its emphasis on education to Knox who, within a generation, accounts for doubling the literacy rate in Scotland to 97% so that the people could read scripture.
   The dispute with the Catholics was that they believed that their expert- the Pope- had the ability to discern God's will apart from scripture.  Knox, Calvin, Luther and the like said that the scriptures were sufficient to give us all we need to know to find God's will.  The "thoroughly equipped" of 3:17 points to this.  Karl Barth said that this is not just a matter of dogma- but a matter of practice- lived out by looking to the scripture to find God's will- and obeying the scripture when we would rather not. The scriptures are the witness to Jesus Christ- the embodied Word of God.  If we do not listen to them- and wrestle with them- struggling to submit our desires to the simple meaning of scripture- then we deceive ourselves.  In fact, one might say, if we do not believe that the scriptures are sufficient for finding God's will, then we can choose what we do not want to do in them with the illusion that we do not have to heed or listen to them.  The scriptures are not authoritative if they only have an advisory capacity.  As someone said, "The Ten Commandments are not Ten suggestions."  But they are only suggestions if we may get others to tell us that such things as lying or adultery or taking a day of rest are not helpful or necessary for obtaining the blessing of God. 

Prayer: Help me to rest and count on the sufficiency of the Bible for understanding your will for me, O Lord. 

1/6/12- Scripture alone

Q. What standard from God directs us how we might glorify and enjoy Him? 
A. The Word of God, which is found in the Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments, is the only standard to direct us how we might glorify and enjoy Him. 


 ⁷ The law of the LORD is perfect, refreshing the soul. The statutes of the LORD are trustworthy, making wise the simple. ⁸ The precepts of the LORD are right, giving joy to the heart. The commands of the LORD are radiant, giving light to the eyes. ⁹ The fear of the LORD is pure, enduring forever. 
The decrees of the LORD are firm, and all of them are righteous. (Psalm 19:7-9)


Now the Berean Jews were of more noble character than those in Thessalonica, for they received the message with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures every day to see if what Paul said was true (Acts17:9)

(Guttenberg Bible)


Thoughts: In five years we will celebrate the 500th year of when Martin Luther nailed the 95 theses on the Wittenburg door to begin the Protestant Reformation (10/31/1517).  Luther knew that the iron clad control of the church would be loosened if he could get the power of God away from the experts- the new Teachers of the Law- and put the Word back into the hands of the every day person.  It was no accident that the printing press, the putting of the Bible in the vernacular of the people, the emphasis of the priesthood of all believers, and the idea that scripture alone is our authority all went together.  But at the core was the power and sufficiency of the scriptures.  
    The Psalmist says the scriptures are perfect, trustworthy, giving wisdom and joy.  The Bereans were declared "noble" for testing what Paul said by scripture.  So we too should not assume that a minister/priest/preacher is right in and of themselves- but we should test them to the standard- the rule.
    Today, in our time of disobedience, we should not be described that the scriptures are attacked by every means possible.  But the motivation is rebellion and a desire to give God's authority to ourselves.  So the scholars and experts claim to be wiser than scriptures.  Idealogues claim to know better and to be fairer than the time-tested, multi-cultureed Word of God.  So Reformed faith which was supposed to be "always reforming according to the Word of God"" are now just semper reformanda (always changing).  But change without a goal, a standard is waffling, lost, and allows  the loudest voice to claim leadership.  God has spoken, and His speech is suffficient. 


PrayerL Lord, give me ears to hear and a willingness to obey.