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Accuracy of Biblical Principle or Concept Reflection

The accuracy of biblical principles and concepts is rooted in the belief that the Scriptures are divinely inspired. This inspiration means that the Holy Scriptures were "breathed into by God" (theopneustos), guiding the writers to express precisely what God intended as a revelation of his mind and will [3]. This divine origin is affirmed in passages such as 2 Timothy 3:16, which states that "All scripture is given by inspiration of God" [3, 5]. The Holy Spirit is specifically identified as the source of this inspiration, as seen in Acts 1:16 and 2 Peter 1:21 [5].

The Bible itself presents its teachings as authoritative and true. Christ sanctioned the Scriptures by appealing to them, teaching from them, and referring to them as "the Word" or "the Word of God" [5]. For instance, Jesus taught out of the Scriptures (Luke 24:27) and appealed to them in Matthew 4:4 and Mark 12:10 [5]. The concept of the resurrection, for example, is presented as a doctrine found in the Old Testament (Job 19:26; Psalm 16:10; Daniel 12:2) and a "first principle of the gospel" (1 Corinthians 15:13-14; Hebrews 6:1-2) [1]. While some, like the Sadducees, denied the resurrection, Jesus assumed and proved it, asserting that it is not incredible or contrary to reason (Matthew 22:29-32; Acts 26:8) [1].

Biblical principles are often presented as practical guides for life, emphasizing common sense and discretion [4]. The Book of Proverbs, for instance, is a collection of moral and philosophical maxims that impress upon readers the value of intelligence, prudence, and education [4]. These "homely truths" are presented with the full authority of the Hebrew language and the sacred nature of the book [4].

The accuracy of biblical concepts extends to the example of Christ, which is presented as perfect (Hebrews 7:26) [2]. Conformity to Christ's example is required in areas such as holiness (1 Peter 1:15-16), righteousness (1 John 2:6), love (John 13:34), humility (Philippians 2:5,7), meekness (Matthew 11:29), and obedience (John 15:10) [2]. Diligence is also a required biblical principle, with Christ serving as an example (Mark 1:35; Luke 2:49) [6]. This diligence is to be applied to seeking God, obeying him, striving for perfection, cultivating Christian graces, and guarding against defilement [6].

Understanding and keeping God's law is a recurring theme, with the Psalmist expressing a desire to "understand the teaching of your precepts" and to "meditate on your wondrous works" (Psalm 119:27) [7]. John Gill, in his commentary on Psalm 119:6, notes that praising God with an upright heart comes from learning "the judgments of thy righteousness," which are founded on justice and equity [8]. He further explains that a spiritual understanding of the law and the Gospel is necessary to keep God's law, though perfectly keeping it is not possible for any mere human [9].

The Scriptures are considered the "rule of faith and practice" and the "standard and test" by which all things are to be judged [10]. While human knowledge of divine truths may be "in part," the Scriptures themselves are considered a complete system of divine truths, to which nothing should be added or taken away [12]. The wisdom of the world, in contrast, is deemed foolishness with God, as "the Lord knoweth the thoughts of the wise, that they are vain" (1 Corinthians 3:20, citing Psalm 94:11) [11].

Sources

  1. Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Resurrection, The — A doctrine of the Old Testament -- Job 19:26; Ps 16:10; 49:15; Isa 26:19; Da 12:2; Ho 13:14. A first principle of the gospel -- 1Co 15:13,14; Heb 6:1,2. Expected by the Jews -- Joh 11:24; Heb 11:35. Denied by the Sadducees -- Mt 22:23; Lu 20:27; Ac 23:8. Explained away by false teachers -- 2Ti 2:18. Called in question by some in the church -- 1Co 15:12. Is not incredible -- Mr 12:24; Ac 26:8. Is not contrary to reason -- Joh 12:24; 1Co 15:35-49. Assumed and proved by our Lord -- Mt 22:29-32; Lu 14:14; Joh 5:28,29. Preached by the Apostles -- Ac 4:”
  2. Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Example of Christ, The — Is perfect -- Heb 7:26. Conformity to, required in Holiness. -- 1Pe 1:15,16; Ro 1:6. Righteousness. -- 1Jo 2:6. Purity. -- 1Jo 3:3. Love. -- Joh 13:34; Eph 5:2; 1Jo 3:16. Humility. -- Lu 22:27; Php 2:5,7. Meekness. -- Mt 11:29. Obedience. -- Joh 15:10. Self-denial. -- Mt 16:24; Ro 15:3. Ministering to others. -- Mt 20:28; Joh 13:14,15. Benevolence. -- Ac 20:35; 2Co 8:7,9. Forgiving injuries. -- Col 3:13. Overcoming the world. -- Joh 16:33; 1Jo 5:4. Being not of the world. -- Joh 17:16. Being guileless. -- 1Pe 2:21-22. Suffering wrongfully. --”
  3. Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Inspiration — That extraordinary or supernatural divine influence vouchsafed to those who wrote the Holy Scriptures, rendering their writings infallible. "All scripture is given by inspiration of God" (R.V., "Every scripture inspired of God"), 2 Tim. 3:16. This is true of all the "sacred writings," not in the sense of their being works of genius or of supernatural insight, but as "theopneustic," i.e., "breathed into by God" in such a sense that the writers were supernaturally guided to express exactly what God intended them to express as a revelation of his mind and ”
  4. Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Proverbs, Book of — A collection of moral and philosophical maxims of a wide range of subjects presented in a poetic form. This book sets forth the "philosophy of practical life. It is the sign to us that the Bible does not despise common sense and discretion. It impresses upon us in the most forcible manner the value of intelligence and prudence and of a good education. The whole strength of the Hebrew language and of the sacred authority of the book is thrown upon these homely truths. It deals, too, in that refined, discriminating, careful view of the finer shades ”
  5. Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Scriptures, The — Given by inspiration of God -- 2Ti 3:16. Given by inspiration of the Holy Spirit -- Ac 1:16; Heb 3:7; 2Pe 1:21. Christ sanctioned, by appealing to them -- Mt 4:4; Mr 12:10; Joh 7:42. Christ taught out of -- Lu 24:27. Are called the Word. -- Jas 1:21-23; 1Pe 2:2. Word of God. -- Lu 11:28; Heb 4:12. Word of Christ. -- Col 3:16. Word of truth. -- Jas 1:18. Holy Scriptures. -- Ro 1:2; 2Ti 3:15. Scripture of truth. -- Da 10:21. Book. -- Ps 40:7; Re 22:19. Book of the Lord. -- Isa 34:16. Book of the law. -- Ne 8:3; Ga 3:10. Law of the Lord. -- Ps 1:2; Isa”
  6. Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Diligence — Christ, an example -- Mr 1:35; Lu 2:49. Required by God in Seeking him. -- 1Ch 22:19; Heb 11:6. Obeying him. -- De 6:17; 11:13. Hearkening to him. -- Isa 55:2. Striving after perfection. -- Php 3:13,14. Cultivating Christian graces. -- 2Pe 1:5. Keeping the souls. -- De 4:9. Keeping the heart. -- Pr 4:23. Labours of love. -- Heb 6:10-12. Following every good work. -- 1Ti 5:10. Guarding against defilement. -- Heb 12:15. Seeking to be found spotless. -- 2Pe 3:14. Making our call, &c, sure. -- 2Pe 1:10. Self-examination. -- Ps 77:6. Lawful business. -- Pr 27:”
  7. Psalms “Let me understand the teaching of your precepts! Then I will meditate on your wondrous works. -- Psalms 119:27”
  8. Psalms (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Psalms 119:6: I will praise thee with uprightness of heart,.... In the most sincere manner, in the most affectionate way, with the whole heart; sensible of great favours received, and great obligations laid under; see Psa 9:1; when I shall have learned thy righteous judgments; or, "the judgments of thy righteousness" (o): of the righteousness of God, declared in his righteous law; which is founded upon, and is according to, the strictest rules of justice and equity; and so are all the precepts of it: and of the righteousness of Christ, revealed in the Gospel; by which God appear”
  9. Psalms (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Psalms 119:32: Give me understanding, and I shall keep thy law,.... A spiritual understanding; an understanding of the law, the perfection, purity, holiness, and spirituality of it; an understanding of the Gospel, and of Christ and the things of Christ; from whom grace and strength are to be had for the due observance of the law, as in his hands; which understanding must be given, and is a gift of pure, free, rich grace, to such who have it; though they cannot keep the law perfectly, as no mere man can, yet will keep it spiritually, from a principle of love and gratitude, and with”
  10. Philippians (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Philippians 3:15: Nevertheless, whereto we have already attained,.... Whatever degree of knowledge of Christ, and the truths of his Gospel, is attained to, let it be retained, and not departed from: let us walk by the same rule; either the doctrine of justification by Christ's righteousness in particular, which is a rule of judgment concerning other things; for so far as they agree or disagree with this, they are to be received or rejected; or the Scriptures of truth, which are the rule of faith and practice, and the standard and test, to which all are to be brought and tried: ”
  11. 1 Corinthians (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on 1 Corinthians 3:20: And again,.... Not in the same place, nor in the same book, but in the Psalms, in Psa 94:11. This form of citing Scriptures answers to and moreover, used by the Jewish doctors when the matter does not so clearly appear from the first proof, and therefore they produce another (q): and so here the apostle, for the further confirmation and illustration of this point, that the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God, to the testimony of Eliphaz, adds this of David, the Lord knoweth the thoughts of the wise, that they are vain; in the Psalms it is, "the Lord ”
  12. 1 Corinthians (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on 1 Corinthians 13:8: For we know in part,.... Not that the Scriptures, the rule and measure of knowledge, and from whence spiritual knowledge is derived, are imperfect; so that there is need of unwritten traditions, and of enthusiastic revelations and inspirations, to inform of things otherwise unknown; for though they were at sundry times, and in divers manners delivered, yet now they contain a complete system of divine truths, to which nothing is to be added, and from which nothing is to be taken away; or that only a part of the saints know the things of God; for though there is ”
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