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Avoiding Extrabiblical Examples in Biblical Teaching and Preaching

Biblical teaching and preaching should primarily draw from the Scriptures, avoiding extrabiblical examples that can distract from or corrupt the message. The New Testament frequently warns against teachings and practices that deviate from sound doctrine, emphasizing a focus on Christ and the revealed truth of God's Word [3, 4, 10].

One key principle is to avoid "profane and vain babblings" and "old wives' fables" [9, 12]. Paul instructs Timothy to refuse such narratives, which are often foolish, impious, and ungodly, in favor of "words of faith and good doctrine" [12]. These fables can include Jewish traditions of the elders or Gnostic teachings concerning God and creation [12]. The emphasis is on exercising oneself "unto godliness" rather than engaging with speculative or unedifying stories [12]. Similarly, Paul warns against "stories and endless genealogies" that lead to "arguings, rather than that stewardship of God which is with faith" [3]. Such discussions do not contribute to spiritual growth or understanding but instead foster contention [3, 7].

The Apostle Paul also cautions against "philosophy and empty deception, which are based on human tradition and the spiritual forces of the world rather than on Christ" [4]. This highlights the danger of incorporating human-derived wisdom or worldly principles that do not align with the teachings of Christ. Such extrabiblical influences can "take you captive" and divert believers from the truth [4].

In the context of avoiding strife, the Bible presents Christ as an example of one who avoided contention [1]. Believers are forbidden from engaging in strife, which is identified as a "work of the flesh" and an "evidence of a carnal spirit" [1]. Strife can be excited by hatred, pride, wrath, and "curious questions" [1]. This aligns with the broader New Testament emphasis on moving beyond "elementary teaching" to "press on to maturity," rather than laying again a foundation of "repentance from dead works" [2]. The focus should be on advancing in faith and understanding, not on revisiting or introducing divisive or unhelpful topics.

The Old Testament also provides examples of avoiding extrabiblical elements in worship and daily life. For instance, the Israelites were forbidden from offering "strange incense" that deviated from God's prescribed materials and composition [8]. John Gill interprets this as a warning against using "other mediators than Christ" or pleading one's own righteousness instead of Christ's sacrifice, which would be "unacceptable to God" [8]. Similarly, the command to "make no mention of the name of other gods" in common conversation was intended to prevent the lessening of "horror of idolatry" [11]. This suggests a broader principle of guarding against anything that might normalize or introduce elements contrary to God's revealed will.

Ministers, in particular, are called to avoid flattery and to be examples of sincerity [5, 6]. The preaching of the gospel should be characterized by sincerity, even though it may sometimes be preached without it [6]. This underscores the importance of pure motives and content in teaching, free from human manipulation or extraneous appeals.

Sources

  1. Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Strife — Christ, an example of avoiding -- Isa 42:2; Mt 12:15-19; Lu 9:52-56; 1Pe 2:23. Forbidden -- Pr 3:30; 25:8. A work of the flesh -- Ga 5:20. An evidence of a carnal spirit -- 1Co 3:3. Existed in the church -- 1Co 1:11. Excited by Hatred. -- Pr 10:12. Pride. -- Pr 13:10; 28:25. Wrath. -- Pr 15:18; 30:33. Frowardness. -- Pr 16:28. A contentious disposition. -- Pr 26:21. Tale-bearing. -- Pr 26:20. Drunkenness. -- Pr 23:29,30. Lusts. -- Jas 4:1. Curious questions. -- 1Ti 6:4; 2Ti 2:23. Scorning. -- Pr 22:10. Difficulty of stopping, a reason for avoiding it -- Pr 1”
  2. Hebrews “Hebrews 6:1 (NASB) — Therefore leaving the elementary teaching about the Christ, let us press on to maturity, not laying again a foundation of repentance from dead works and of faith toward God,”
  3. I Timothy “I Timothy 1:4 (Rotherham) — Not to be teaching otherwise, nor yet to be giving heed to stories and endless genealogies,—the which, bring, arguings, rather than that stewardship of God which is with faith;—”
  4. Colossians “Colossians 2:8 (BSB) — See to it that no one takes you captive through philosophy and empty deception, which are based on human tradition and the spiritual forces of the world rather than on Christ.”
  5. Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Flattery — Saints should not used -- Job 32:21,22. Ministers should not use -- 1Th 2:5. The wicked use, to Others. -- Ps 5:9; 12:2. Themselves. -- Ps 36:2. Hypocrites use, to God. -- Ps 78:36. Those in authority. -- Da 11:34. False prophets and teachers use -- Eze 12:24; Ro 16:18. Wisdom, a preservative against -- Pr 4:5. Worldly advantage obtained by -- Da 11:21,22. Seldom gains respect -- Pr 28:23. Avoid those given to -- Pr 20:19. Danger of -- Pr 7:21-23; 20:5. Punishment of -- Job 17:5; Ps 12:3. Exemplified Woman of Tekoah. -- 2Sa 14:17,20. Absalom. -- 2Sa 15:2-6”
  6. Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Sincerity — Christ was an example of -- 1Pe 2:22. Ministers should be examples of -- Tit 2:7. Opposed to fleshly wisdom -- 2Co 1:12. Should characterise Our love to God. -- 2Co 8:8,24. Our love to Christ. -- Eph 6:24. Our service to God. -- Jos 24:14; Joh 4:23,24. Our faith. -- 1Ti 1:5. Our love to one another. -- Ro 12:9; 1Pe 1:22; 1Jo 3:18. Our whole conduct. -- 2Co 1:12. The preaching of the gospel. -- 2Co 2:17; 1Th 2:3-5. A characteristic of the doctrines of the gospel -- 1Pe 2:2. The gospel sometimes preached without -- Php 1:16. The wicked devoid of -- Ps 5:9; ”
  7. Titus (Nonconformist/Puritan) “Matthew Henry on Titus 3:9: Here is the fifth and last thing in the matter of the epistle: what Titus should avoid in teaching; how he should deal with a heretic; with some other directions. Observe, I. That the apostle's meaning might be more clear and full, and especially fitted to the time and state of things in Crete, and the many judaizers among them, he tells Titus what, in teaching, he should shun, Tit 3:9. There are needful questions to be discussed and cleared, such as make for improvement in useful knowledge; but idle and foolish enquiries, tending neither to God's glory nor the edif”
  8. Exodus (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Exodus 30:9: Ye shall offer no strange incense thereon,.... Which had not the same, but was made of other materials, or had more or fewer; whatever was not exactly the same was not to be offered; and so to make use of other mediators than Christ, whether angels or men, or to put up prayer to God for the sake of our own righteousness, pleading the merits of our works, and not the blood, righteousness, and sacrifice of Christ, is to offer strange incense, unacceptable to God, and which will be of no avail to men: nor burnt sacrifice, nor meat offering; these were to be offered and”
  9. 2 Timothy (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on 2 Timothy 2:16: But shun profane and vain babblings,.... The ministry of false teachers is mere babbling; a voice, and nothing else, as the man said of his nightingale; a sound of words, but no solid matter in them; great swelling words of vanity, like large bubbles of water, look big, and make a great noise, but have nothing in them; contain nothing but vain, empty, idle, and trifling stuff; what is unprofitable and unedifying, yea, what is profane, contrary to the nature and perfections of God, and not agreeable to the doctrine which is according to godliness; and being palmed u”
  10. Hebrews (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Hebrews 13:9: Be not carried about with divers and strange doctrines,.... The word "divers" may denote the variety and multitude of other doctrines; referring either to the various rites and ceremonies of the law, or to the traditions of the elders, or to the several doctrines of men, whether Jews or Gentiles; whereas the doctrine of the Scriptures, of Christ, and his apostles, is but one; it is uniform, and all of a piece; and so may likewise denote the disagreement of other doctrines with the perfections of God, the person and offices of Christ, the Scriptures of truth, the anal”
  11. Exodus (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Exodus 23:13: make no mention of the name of other gods, &c.--that is, in common conversation, for a familiar use of them would tend to lessen horror of idolatry.”
  12. 1 Timothy (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on 1 Timothy 4:7: But refuse profane and old wives' fables,.... Either Jewish ones, the traditions of the elders; or those of the Gnostics, concerning God, angels, and the creation of the world; or those doctrines of demons, and which forbad marriage, and commanded abstinence from meats before mentioned; which are called profane, because impious and ungodly, and old wives' fables, because foolish and impertinent; and which were to be rejected with abhorrence and contempt, in comparison of the words of faith and good doctrine. And exercise thyself rather unto godliness; either to th”
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