Balancing Examples with Scripture's Authority and Sufficiency

The Bible is considered the authoritative and sufficient guide for Christian living, with various passages affirming its role in instructing believers ^[3]. The concept of balancing examples with Scripture's authority and sufficiency is rooted in understanding the relationship between biblical teachings and the examples set by biblical figures.

The use of examples in Scripture, such as the lives of biblical characters, serves to illustrate and reinforce its teachings. For instance, the Psalmist's expressions of trust in God are cited as examples of faith ^{[1, 2]}. Similarly, the wisdom literature in Proverbs provides guidance on living a virtuous life, with Solomon's proverbs being a prime example ^[8].

However, the authority and sufficiency of Scripture are not derived from examples alone. Rather, they are grounded in its divine inspiration. According to 2 Timothy 3:16, "All Scripture is God-breathed" ^[4]. This understanding underscores the Bible's role as a comprehensive guide for Christian living, with its teachings being paramount.

In interpreting Scripture, the use of examples must be balanced against the broader teachings of the Bible. For example, the apostle Paul's exhortation to the Corinthians to "strip off every weight" and run the race of endurance is rooted in the example of Christ and the cloud of witnesses in Hebrews 12:1 ^[6]. This illustrates how biblical examples are used to reinforce the teachings of Scripture.

Different Christian traditions have approached the balance between examples and Scripture's authority and sufficiency in various ways. Reformed and commentators, for instance, emphasize the importance of Scripture as the primary source of guidance, while also acknowledging the value of examples in illustrating biblical teachings ^{[5, 9]}. The Puritan tradition, represented by Matthew Henry, also highlights the significance of Scripture in guiding Christian living, with examples serving to reinforce its teachings ^[8].

The balance between examples and Scripture's authority and sufficiency is also reflected in the way biblical authors use examples. For example, the author of Hebrews draws on the examples of Old Testament figures to encourage believers to persevere in their faith ^[6]. Similarly, the apostle Paul uses the example of Christ to exhort believers to live a life of self-sacrifice ^[10].

Ultimately, the authority and sufficiency of Scripture provide the foundation for Christian living, with examples serving to illustrate and reinforce its teachings. As Calvin notes, the examples of biblical figures are not to be taken as a pretext for imitating their actions without regard for the broader teachings of Scripture ^[7].

The interplay between examples and Scripture's authority and sufficiency is a nuanced one, reflecting the complex and multifaceted nature of biblical teachings. By examining how biblical authors use examples and how different Christian traditions have approached this issue, we can gain a deeper understanding of the role of Scripture in guiding Christian living.

Sources

OpenBible.info “Cross-reference: Ps.138.3 → Ps.28.7 (confidence: 11 votes)”
OpenBible.info “Cross-reference: 1Chr.28.9 → Ps.18.2 (confidence: 11 votes)”
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”
2 Timothy (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on 2 Timothy 3:16: 3:16-17 These verses elaborate on 3:15 by explaining Scripture’s effectiveness, its source, and the ways that it gives wisdom to live out our salvation. Paul was speaking of the Hebrew Scriptures (the Old Testament), but his statement can now apply to all Scripture, including the New Testament (see, e.g., 2 Pet 3:15-16). 3:16 The fact that Scripture is inspired by God (literally God-breathed, breathed out by God’s own speech; see also Heb 4:12-13; 2 Pet 1:20-21) does not negate the active involvement of the human authors. But it does affirm that God is fully re”
1 Corinthians (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on 1 Corinthians 10:15: Appeal to their own powers of judgment to weigh the force of the argument that follows: namely, that as the partaking of the Lord's Supper involves a partaking of the Lord Himself, and the partaking of the Jewish sacrificial meats involved a partaking of the altar of God, and, as the heathens sacrifice to devils, to partake of an idol feast is to have fellowship with devils. We cannot divest ourselves of the responsibility of "judging" for ourselves. The weakness of private judgment is not an argument against its use, but its abuse. We should t”
Hebrews (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Hebrews 12:1: 12:1-17 The author challenges his hearers to endure in following Jesus, the supreme example of faithfulness, by imitating him in his suffering (12:1-4), by enduring under God’s discipline (12:5-13), and by living in peace with others (12:14-17). 12:1 huge crowd of witnesses: The host of faithful followers of God (ch 11) bear witness to the truth that God blesses the life of faith. • let us strip off every weight: In Greco-Roman literature, a race is a metaphor for the need for endurance in life. Just as extra weight hinders a runner, sin . . . trips us up. It ent”
CCEL (Reformed) “Calvin, Commentary on Genesis, Vol. 2 (Gen 24-50), section 20.15: implied, (so that drunkards may not plead the example of the holy fathers as a pretext for their crime,) but an honorable and moderate liberality. I acknowledge, indeed, that the word has a double meaning, and is often taken in an ill sense; as in Genesis 9:21 , and in similar places: but in the present instance the design of Moses is clear. Should any one object, that a frugal use of food and drink is simply that which suffices for the nourishing of the body: I answer, although food is properly for the supply of our necessities”
Proverbs (Nonconformist/Puritan) “Matthew Henry on Proverbs 25 (introduction): This verse is the title of this latter collection of Solomon's proverbs, for he sought out and set in order many proverbs, that by them he might be still teaching the people knowledge, Ecc 12:9. Observe, 1. The proverbs were Solomon's, who was divinely inspired to deliver, for the use of the church, these wise and weighty sentences; we have had many, but still there are more. Yet herein Christ is greater than Solomon, for if we had all upon record that Christ said, and did, that was instructive, the world could not contain the books that would be wr”
2 Corinthians (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on 2 Corinthians 12:9: said--literally, "He hath said," implying that His answer is enough [ALFORD]. is sufficient--The trial must endure, but the grace shall also endure and never fail thee [ALFORD], (Deu 33:25). The Lord puts the words into Paul's mouth, that following them up he might say, "O Lord, Thy grace is sufficient for me" [BENGEL]. my strength--Greek, "power." is made perfect--has its most perfect manifestation. in weakness--Do not ask for sensible strength, FOR My power is perfected in man's "strengthlessness" (so the Greek). The "for" implies, thy”
Romans (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Romans 15:4: For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning--"instruction" through, &c.--"through the comfort and the patience of the Scriptures" might have hope--that is, "Think not that because such portions of Scripture relate immediately to Christ, they are inapplicable to you; for though Christ's sufferings, as a Saviour, were exclusively His own, the motives that prompted them, the spirit in which they were endured, and the general principle involved in His whole work--self-sacrifice for the good of others--furnish our most per”

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