Balancing Human Examples with Scripture in Preaching
Balancing Human Examples with Scripture in Preaching
Preaching that balances human examples with Scripture is rooted in biblical teaching and tradition. The apostle Paul's approach to preaching, as seen in 1 Corinthians 2:4, emphasizes the importance of demonstrating the Spirit's power rather than relying on "enticing words of man's wisdom" [4]. This approach is echoed in the writings of various Christian traditions.
The use of human examples in preaching is supported by biblical instances where the lives of faithful individuals serve as illustrations of God's work. For example, the author of Hebrews encourages believers to "run with perseverance the race marked out for us" by looking to Jesus as the ultimate example of faithfulness [6]. The lives of pastors and prophets are also cited as examples to follow or avoid (1 Timothy 4:12; James 5:10) [3].
Scripture remains the central authority in preaching, with Christ himself sanctioning the Scriptures by appealing to them (Matthew 4:4; Mark 12:10; John 7:42) [2]. The Preacher in Ecclesiastes sought to "find out acceptable words, and that which was written blamelessly, words of truth" [1]. This emphasis on Scripture is reflected in the writings of various Christian interpreters, such as Adam Clarke, who notes that Paul's preaching was not characterized by "excellency of speech" but by the "testimony concerning Christ and his salvation" [5].
Different Christian traditions have understood the balance between human examples and Scripture in preaching in various ways. For instance, Matthew Henry emphasizes the importance of using biblical examples to engage believers in the practice of Christian duties, such as beneficence [8]. John Gill highlights the role of prophets and teachers in dispensing the doctrines of grace under the Gospel dispensation [7].
The balance between human examples and Scripture in preaching is not about diminishing the authority of Scripture but about effectively communicating its teachings. As seen in the writings of Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Paul's preaching was characterized by a focus on "Christ crucified, not in worldly, but in heavenly, wisdom among the perfect" [9]. This approach underscores the importance of grounding human examples in the context of Scripture.
Sources
- Ecclesiastes “The Preacher sought to find out acceptable words, and that which was written blamelessly, words of truth. -- Ecclesiastes 12:10”
- 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”
- Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Example — Of Christ (1 Pet. 2:21; John 13:15); of pastors to their flocks (Phil. 3:17; 2 Thess. 3:9; 1 Tim. 4:12; 1 Pet. 5:3); of the Jews as a warning (Heb. 4:11); of the prophets as suffering affliction (James 5:10).”
- King James Version “[KJV] 1 Corinthians 2:4 — And my speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of man's wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power:”
- 1 Corinthians (Methodist/Wesleyan) “Adam Clarke on 1 Corinthians 2:1: When I came to you - Acting suitably to my mission, which was to preach the Gospel, but not with human eloquence, Co1 1:17. I declared to you the testimony, the Gospel, of God, not with excellency of speech, not with arts of rhetoric, used by your own philosophers, where the excellence of the speech recommends the matter, and compensates for the want of solidity and truth: on the contrary, the testimony concerning Christ and his salvation is so supremely excellent, as to dignify any kind of language by which it may be conveyed. See the Introduction, Section 2.”
- 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”
- Hosea (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Hosea 12:10: I have also spoken to the prophets,.... Or, "I will speak" (b); for this respects not the Lord's speaking by the prophets of the Old Testament who spoke as they were moved by the Holy Ghost; though all they said were for the use of, and profitable unto, Christian churches; but his speaking by the apostles, prophets, and teachers, under the Gospel dispensation; by whom the doctrines of grace have been more clearly dispensed, and which are no other than the voice of Christ speaking in them; and which it is both a privilege to hear, and a duty to attend unto; see Eph 4:1”
- Luke (Nonconformist/Puritan) “Matthew Henry on Luke 16:1: We mistake if we imagine that the design of Christ's doctrine and holy religion was either to amuse us with notions of divine mysteries or to entertain us with notions of divine mercies. No, the divine revelation of both these in the gospel is intended to engage and quicken us to the practice of Christian duties, and, as much as any one thing, to the duty of beneficence and doing good to those who stand in need of any thing that either we have or can do for them. This our Saviour is here pressing us to, by reminding us that we are but stewards of the manifold grace ”
- 1 Corinthians (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on 1 Corinthians 2 (introduction): PAUL'S SUBJECT OF PREACHING, CHRIST CRUCIFIED, NOT IN WORLDLY, BUT IN HEAVENLY, WISDOM AMONG THE PERFECT. (1Co. 2:1-16) And I--"So I" [CONYBEARE] as one of the "foolish, weak, and despised" instruments employed by God (Co1 1:27-28); "glorying in the Lord," not in man's wisdom (Co1 1:31). Compare Co1 1:23, "We." when I came-- (Act 18:1, &c.). Paul might, had he pleased, have used an ornate style, having studied secular learning at Tarsus of Cilicia, which STRABO preferred as a school of learning to Athens or Alexandria; here, doubt”