Balancing Non-Biblical Examples with Biblical Teaching Effectively
The New Testament emphasizes adherence to sound doctrine, contrasting it with "different teaching" or "strange doctrines" that deviate from the core tenets of Christianity [2, 4, 5, 6, 8]. This principle suggests a need for careful discernment when incorporating non-biblical examples or teachings into Christian thought and practice.
The Apostle Paul, for instance, warns against those who "teach otherwise" than the true words of Jesus Christ and the teaching aligned with true religion [2, 4]. John Gill interprets this as a doctrine different from what the apostles taught, particularly concerning duties like those of servants to masters, and contrasting with the overall teaching of the Bible [6]. Similarly, the author of Hebrews cautions against being "carried about with divers and strange doctrines," which are foreign to the truth and differ from the one faith in Jesus Christ [5, 8]. These "divers" doctrines can refer to various rites, ceremonies, traditions, or human teachings that do not align with the uniform doctrine of the Scriptures [8].
The Bible itself uses various literary forms, including parables, which are illustrations or comparisons of one subject by another [1]. These parables, though illustrative, are rooted in biblical truth and serve to convey spiritual lessons. However, the use of non-biblical examples must be carefully weighed against the standard of biblical teaching.
Paul's approach to preaching highlights this balance. While he was educated in secular learning at Tarsus, a renowned school of learning, he chose not to use an ornate style or worldly wisdom in his preaching, but rather focused on "Christ crucified" [3]. This suggests that while external knowledge might be available, the content and method of Christian teaching should prioritize the spiritual message derived from divine revelation [3, 9]. The "wholesome" or "sound" words of Jesus Christ are presented as the standard, in opposition to "profitless science and immorality" that might arise from false teachings [4].
The concept of "milk" and "strong meat" in Christian teaching further illustrates the need for appropriate instruction [7]. While "milk" represents the more plain and easy doctrines of the Gospel suitable for new believers, it is still the Gospel, not external philosophies [7]. The goal is to grow in understanding of the "spiritual things" taught by the Holy Spirit, often by comparing spiritual truths within Scripture itself, such as illustrating Gospel mysteries with Old Testament types [9].
Therefore, when considering non-biblical examples, the primary concern is whether they "consent" or "accede" to the sound words of Jesus Christ and the teaching that is in agreement with true religion [2, 4]. Any teaching that deviates from this standard, whether in doctrine or practice, is to be avoided [2, 5, 6]. The emphasis remains on being "established with grace," rather than with external observances or doctrines that are "strange" to the truth [5].
Sources
- Smith's Bible Dictionary “Smith's Bible Dictionary: Parable — (The word parable is in Greek parable (parabole) which signifies placing beside or together, a comparison, a parable is therefore literally a placing beside, a comparison, a similitude, an illustration of one subject by another.--McClintock and Strong. As used in the New Testament it had a very wide application, being applied sometimes to the shortest proverbs, (1 Samuel 10:12; 24:13; 2 Chronicles 7:20) sometimes to dark prophetic utterances, (Numbers 23:7,18; 24:3; Ezekiel 20:49) sometimes to enigmatic maxims, (Psalms 78:2; Proverbs 1:6) or metaphors expand”
- I Timothy “I Timothy 6:3 (BBE) — If any man gives different teaching, not in agreement with the true words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and with the teaching which is in agreement with true religion,”
- 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”
- 1 Timothy (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on 1 Timothy 6:3: teach otherwise--than I desire thee to "teach" (Ti1 6:2). The Greek indicative implies, he puts not a merely supposed case, but one actually existing, Ti1 1:3, "Every one who teaches otherwise," that is, who teaches heterodoxy. consent not--Greek, "accede not to." wholesome--"sound" (Ti1 1:10): opposed to the false teachers' words, unsound through profitless science and immorality. words of our Lord Jesus Christ--Paul's inspired words are not merely his own, but are also Christ's words.”
- Hebrews (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Hebrews 13:9: about--rather, as oldest manuscripts read, "carried aside"; namely, compare Eph 4:14. divers--differing from the one faith in the one and the same Jesus Christ, as taught by them who had the rule over you (Heb 13:7). strange--foreign to the truth. doctrines--"teachings." established with grace; not with meats--not with observances of Jewish distinctions between clean and unclean meats, to which ascetic Judaizers added in Christian times the rejection of some meats, and the use of others: noticed also by Paul in Co1 8:8, Co1 8:13; Co1 6:13; Rom”
- 1 Timothy (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on 1 Timothy 6:3: If any man teach otherwise,.... Or another doctrine, as the Syriac version renders it; a doctrine different from what the apostle had now taught, concerning the duty of servants to their masters; as did the false teachers, who despised dominion or government; not only civil government, and so spoke evil of rulers and magistrates; and church government, and therefore reviled the apostles, elders, and pastors of churches; but family government, and encouraged disobedience to parents and masters; see Pe2 2:10 or teach another doctrine, from that of the Bible, of Chris”
- 1 Corinthians (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on 1 Corinthians 3:2: I have fed you with milk,.... It is usual with the Jews to compare the law to milk, and they say (c), that "as milk strengthens and nourishes an infant, so the law strengthens and nourishes the soul;'' but the apostle does not here mean , "the milk of the law", as they (d) call it, but the Gospel; comparable to milk, for its purity and wholesomeness, for the nourishing virtue there is in it, and because easy of digestion; for he designs by it, the more plain and easy doctrines of the Gospel, such as babes in Christ were capable of understanding and receiving”
- 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”
- 1 Corinthians (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on 1 Corinthians 2:13: also--We not only know by the Holy Ghost, but we also speak the "things freely given to us of God" (Co1 2:12). which the Holy Ghost teacheth--The old manuscripts read "the Spirit" simply, without "Holy." comparing spiritual things with spiritual--expounding the Spirit-inspired Old Testament Scripture, by comparison with the Gospel which Jesus by the same Spirit revealed [GROTIUS]; and conversely illustrating the Gospel mysteries by comparing them with the Old Testament types [CHRYSOSTOM]. So the Greek word is translated, "comparing" (Co2 10:”