Balancing Worldly Examples with Scripture in Theological Discernment
The Role of Scripture in Theological Discernment
Theological discernment involves navigating the complexities of Christian doctrine and practice, often requiring a balance between worldly examples and scriptural guidance. The Bible provides numerous examples of faithful living, with Jesus Christ being the supreme example of faithfulness [2]. As Torrey's Topical Textbook notes, Christ's diligence in seeking God, obeying Him, and striving for perfection serves as a model for Christian behavior [1].
In the New Testament, the author of Hebrews challenges believers to endure in following Jesus by imitating His faithfulness, particularly in the face of suffering (Hebrews 12:1-4) [2]. This call to imitation is not limited to Christ; the lives of other biblical figures, such as those listed in Hebrews 11, serve as witnesses to the truth that God blesses the life of faith. The use of worldly examples, however, must be tempered by a commitment to scriptural authority.
The apostle Paul's sermon in Acts 17:16-34 demonstrates a nuanced approach to engaging with worldly thought. By quoting familiar writers and challenging the assumptions of his Athenian audience, Paul showed the relevance of the gospel while critiquing pagan worldviews [6]. This approach highlights the importance of contextualizing Christian theology within the broader cultural landscape, without compromising scriptural integrity.
The tension between conforming to the world and being transformed by the renewing of one's mind is a recurring theme in Pauline theology. In Romans 12:2, Paul exhorts believers not to conform to the world but to be transformed, emphasizing the need for an inward spiritual transformation that makes the whole life new [4]. This transformation is not achieved through mere outward conformity but through a deepening commitment to scriptural teachings.
In 1 Corinthians 3:20, Paul quotes Psalm 94:11, underscoring the idea that "the Lord knows the thoughts of the wise, that they are vain" [8]. This serves as a warning against relying solely on human wisdom, instead emphasizing the importance of grounding theological discernment in scripture.
The book of Revelation presents the Christian church as facing its own wilderness, with messages of endurance and perseverance in the face of trouble [7]. This echoes the experiences of Israel in the wilderness and in exile, highlighting the need for spiritual refinement and reliance on God's provision.
In theological discernment, balancing worldly examples with scriptural guidance is crucial. While worldly wisdom can provide valuable insights, it must be evaluated in light of biblical teachings. As John Gill notes, the doctrine of the scriptures is uniform and all of a piece, contrasting with the diversity and strangeness of other doctrines [5]. By prioritizing scriptural authority and engaging with worldly thought in a critical and nuanced manner, believers can cultivate a deeper understanding of Christian doctrine and practice.
The practice of beneficence and doing good to those in need is another area where scriptural guidance and worldly examples intersect. Matthew Henry's commentary on Luke 16:1 highlights the importance of being stewards of God's manifold grace, using our resources to benefit others [3]. This stewardship is not limited to material goods but encompasses the broader practice of Christian duties.
Sources
- 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:”
- 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”
- 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 ”
- Romans (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Romans 12:2: And be ye not conformed to this world--Compare Eph 2:2; Gal 1:4, Greek. but be ye transformed--or, "transfigured" (as in Mat 17:2; and Co2 3:18, Greek). by the renewing of your mind--not by a mere outward disconformity to the ungodly world, many of whose actions in themselves may be virtuous and praiseworthy; but by such an inward spiritual transformation as makes the whole life new--new in its motives and ends, even where the actions differ in nothing from those of the world--new, considered as a whole, and in such a sense as to be wholly unattain”
- 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”
- Acts (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Acts 17:16: 17:16-34 In this chapter, we see Paul presented as a model witness for Christ, engaging the thinkers of his day and challenging them with the Christian message. Paul quoted writers his audience would be familiar with and showed the relevance of the gospel by dialoguing with them, critiquing their assumptions, and offering Jesus as a constructive alternative (see Col 1:28). Paul reminded these proud intellectuals that there is a living God to whom all human beings are answerable; that they will be judged by him through Jesus, whom God raised from the dead; and that ”
- Revelation (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Revelation 12:6: 12:6 Like the people of Israel who were spiritually refined in the wilderness (see Hos 2:14-15; Acts 7:38-45) and in exile (see Isa 5:13; Ezek 12:1-3), the Christian church must face its own wilderness. Revelation presents messages of endurance and perseverance in the face of trouble and shows that God provides places of refuge and avenues of escape for his people (cp. 1 Cor 10:13). 1,260 days: See study note on Rev 11:2-3.”
- 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 ”