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Clear Instructions and Expectations in Biblical Studies

Biblical instruction is presented as a divine gift intended to impart wisdom, understanding, and guidance for righteous living [2, 4]. The Scriptures themselves are described as "given by inspiration of God" and "by inspiration of the Holy Spirit," serving as the very "Word of God" [1]. This divine origin underscores their authority and purpose in shaping human conduct and belief.

The primary aim of biblical instruction is to lead individuals to "know wisdom and instruction" and to "discern the words of understanding" [2]. This encompasses gaining "insightful instruction," which includes righteousness, justice, and equity [4]. The book of Proverbs, in particular, emphasizes the practical application of this wisdom, suggesting that the ultimate goal of study is the observance of commandments [12]. This practical dimension is echoed in the New Testament, where the Scriptures are said to be "written for our learning" and instruction [15].

The Bible frequently highlights the importance of seeking and receiving divine instruction. David, for instance, petitions God, "Teach me thy statutes; give me to know all my duty" [9]. This desire for guidance extends to all aspects of life, including times of affliction, where prayer for "divine teaching and direction" is encouraged [7]. The concept of "waiting upon God" includes waiting for guidance and teaching, recognizing God as the source of such wisdom [5].

Diligence is a recurring theme in the pursuit of biblical instruction. God requires diligence in seeking Him, obeying Him, hearkening to Him, and striving for perfection [6]. This diligent engagement with God's word is not merely for personal edification but also for the ability to teach others accurately [16]. The apostle Paul, in his instruction to Timothy, emphasizes the importance of public reading of Scripture, a practice transferred from the Jewish synagogue to the Christian church [13].

The Scriptures provide a standard for holiness, which is commanded by God and desired by Christ for His people [3]. This holiness is exemplified by Christ Himself and is necessary for the worship of God [3]. The gospel is presented as the "way of holiness," and saints are called and elected to it [3]. This pursuit of holiness is intertwined with understanding and applying biblical instruction.

Biblical instruction also plays a crucial role in developing assurance. Assurance, produced by faith and confirmed by love, is the effect of righteousness [8]. It provides confidence in one's election, redemption, adoption, and salvation, as well as in God's unalienable love and union with God and Christ [8]. This assurance is abundant in the understanding of the gospel [8].

The New Testament further clarifies the ongoing nature of this instruction. Paul encourages believers not to diminish their care in walking according to the knowledge they have already attained, suggesting that God grants further revelations to those who live by what they have already received [10]. He also prays for believers to be "filled" with "full and accurate knowledge" of God's will, particularly concerning how they ought to walk [11].

While the Bible encourages extensive study of God's word, it also offers a caution against the "over much study" of "many books" of mere human composition, which can weary the body without solid spiritual profit [14]. This contrasts with the inspired writings, which are presented as the only sure source of admonition [14]. The emphasis remains on the divine origin and purpose of biblical instruction as a guide for life and faith.

Sources

  1. 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. Proverbs “to know wisdom and instruction; to discern the words of understanding; -- Proverbs 1:2”
  3. Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Holiness — Commanded -- Le 11:45; 20:7; Eph 5:8; Col 3:12; Ro 12:1. Christ Desires for his people. -- Joh 17:17. Effects, in his people. -- Eph 5:25-27. An example of. -- Heb 7:26; 1Pe 2:21,22. The character of God, the standard of -- Le 19:2; 1Pe 1:15,16; Eph 5:1. The character of Christ, the standard of -- Ro 8:29; 1Jo 2:6; Php 2:5. The gospel the way of -- Isa 35:8. Necessary to God's worship -- Ps 24:3,4. None shall see God without -- Eph 5:5; Heb 12:14. Saints Elected to. -- Ro 8:29; Eph 1:4. Called to. -- 1Th 4:7; 2Ti 1:9. New created in. -- Eph 4:24. Possess. ”
  4. Proverbs “Proverbs 1:3 (LEB) — to gain ⌞insightful instruction⌟, righteousness and justice and equity,”
  5. Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Waiting Upon God — As the God of providence -- Jer 14:22. As the God of salvation -- Ps 25:5. As the Giver of all temporal blessings -- Ps 104:27,28; Ps 145:15,16. For Mercy. -- Ps 123:2. Pardon. -- Ps 39:7,8. The consolation of Israel. -- Lu 2:25. Salvation. -- Ge 49:18; Ps 62:1,2. Guidance and teaching. -- Ps 25:5. Protection. -- Ps 33:20; 59:9,10. The fulfillment of His word. -- Hab 2:3. The fulfillment of His promises. -- Ac 1:4. Hope of righteous by faith. -- Ga 5:5. Coming of Christ. -- 1Co 1:7; 1Th 1:10. Is good -- Ps 52:9. God calls us to -- Zep 3:8. Exhortat”
  6. 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:”
  7. Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Affliction, Prayer Under — Exhortation to -- Jas 5:13. That God would consider our trouble -- 2Ki 19:16; Ne 9:32; Ps 9:13; La 5:1. For the presence and support of God -- Ps 10:1; 102:2. That the Holy Spirit may not be withdrawn -- Ps 51:11. For divine comfort -- Ps 4:6; 119:76. For mitigation of troubles -- Ps 39:12,13. For deliverance -- Ps 25:17,22; 39:10; Isa 64:9-12; Jer 17:14. For pardon and deliverance from sin -- Ps 39:8; 51:1; 79:8. That we may be turned to God -- Ps 80:7; 85:4-6; Jer 31:18. For divine teaching and direction -- Job 34:32; Ps 27:11; 143:10. Fo”
  8. Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Assurance — Produced by faith -- Eph 3:12; 2Ti 1:12; Heb 10:22. Made full by hope -- Heb 6:11,19. Confirmed by love -- 1Jo 3:14,19; 4:18. Is the effect of righteousness -- Isa 32:17. Is abundant in the understanding of the gospel -- Col 2:2; 1Th 1:5. Saints privileged to have, of Their election. -- Ps 4:3; 1Th 1:4. Their redemption. -- Job 19:25. Their adoption. -- Ro 8:16; 1Jo 3:2. Their salvation. -- Isa 12:2. Eternal life. -- 1Jo 5:13. The unalienable love of God. -- Ro 8:38,39. Union with God and Christ. -- 1Co 6:15; 2Co 13:5; Eph 5:30; 1Jo 2:5; 4:13. Peace with ”
  9. Psalms (Nonconformist/Puritan) “Matthew Henry on Psalms 119:124: Here is, 1. David's petition for divine instruction: "Teach me thy statutes; give me to know all my duty; when I am in doubt, and know not for certain what is my duty, direct me, and make it plain to me; now that I am afflicted, oppressed, and my eyes are ready to fail for thy salvation, let me know what my duty is in this condition." In difficult times we should desire more to be told what we must do than what we may expect, and should pray more to be led into the knowledge of scripture-precepts than of scripture-prophecies. If God, who gave us his statutes, d”
  10. Philippians (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Philippians 3:16: The expectation of a new revelation is not to make you less careful in walking according to whatever degree of knowledge of divine things and perfection you have already attained. God makes further revelations to those who walk up to the revelations they already have (Hos 6:3). rule, let us mind the same thing--omitted in the oldest manuscripts. Perhaps partly inserted from Gal 6:16, and Phi 2:2. Translate then, "Whereunto we have attained, let us walk on (a military term, march in order) in the same (the measure of knowledge already attained)."”
  11. Colossians (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Colossians 1:9: we also--on our part. heard it-- (Col 1:4). pray--Here he states what in particular he prays for; as in Col 1:3 he stated generally the fact of his praying for them. to desire--"to make request." might be filled--rather, "may be filled"; a verb, often found in this Epistle (Col 4:12, Col 4:17). knowledge--Greek, "full and accurate knowledge." Akin to the Greek for "knew" (see on Col 1:6). of his will--as to how ye ought to walk (Eph 5:17); as well as chiefly that "mystery of His will, according to His good pleasure which He purposed in H”
  12. Sefaria (Jewish (Rationalist)) “Abraham Ibn Ezra on Deuteronomy 4:1: WHICH I TEACH YOU, TO DO THEM. The main purpose of study is the observance of the commandments.”
  13. 1 Timothy (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on 1 Timothy 4:13: Till I come--when Timothy's commission would be superseded for the time by the presence of the apostle himself (Ti1 1:3; Ti1 3:14). reading--especially in the public congregation. The practice of reading Scripture was transferred from the Jewish synagogue to the Christian Church (Luk 4:16-20; Act 13:15; Act 15:21; Co2 3:14). The New Testament Gospel and Epistles being recognized as inspired by those who had the gift of discerning spirits, were from the first, according as they were written, read along with the Old Testament in the Church (Th1 5:21”
  14. Ecclesiastes (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Ecclesiastes 12:12: (See on Ecc 1:18). many books--of mere human composition, opposed to "by these"; these inspired writings are the only sure source of "admonition." (over much) study--in mere human books, wearies the body, without solidly profiting the soul.”
  15. 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”
  16. Proverbs (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Proverbs 22:21: Specially he desires to secure accuracy, so that his pupil may teach others.”
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