Discerning Divine Principles from Human Opinions in Scripture

The Bible provides guidance on distinguishing between divine principles and human opinions. Jesus taught that those who are willing to do God's will can discern whether a teaching is from God ^[3]. This principle is foundational to understanding the distinction between divine and human perspectives in Scripture.

The biblical text itself is considered a source of divine wisdom, with passages like Proverbs emphasizing the importance of discernment and wisdom. The book of Proverbs is described as a collection of moral and philosophical maxims presented in poetic form, highlighting the value of intelligence, prudence, and education ^[1]. The wisdom literature in the Bible is characterized by its emphasis on practical life and the refinement of moral character.

In interpreting Scripture, the early Christian tradition and Reformers emphasized the importance of comparing spiritual things with spiritual, as noted by Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on 1 Corinthians 2:13 ^[8]. This approach involves understanding the Spirit-inspired Old Testament Scripture in light of the Gospel revealed by the same Spirit. Calvin also stressed the importance of seeking God's will in His word, rather than in human inventions or speculations ^[9].

The distinction between divine principles and human opinions is also reflected in the biblical understanding of wisdom. The wisdom of God is described as perfect, mighty, universal, infinite, unsearchable, and wonderful ^[2]. In contrast, human wisdom is derived from God and is limited by human comprehension. The biblical text cautions against exalting human reasonings against the knowledge of God, emphasizing the need to bring every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ ^{[4, 7]}.

The Reformed tradition, as represented by Calvin and others, has emphasized the importance of understanding God's will as revealed in Scripture. This involves a commitment to interpreting Scripture in a way that is guided by the Spirit and grounded in the text itself. As John Gill notes on 2 Peter 1:20, the prophecy of Scripture is not of private interpretation, emphasizing the importance of understanding Scripture within the context of the broader Christian tradition ^[6].

In practice, discerning divine principles from human opinions in Scripture requires a nuanced and Spirit-guided approach to interpretation. It involves a deep understanding of the biblical text, a commitment to the authority of Scripture, and a willingness to submit human reasonings to the wisdom of God. As the biblical text itself notes, the spiritual man is judged by no one, because he has the mind of Christ ^{[10, 11]}.

The historical development of Christian thought on this topic has been shaped by various controversies and debates. The early Christian apologists, such as Flavius Josephus, emphasized the importance of contemplating the Divine nature and imitating God's operations in human life ^[5]. The Protestant Reformation further emphasized the authority of Scripture and the importance of interpreting it in a way that is grounded in the text itself.

Sources

Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Proverbs, Book of — A collection of moral and philosophical maxims of a wide range of subjects presented in a poetic form. This book sets forth the "philosophy of practical life. It is the sign to us that the Bible does not despise common sense and discretion. It impresses upon us in the most forcible manner the value of intelligence and prudence and of a good education. The whole strength of the Hebrew language and of the sacred authority of the book is thrown upon these homely truths. It deals, too, in that refined, discriminating, careful view of the finer shades ”
Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Wisdom of God, The — Is one of his attributes -- 1Sa 2:3; Job 9:4. Described as Perfect. -- Job 36:4; 37:16. Mighty. -- Job 36:5. Universal. -- Job 28:24; Da 2:22; Ac 15:18. Infinite. -- Ps 147:5; Ro 11:33. Unsearchable. -- Isa 40:28; Ro 11:33. Wonderful. -- Ps 139:6. Beyond human comprehension. -- Ps 139:6. Incomparable. -- Isa 44:7; Jer 10:7. Underived. -- Job 21:22; Isa 40:14. The gospel contains treasures of -- 1Co 2:7. Wisdom of saints is derived from -- Ezr 7:25. All human wisdom derived from -- Da 2:1. Saints ascribe to him -- Da 2:20. Exhibited in His works. ”
John “Si quis voluerit voluntatem ejus facere, cognoscet de doctrina, utrum ex Deo sit, an ego a meipso loquar. -- John 7:17”
II Corinthians “II Corinthians 10:5 (Geneva1599) — Casting downe the imaginations, and euery high thing that is exalted against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captiuitie euery thought to the obedience of Christ,”
Project Gutenberg “Flavius Josephus, Antiquities of the Jews, CHAPTER 11, section 4: life well, and give laws to others, in the first place should consider the Divine nature; and, upon the contemplation of God's operations, should thereby imitate the best of all patterns, so far as it is possible for human nature to do, and to endeavor to follow after it: neither could the legislator himself have a right mind without such a contemplation; nor would any thing he should write tend to the promotion of virtue in his readers; I mean, unless they be taught first of all, that God is the Father and Lord of all things, a”
2 Peter (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on 2 Peter 1:20: Knowing this first,.... Especially, and in the first place, this is to be known, observed, and considered; that no prophecy of the Scripture, that is contained in Scripture, be it what it will, is of any private interpretation: not that this is levelled against the right of private judgment of Scripture; or to be understood as if a private believer had not a right of reading, searching, examining, and judging, and interpreting the Scriptures himself, by virtue of the unction which teacheth all things; and who, as a spiritual man, judgeth all things; otherwise, wh”
2 Corinthians (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on 2 Corinthians 10:5: Casting down imaginations,.... Or "reasonings"; the carnal reasonings of the minds of natural men against God, his providences and purposes, against Christ, and the methods of salvation, and every truth of the Gospel; which are all disproved, silenced, and confounded, by the preaching of the word, which though reckoned the foolishness and weakness of God, appears to be wiser and stronger than men; and whereby the wisdom of the wise is destroyed, and the understanding of the prudent brought to nothing: and every high thing that exalteth itself against the know”
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:”
CCEL (Reformed) “Calvin, Commentary on Philippians, Colossians, 1-2 Thessalonians, section 25.2: be a hinderance in the way of their cheerfully making progress, and allowing what had been begun in them to receive an additional polish. But what knowledge does he desire in their behalf? The knowledge of the divine will , by which expression he sets aside all inventions of men, and all speculations that are at variance with the word of God. For his will is not to be sought anywhere else than in his word. He adds — in all wisdom; by which he intimates that the will of God, of which he had made mention, was the onl”
1 Corinthians (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on 1 Corinthians 2:16: 2:16 This quotation from Isa 40:13 shows how divine wisdom transcends the limitations of human reasoning (cp. Rom 11:34). • we have the mind of Christ: Linked to Christ, believers have the Spirit of Christ to reveal Christ’s thinking to them.”
1 Corinthians (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on 1 Corinthians 2:16: For--proof of Co1 2:15, that the spiritual man "is judged of no man." In order to judge the spiritual man, the ordinary man must "know the mind of the Lord." But "who of ordinary men knows" that? that he may instruct him--that is, so as to be able to set Him right as His counsellor (quoted from Isa 40:13-14). So the Septuagint translates the Greek verb, which means to "prove," in Act 9:22. Natural men who judge spiritual men, living according to the mind of God ("We have the mind of Christ"), are virtually wishing to instruct God, and bring Hi”

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