Elevating Human Examples to the Level of Scripture
The Bible is consistently presented as divinely inspired and authoritative, a concept that stands in contrast to elevating human examples or traditions to the same level [1]. The Scriptures are described as "given by inspiration of God" (2 Timothy 3:16) and "by inspiration of the Holy Spirit" (Acts 1:16; 2 Peter 1:21) [1]. Jesus himself sanctioned the Scriptures by appealing to them and teaching from them (Matthew 4:4; Mark 12:10; John 7:42; Luke 24:27) [1]. Various biblical texts refer to Scripture as "the Word," "Word of God," "Word of Christ," "Word of truth," "Holy Scriptures," and "Scripture of truth" [1].
The idea that human examples or traditions could hold the same weight as Scripture is generally rejected within traditions that emphasize biblical authority. For instance, the Nonconformist/Puritan tradition, as seen in Matthew Henry's commentary on Proverbs, highlights that Solomon's proverbs were "divinely inspired to deliver, for the use of the church, these wise and weighty sentences" [4]. This underscores the unique origin and purpose of biblical texts. Similarly, John Gill, in the Baptist/Reformed tradition, describes the Scriptures as "wonderful" due to their divine authorship, content, and utility, testifying to God's mind and will [6].
The practice of reading Scripture publicly was transferred from the Jewish synagogue to the Christian Church, indicating its central role and authority from the earliest times [7]. The New Testament Gospels and Epistles were recognized as inspired and read alongside the Old Testament [7]. This historical practice further demonstrates the distinct status of biblical texts compared to other forms of teaching or example.
While human examples can serve as illustrations or applications of biblical principles, they do not possess the same inherent authority. For example, the story of Abraham's justification by faith is presented not merely as an historical account but as a "pattern or sampler of ours," intended to teach universal truths [8]. This shows how biblical narratives of human experience are used to convey divine instruction, rather than the human experience itself becoming the standard.
The distinction between divine revelation and human wisdom is also evident in how biblical authors are viewed. Calvin, in his commentary on Genesis, acknowledges that human capacity is limited in comprehending God's works, and human language is insufficient to fully describe them [5]. Yet, he praises those who apply themselves to the consideration of God's works with "modesty and reverence," implying that human understanding is always in submission to divine truth [5].
The concept of a "parable" in the New Testament, derived from the Greek parabole, signifies a "placing beside or together, a comparison, a similitude, an illustration of one subject by another" [3]. This linguistic understanding suggests that human stories or comparisons serve to illuminate a deeper truth, rather than being the truth itself. Even prophetic utterances or enigmatic maxims, while profound, are still distinct from the direct, inspired Word of God [3].
The goal for believers is to "come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ" (Ephesians 4:13) [2]. This ultimate standard is Christ himself, as revealed in Scripture, not the examples of other humans, however exemplary they may be. The teachings of Christ and the apostles are presented as the foundation for Christian life and doctrine, with human examples serving as reflections or applications of these foundational truths.
Sources
- 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”
- Ephesians “Ephesians 4:13 (KJV) — Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ:”
- 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”
- Proverbs (Nonconformist/Puritan) “Matthew Henry on Proverbs 25 (introduction): This verse is the title of this latter collection of Solomon's proverbs, for he sought out and set in order many proverbs, that by them he might be still teaching the people knowledge, Ecc 12:9. Observe, 1. The proverbs were Solomon's, who was divinely inspired to deliver, for the use of the church, these wise and weighty sentences; we have had many, but still there are more. Yet herein Christ is greater than Solomon, for if we had all upon record that Christ said, and did, that was instructive, the world could not contain the books that would be wr”
- CCEL (Reformed) “Calvin, Commentary on Genesis, Vol. 1 (Gen 1-23), section 4.1: Argument. Since the infinite wisdom of God is displayed in the admirable structure of heaven and earth, it is absolutely impossible to unfold The History of the Creation of the World in terms equal to its dignity. For while the measure of our capacity is too contracted to comprehend things of such magnitude, our tongue is equally incapable of giving a full and substantial account of them. As he, however, deserves praise, who, with modesty and reverence, applies himself to the consideration of the works of God, although he attain le”
- Psalms (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Psalms 119:125: PE.--The Seventeenth Part. PE. Thy testimonies are wonderful,.... The Scriptures, which testify of God, his mind and will, are wonderful both with respect to the author of them, the things contained in them, and the use and advantage of them. They give an account of the wonderful works of creation; of their author and matter; of the manner, order, and time of their being wrought: they relate many wonderful events of Providence, both in a way of mercy and judgment; they declare several surprising miracles, wrought by Moses and others, and exhibit many marvellous t”
- 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”
- Romans (Nonconformist/Puritan) “Matthew Henry on Romans 4:23: In the close of the chapter, he applies all to us; and, having abundantly proved that Abraham was justified by faith, he here concludes that his justification was to be the pattern or sampler of ours: It was not written for his sake alone. It was not intended only for an historical commendation of Abraham, or a relation of something peculiar to him (as some antipaedobaptists will needs understand that circumcision was a seal of the righteousness of the faith, Rom 4:11, only to Abraham himself, and no other); no, the scripture did not intend hereby to describe some”