Elevating Human Experience over Biblical Doctrine in Theology
The relationship between human experience and biblical doctrine in theology is often understood as complementary, with experience serving to deepen and confirm doctrinal understanding rather than supersede it. Biblical texts frequently emphasize the importance of experiential knowledge of God and His truths. For instance, the word translated "been intimate" in Amos 3:2 indicates a personal and experiential knowledge that extends beyond mere intellectual awareness, encompassing formal recognition, personal experience, and even intimate relations [3]. This type of knowledge is frequently used to describe God's relationship with Israel and Israel's ideal relationship with God [3].
Similarly, the apostle Paul expresses a desire to "know him" (Christ) "experimentally" in Philippians 3:10, linking this knowledge to "the power of his resurrection" [2]. This suggests that knowing Christ is more than just understanding doctrines about Him; it involves a personal encounter with the Redeemer [2]. The Christian life is fundamentally based on the experience and personal knowledge of God’s grace and love in Jesus Christ, as highlighted in Ephesians 3:19, which speaks of experiencing the love of Christ that is too great to fully understand [4]. This experiential knowledge is seen as completing the believer's life, filling it with the fullness of Christ's presence and conforming them to His image [4].
The "experiment of this ministration" mentioned in 2 Corinthians 9:13 refers to the practical experience of the Gentile churches' liberality towards the poor saints in Jerusalem [1]. This experience led the recipients to glorify God, acknowledging Him as the source of all grace and goodness, particularly for the Gentile churches' "professed subjection to the Gospel of Christ" [1]. This demonstrates how lived experience can lead to a deeper appreciation and glorification of God's work as revealed in doctrine.
While experience is vital, theological maturity also involves moving beyond foundational teachings to a deeper understanding of Christ [5]. The author of Hebrews urges believers to "go on" to maturity, suggesting that growth is an ongoing process initiated by God [5]. This implies that while initial experiences of repentance and faith are foundational, they are meant to lead to a more profound and comprehensive grasp of biblical doctrine [5]. The emphasis is on beholding Jesus by faith, a deliberate act of regarding something one tries to see, rather than merely passively receiving impressions [6].
Sources
- 2 Corinthians (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on 2 Corinthians 9:13: Whiles by the experiment of this ministration,.... That is, the poor saints at Jerusalem having a specimen, a proof, an experience of the liberality of the Gentile churches ministered to them by the apostles, first, they glorify God; by giving thanks unto him, acknowledging him to be the author of all the grace and goodness which they, and others, were partakers of; particularly for your professed subjection to the Gospel of Christ. The Gospel of Christ is the doctrine of grace, life, and salvation by Christ, of which he is the author, as God, the subject m”
- Philippians (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Philippians 3:10: That I may know him--experimentally. The aim of the "righteousness" just mentioned. This verse resumes, and more fully explains, "the excellency of the knowledge of Christ" (Phi 3:8). To know HIM is more than merely to know a doctrine about Him. Believers are brought not only to redemption, but to the Redeemer Himself. the power of his resurrection--assuring believers of their justification (Rom 4:25; Co1 15:17), and raising them up spiritually with Him, by virtue of their identification with Him in this, as in all the acts of His redeeming work”
- Amos (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Amos 3:2: 3:2 The word translated been intimate indicates personal and experiential knowledge that often extends beyond mere intellectual awareness. It can indicate formal recognition and acknowledgment (Exod 1:8; 5:2), personal experience (Gen 2:17), or sexual relations (Gen 4:1). This word is frequently used of God’s relationship with Israel (Hos 5:3) and of Israel’s ideal relationship with God (Hos 2:20). Because of Israel’s privileged status, God would hold them accountable for all their sins, not just some of them. God holds people accountable in terms of what has been gi”
- Ephesians (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Ephesians 3:19: 3:19 May you experience (literally know) the love of Christ: The whole Christian life is based on the experience and personal knowledge of God’s grace and love in Jesus Christ (see Rom 12:1). • it is too great to understand fully: Christ’s love is much greater than ordinary human love (see Rom 5:6-8). • The believer’s life is made complete when it is filled with all the fullness of life and power by the presence of Christ within (see Eph 1:23; Gal 2:20; Col 1:27). The believer then is conformed to his image and reflects God (see Eph 4:14, 24; 5:1-2; Rom 8:29; 2”
- Hebrews (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Hebrews 6:1: 6:1-3 In light of the hearers’ immaturity (5:11-14), the author urges them to move beyond basic teachings. The six basic teachings here were all foundational elements of Jewish instruction. The author might be challenging them to move beyond these basic teachings to further understanding about the person of Christ, which he elaborates in 7:1–10:25. 6:1 Let us go on: Or Let us be carried on, suggesting that God initiates growth to maturity (Phil 2:12-13) and that it is an ongoing process. • Repenting and faith are the basic commitments that initiate a person to the”
- Hebrews (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Hebrews 2:9: But--We see not man as yet exercising lordship over all things, "but rather, Him who was made a little lower than the angels (compare Luk 22:43), we behold (by faith: a different Greek verb from that for 'we see,' Heb 2:8, which expresses the impression which our eyes passively receive from objects around us; whereas, 'we behold,' or 'look at,' implies the direction and intention of one deliberately regarding something which he tries to see: so Heb 3:19; Heb 10:25, Greek), namely, Jesus, on account of His suffering of death, crowned," &c. He is already”