Ensuring Extrabiblical Examples Align with Scripture's Broader Teaching
The Bible is considered by many Christian traditions to be divinely inspired and authoritative [2]. Therefore, any extrabiblical examples or teachings must align with its broader message to be considered valid within Christian thought. This principle is rooted in biblical warnings against "divers and strange doctrines" that deviate from the core tenets of faith [5, 7].
The Apostle Paul, in 1 Timothy 6:3, warns against anyone who "gives different teaching, not in agreement with the true words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and with the teaching which is in agreement with true religion" [1]. This verse underscores the importance of adhering to the established biblical message. John Gill, a Baptist commentator, interprets similar warnings in Hebrews 13:9 as referring to doctrines that are "foreign to the truth" and differ from the "one faith in the one and the same Jesus Christ" [5, 7]. These "divers" doctrines can refer to various rites, ceremonies, or human traditions that are not in harmony with Scripture [7].
The concept of Scripture as the ultimate standard is further supported by its description as "given by inspiration of God" and "given by inspiration of the Holy Spirit" [2]. Christ himself sanctioned the Scriptures by appealing to them and teaching from them [2]. The Bible is referred to as "the Word," "Word of God," "Word of Christ," and "Word of truth," emphasizing its divine origin and reliability [2].
When evaluating extrabiblical examples, one must consider whether they contradict or undermine established biblical principles. For instance, the concept of self-denial is a recurring theme in Scripture, exemplified by Christ himself and presented as a test of devotion for believers [4]. Any extrabiblical teaching that promotes self-indulgence or worldly lusts would therefore be contrary to this biblical teaching [4]. Similarly, the Bible frequently addresses themes such as God's wrath against unrighteousness, the importance of repentance, and the consequences of hardening one's heart [3]. Extrabiblical narratives or teachings that minimize these aspects would not align with the broader biblical message.
The Puritan commentator Matthew Henry emphasizes that biblical accounts, such as Abraham's justification by faith, are not merely historical records but serve as patterns for believers [9]. This suggests that the principles derived from biblical narratives have ongoing relevance and should guide the interpretation of other examples.
While the Bible acknowledges the role of teaching and instruction within the community of faith, it also implies that such teaching should always be grounded in and consistent with biblical truth [6, 8]. John Gill, commenting on Jeremiah 31:34 and Hebrews 8:11, clarifies that the prophecy about not needing to teach one's neighbor to "know the Lord" does not negate the external ministry of the word, but rather points to a deeper, internal knowledge of God [6, 10]. This implies that while human teaching is valuable, it must always point back to the foundational truth of God's word.
Sources
- I Timothy “I Timothy 6:3 (BBE) — If any man gives different teaching, not in agreement with the true words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and with the teaching which is in agreement with true religion,”
- 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”
- Treasury of Scripture Knowledge “Romans 2:5 cross-references: Exodus 8:15, Exodus 14:17, Deuteronomy 2:30, Deuteronomy 32:34, Joshua 11:20, 1 Samuel 6:6, 2 Chronicles 30:8, 2 Chronicles 36:13, Job 21:30, Psalms 95:8, Psalms 110:5, Proverbs 11:4, Proverbs 29:1, Ecclesiastes 12:14, Isaiah 48:4, Ezekiel 3:7, Daniel 5:20, Amos 3:10, Zechariah 7:11, Romans 1:18, Romans 2:2, Romans 9:22, Romans 11:25, Hebrews 3:13, Hebrews 3:15, Hebrews 4:7, James 5:3, 2 Peter 2:9, 2 Peter 3:7, Jude 1:6, Revelation 6:17”
- Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Self-Denial — Christ set an example of -- Mt 4:8-10; 8:20; Joh 6:38; Ro 15:3; Php 2:6-8. A test of devotedness to Christ -- Mt 10:37,38; Lu 9:23,24. Necessary In following Christ. -- Lu 14:27-33. In the warfare of saints. -- 2Ti 2:4. To the triumph of saints. -- 1Co 9:25-27. Ministers especially called to exercise -- 2Co 6:4,5. Should be exercised in Denying ungodliness and worldly lusts. -- Ro 6:12; Tit 2:12. Controlling the appetite. -- Pr 23:2. Abstaining from fleshly lusts. -- 1Pe 2:11. No longer living to lusts of men. -- 1Pe 4:2. Mortifying sinful lusts. -- Mr ”
- Hebrews (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Hebrews 13:9: about--rather, as oldest manuscripts read, "carried aside"; namely, compare Eph 4:14. divers--differing from the one faith in the one and the same Jesus Christ, as taught by them who had the rule over you (Heb 13:7). strange--foreign to the truth. doctrines--"teachings." established with grace; not with meats--not with observances of Jewish distinctions between clean and unclean meats, to which ascetic Judaizers added in Christian times the rejection of some meats, and the use of others: noticed also by Paul in Co1 8:8, Co1 8:13; Co1 6:13; Rom”
- Hebrews (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Hebrews 8:11: And they shall not teach every man his neighbour,.... The Alexandrian copy reads, "citizen"; that is, fellow citizen; and so the Syriac and Arabic versions: "and every man his brother, saying, know the Lord": this is not to be understood, so as to set aside the external and public ministry of the word, which is a standing ordinance of God under the Gospel dispensation; or even the, private instructions of saints one to another, in Christian conversation, whereby they may build up one another in their most holy faith; but the sense is, that men should not only teach, ”
- 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”
- 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”
- 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”
- Jeremiah (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Jeremiah 31:34: And they shall teach no more every man his neighbour, and every man his brother,.... Which is not to be understood of the outward ministry of the word; in heaven indeed there will be no need of it, nor in the New Jerusalem state; but in every period of time before it. In the first times of the Gospel, persons were appointed and qualified by Christ to be pastors and teachers; and in the latter day men shall run to and fro, and increase knowledge; besides, the saints in the present state stand in need of teaching; since they know but in part, and there is room for a ”