Evaluating Extrabiblical Examples in Light of Scripture

The Bible frequently uses examples, both positive and negative, to instruct believers. These examples can be drawn from biblical narratives, the life of Christ, or even from the broader human experience, but they are always evaluated and understood in light of scriptural teaching.

One significant category of examples is found within the biblical text itself, where the lives and actions of individuals or groups serve as object lessons. For instance, the experiences of the Jews are presented as a warning in Hebrews 4:11 ^[4]. The prophets are also cited as examples of enduring affliction (James 5:10) ^[4]. The Apostle Paul, in 1 Corinthians 10:15, appeals to the Corinthians' own judgment regarding the implications of partaking in idol feasts, drawing a parallel between participation in the Lord's Supper and the Jewish sacrificial system to illustrate the spiritual fellowship implied by such acts ^[8]. This highlights the principle that actions, even those seemingly outside direct divine command, carry spiritual weight and can lead to fellowship with spiritual entities, whether divine or demonic ^[8].

The life of Jesus Christ stands as the preeminent example for believers. He is presented as an example in 1 Peter 2:21 and John 13:15 ^[4]. Christ's self-denial, as seen in passages like Matthew 4:8-10 and Philippians 2:6-8, is held up as a model for His followers ^[6]. This self-denial is described as a test of devotion to Christ and a necessary aspect of following Him, particularly in the context of spiritual warfare and the pursuit of triumph ^[6].

Beyond direct biblical narratives, the concept of "example" extends to broader theological principles and types. The Paschal Lamb, for instance, is understood as a type of Christ, exhibiting characteristics such as being a male of the first year, without blemish, taken from the flock, and chosen beforehand ^[5]. Its blood, shed and sprinkled, prefigured Christ's sacrifice ^[5]. Similarly, biblical parables, which are comparisons or illustrations of one subject by another, serve as examples to convey spiritual truths ^[7]. The word "parable" itself signifies "placing beside or together," indicating its illustrative function ^[7].

The Bible also provides guidance on how to evaluate extrabiblical examples or situations. The Scriptures are considered "given by inspiration of God" (2 Timothy 3:16) and "by inspiration of the Holy Spirit" (Acts 1:16; 2 Peter 1:21) ^[2]. Christ Himself sanctioned the Scriptures by appealing to them and teaching from them (Matthew 4:4; Luke 24:27) ^[2]. This divine origin establishes the Bible as the ultimate standard for truth and conduct. The "word of God" is described as living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart (Hebrews 4:12) ^[11]. This judicial power of God's word means it can judge and expose even the most hidden aspects of human experience ^[11].

When considering actions or situations not explicitly detailed in Scripture, believers are called to exercise discernment. For example, Ephesians 4:26 advises, "Be angry and do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger" ^[1]. This verse acknowledges the reality of human emotion but sets a boundary for its expression, preventing it from leading to sin. Similarly, Ecclesiastes 11:9 warns individuals to enjoy life but reminds them that "for all these things God will bring you into judgment" ^[3]. This principle suggests that even in areas of personal freedom, accountability to God remains.

The Bible itself acknowledges that not everything Jesus did was recorded, implying that the written word is sufficient for its intended purpose, even if it doesn't contain every detail of divine activity (John 21:25) ^[10]. The "testimonies" of Scripture are described as "wonderful," containing accounts of creation, providence, miracles, and prophecies, all testifying to God's mind and will ^[12]. Therefore, any extrabiblical example or teaching must be weighed against the comprehensive and authoritative witness of Scripture. The church is warned against being "carried aside" by "divers" and "strange doctrines" that differ from the established faith, emphasizing the need for doctrines to be "established with grace" rather than human observances ^[9].

Sources

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge “Ephesians 4:26 cross-references: Exodus 11:8, Exodus 32:21, Numbers 20:10, Numbers 20:24, Numbers 25:7, Deuteronomy 24:15, 1 Samuel 20:34, Nehemiah 5:6, Psalms 4:4, Psalms 37:8, Psalms 106:30, Proverbs 14:29, Proverbs 19:11, Proverbs 25:23, Ecclesiastes 7:9, Matthew 5:22, Mark 3:5, Mark 10:14, Romans 12:19, Ephesians 4:31, James 1:19”
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 “Ecclesiastes 11:9 cross-references: Genesis 3:6, Genesis 6:2, Numbers 15:30, Numbers 15:39, Numbers 22:32, Deuteronomy 29:19, Joshua 7:21, 2 Samuel 11:2, 1 Kings 18:12, 1 Kings 18:27, 1 Kings 22:15, Job 31:7, Psalms 50:4, Psalms 81:12, Ecclesiastes 2:10, Ecclesiastes 3:12, Ecclesiastes 3:17, Ecclesiastes 7:14, Ecclesiastes 12:1, Ecclesiastes 12:14, Jeremiah 7:24, Jeremiah 23:17, Jeremiah 44:16, Lamentations 3:27, Matthew 5:28, Luke 15:12, Acts 14:16, Acts 17:30, Acts 24:25, Romans 2:5, Romans 14:10, 1 Corinthians 4:5, 2 Corinthians 5:10, Ephesians 2:2, Hebrews 9:27, 1 Peter 4:3, 2 Peter 3:7, 1”
Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Example — Of Christ (1 Pet. 2:21; John 13:15); of pastors to their flocks (Phil. 3:17; 2 Thess. 3:9; 1 Tim. 4:12; 1 Pet. 5:3); of the Jews as a warning (Heb. 4:11); of the prophets as suffering affliction (James 5:10).”
Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Paschal Lamb, Typical Nature Of — A type of Christ -- Ex 12:3; 1Co 5:7. A male of the first year -- Ex 12:5; Isa 9:6. Without blemish -- Ex 12:5; 1Pe 1:19. Taken out of the flock -- Ex 12:5; Heb 2:14,17. Chosen before-hand -- Ex 12:3; 1Pe 2:4. Shut up four days that it might be closely examined -- Ex 12:6; Joh 8:46; 18:38. Killed by the people -- Ex 12:6; Ac 2:23. Killed at the place where the Lord put his name -- De 16:2,5-7; 2Ch 35:1; Lu 13:33. Killed in the evening -- Ex 12:6; Mr 15:34,37. Its blood to be shed -- Ex 12:7; Lu 22:20. Blood of, sprinkled on lintel an”
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 ”
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”
1 Corinthians (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on 1 Corinthians 10:15: Appeal to their own powers of judgment to weigh the force of the argument that follows: namely, that as the partaking of the Lord's Supper involves a partaking of the Lord Himself, and the partaking of the Jewish sacrificial meats involved a partaking of the altar of God, and, as the heathens sacrifice to devils, to partake of an idol feast is to have fellowship with devils. We cannot divest ourselves of the responsibility of "judging" for ourselves. The weakness of private judgment is not an argument against its use, but its abuse. We should t”
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”
John (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on John 21:25: And there are also many other things which Jesus did,.... Which refer not to his doctrines and discourses, his sermons and prayers, and the conversation he had with his disciples, and others, on different accounts; but to the signs, and wonders, and miraculous operations, which were done by him, that are neither recorded in this, nor in any of the evangelists: the which, if they should be written everyone; with all the particular circumstances relating to them: I suppose that even the world itself could not contain the books that should be written. The Arabic versi”
Hebrews (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Hebrews 4:12: For--Such diligent striving (Heb 4:11) is incumbent on us FOR we have to do with a God whose "word" whereby we shall be judged, is heart-searching, and whose eyes are all-seeing (Heb 4:13). The qualities here attributed to the word of God, and the whole context, show that it is regarded in its JUDICIAL power, whereby it doomed the disobedient Israelites to exclusion from Canaan, and shall exclude unbelieving so-called Christians from the heavenly rest. The written Word of God is not the prominent thought here, though the passage is often quoted as if ”
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”

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