Examining Examples Through the Lens of Scripture and Biblical Truth

Examining examples through the lens of Scripture involves understanding the Bible as the inspired word of God and applying its teachings to various aspects of life and conduct ^[1]. The Scriptures are referred to as the "Word of God," "Word of Christ," and "Word of truth," testifying to their divine origin and authority ^[1].

The Bible provides numerous examples for believers to follow or to learn from as warnings ^[5]. Christ himself is presented as the ultimate example in various virtues. For instance, Jesus demonstrated diligence through his early morning prayers and dedication to his Father's work ^[2]. He also exemplified self-denial, forsaking worldly power and humbling himself ^[3]. His sincerity was evident in his blameless life ^[4]. These examples from Christ serve as a model for believers in their pursuit of Christian graces and in their conduct ^{[2, 3, 4]}.

Beyond Christ, the Scriptures offer examples for different roles and situations. Pastors are called to be examples to their flocks ^[5]. The experiences of the Jews serve as a warning ^[5], and the prophets provide an example of enduring affliction ^[5].

The act of "searching the Scriptures" is emphasized as crucial for understanding God's will and finding eternal life ^{[6, 14]}. The Scriptures are considered "wonderful" because they testify of God, his works, and his plan of salvation ^{[9, 11]}. They are a "testimony" established by God, bearing witness to his love and grace ^[13]. This diligent examination of Scripture allows believers to test their own integrity and faith, much like gold is tested by a touchstone ^[10]. The wisdom contained within the Scriptures is contrasted with worldly wisdom, which is deemed vain by God ^[12].

The application of biblical truth extends to practical living, guiding believers in areas such as avoiding anger and bitterness ^[7], and living a life of sincerity and love ^[4]. The Scriptures are seen as a source of all good and perfect gifts, coming from God ^[8].

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”
Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Diligence — Christ, an example -- Mr 1:35; Lu 2:49. Required by God in Seeking him. -- 1Ch 22:19; Heb 11:6. Obeying him. -- De 6:17; 11:13. Hearkening to him. -- Isa 55:2. Striving after perfection. -- Php 3:13,14. Cultivating Christian graces. -- 2Pe 1:5. Keeping the souls. -- De 4:9. Keeping the heart. -- Pr 4:23. Labours of love. -- Heb 6:10-12. Following every good work. -- 1Ti 5:10. Guarding against defilement. -- Heb 12:15. Seeking to be found spotless. -- 2Pe 3:14. Making our call, &c, sure. -- 2Pe 1:10. Self-examination. -- Ps 77:6. Lawful business. -- Pr 27:”
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 ”
Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Sincerity — Christ was an example of -- 1Pe 2:22. Ministers should be examples of -- Tit 2:7. Opposed to fleshly wisdom -- 2Co 1:12. Should characterise Our love to God. -- 2Co 8:8,24. Our love to Christ. -- Eph 6:24. Our service to God. -- Jos 24:14; Joh 4:23,24. Our faith. -- 1Ti 1:5. Our love to one another. -- Ro 12:9; 1Pe 1:22; 1Jo 3:18. Our whole conduct. -- 2Co 1:12. The preaching of the gospel. -- 2Co 2:17; 1Th 2:3-5. A characteristic of the doctrines of the gospel -- 1Pe 2:2. The gospel sometimes preached without -- Php 1:16. The wicked devoid of -- Ps 5:9; ”
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).”
John “John 5:39 (DRC) — Search the scriptures: for you think in them to have life everlasting. And the same are they that give testimony of me.”
Treasury of Scripture Knowledge “Ephesians 4:31 cross-references: Genesis 4:8, Genesis 27:41, Genesis 37:4, Genesis 37:21, Leviticus 19:16, 2 Samuel 13:22, 2 Samuel 19:27, 2 Samuel 19:43, Psalms 15:3, Psalms 50:20, Psalms 64:3, Psalms 101:5, Psalms 140:11, Proverbs 6:19, Proverbs 10:12, Proverbs 10:18, Proverbs 14:17, Proverbs 18:8, Proverbs 19:12, Proverbs 25:23, Proverbs 26:20, Proverbs 26:24, Proverbs 29:9, Proverbs 29:22, Ecclesiastes 7:9, Jeremiah 6:28, Jeremiah 9:4, Acts 19:28, Acts 21:30, Acts 22:22, Romans 1:29, Romans 3:14, 1 Corinthians 5:8, 1 Corinthians 14:20, 2 Corinthians 12:20, Galatians 5:20, Ephesians 4:26, C”
Treasury of Scripture Knowledge “James 1:17 cross-references: Genesis 1:2, Genesis 1:14, Genesis 41:16, Genesis 41:38, Exodus 4:11, Exodus 31:3, Exodus 36:1, Numbers 11:17, Numbers 11:25, Numbers 23:19, Deuteronomy 4:19, 1 Samuel 15:29, 1 Chronicles 22:12, 1 Chronicles 29:19, 2 Chronicles 1:11, Psalms 19:1, Psalms 84:11, Psalms 122:6, Proverbs 2:6, Isaiah 28:26, Isaiah 45:7, Isaiah 46:10, Isaiah 60:19, Daniel 2:21, Daniel 2:27, Malachi 3:6, Matthew 7:11, Matthew 11:25, Matthew 13:11, Luke 11:13, John 1:9, John 3:27, John 8:12, Acts 5:31, Acts 11:18, Romans 6:23, Romans 11:29, Romans 12:6, 1 Corinthians 4:7, 1 Corinthians 12:4”
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”
Psalms (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Psalms 26:2: Examine me, O Lord,.... His cause, his integrity, and trust in the Lord, as silver and gold are examined by the touchstone, the word of God, which is the standard of faith and practice; and prove me; or "tempt me" (r); as Abraham was tempted by the Lord; and his faith in him, and fear of him, and love to him, were proved to be true and genuine; try my reins and my heart; the thoughts, desires, and affections of it, as gold and silver are tried in the furnace; and so God sometimes tries the faith and patience of his people by afflictive providences; and this examin”
Psalms (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Psalms 119:2: Blessed are they that keep his testimonies,.... The whole word of God, the Scriptures of truth, are his testimonies: they testify of the mind of God, and of his love and grace in the method of salvation by Christ; they testify of Christ, his person, offices, and grace; of the sufferings of Christ, and the glory that should follow; and of all the happiness that comes to the people of God thereby. The law is called a testimony, which being put into the ark, that had the name of the ark of the testimony. This is a testimony of the perfections of God, his holiness, justi”
1 Corinthians (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on 1 Corinthians 3:20: And again,.... Not in the same place, nor in the same book, but in the Psalms, in Psa 94:11. This form of citing Scriptures answers to and moreover, used by the Jewish doctors when the matter does not so clearly appear from the first proof, and therefore they produce another (q): and so here the apostle, for the further confirmation and illustration of this point, that the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God, to the testimony of Eliphaz, adds this of David, the Lord knoweth the thoughts of the wise, that they are vain; in the Psalms it is, "the Lord ”
Psalms (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Psalms 78:5: For he established a testimony in Jacob,.... So the law is called, being a testification of the divine will, Exo 25:16 and the Scriptures, the writings of the Old Testament, which testify of Christ, his person, office, sufferings, and death, Isa 8:20 and particularly the Gospel, which is the testimony of God, of our Lord Jesus Christ, and of his apostles, Ti2 1:8 which bears witness to the love and grace of God in the salvation of men by Christ; to the dignity of Christ's person, to the fulness of his grace, to each of the offices and relations he bears and stands in ”
John (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on John 5:39: Search the scriptures, &c.--"In the Scriptures ye find your charter of eternal life; go search them then, and you will find that I am the Great Burden of their testimony; yet ye will not come to Me for that life eternal which you profess to find there, and of which they tell you I am the appointed Dispenser." (Compare Act 17:11-12). How touching and gracious are these last words! Observe here (1) The honor which Christ gives to the Scriptures, as a record which all have a right and are bound to search--the reverse of which the Church of Rome teaches; (2)”

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